Blog
As a former high school debater, I know all too well how hard it is to win big at the state level. I would like to give the students, staff and principal of Grady High School a standing ovation for winning this weekend at the Georgia Forensic Championship tournament. The Grady High School Speech and…
→School social workers play a critical role in creating a positive climate in our schools and developing partnerships between a student’s home, school and community. Atlanta Public Schools joins the School Social Work Association of America, March 2-6, in honoring those committed to empowering and assisting families. There are 30 full-time social workers employed with…
→In my experiences as a superintendent, I have come to believe that where a district puts its money, speaks volumes about what it values—this is why I take the budgeting process so seriously. I spend a great deal of time getting very hands-on and really knowing where we are going to spend our tax dollars.…
→We have some big literacy news here in APS! The State Board of Education has awarded the Striving Reader Comprehensive Literacy Grant to Atlanta Public Schools. The system will receive $2.7 million to develop and implement a literacy plan at 10 schools that will address the literacy needs of all students beginning in pre-K through…
→As Black History Month comes to a close this week, I have pondered many things about the contributions of African Americans to our country over the centuries, particularly from the brave men and women who contributed to the struggle during the Civil Rights movement. And I realized that we have fewer and fewer of our…
→Congratulations to Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School for being named the Georgia Charter Schools Association 2015 Charter School of the Year. The award honors excellence in Georgia’s growing charter school community and is given to a school that “demonstrates academic excellence, strong governance, operational sustainability, and sound fiscal practices.” Along with being named charter school of…
→There are a lot of GREAT things happening in our district. Each month I will give “shout outs” to students, staff and volunteers who are helping us with our mission to have every APS student graduate ready for college and career. Let’s give a shout out to: The 107 students at North Atlanta High School…
→As snow flurries fall outside my window, I want to take a moment to remind you of our inclement weather practices as well as our notification procedures. Remember: amid the threat of inclement weather, our No. 1 concern is the safety of our students and our staff. When severe weather threatens Atlanta, we diligently update…
→You know that feeling you get sitting on a swing, when the wind blows in your face and your heart jumps a little as you go higher than you expected? If you haven’t experienced it lately, you can probably just think back to your school days and recess. Unfortunately, it’s a feeling the children at…
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