Superintendent Cox Launches GaDOE iTunes University Site

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox unveiled today the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) iTunes University site. At an event at Rutland High School in Bibb County, Superintendent Cox demonstrated how this free technology will allow teachers, students and parents to download many different resources directly onto an iPod or other portable device.

“In these tough budget times, we can all use more help and more resources, especially when those resources are free,” said Superintendent Cox. “The GaDOE continues to seek out innovative and cost-effective ways to help make teachers’ jobs easier, and iTunes University is one more tool to do that.”

The GaDOE recognizes how important it is to use technology to enhance education. The iTunes University site creates a base of digital educational content where users can easily download and access audio and video content for use in the classroom, at home or while driving to work. Visitors to the site can find content on everything from mathematics instruction to parent involvement videos.

“This is an innovative and interactive way for students to learn,” said Tony Jones, Bibb County’s Teacher of the Year. “It will allow students the luxury to learn at their own pace using technology that most students are familiar with already.”

Jones was also a recipient of a GaDOE Advanced Placement (AP) Handheld Technology grant. In November, 56 high schools in 46 school systems received AP Handheld grants. These grants provide teachers the resources to purchase any handheld device, which allows students to access educational material developed by the teachers, including instructional podcasts, activities, and assessments. These resources may also be made available on the GaDOE iTunes University site for other teachers across the state to use in their classrooms.

The iTunes University site is the latest teacher technology tool offered by the GaDOE. In September 2009, Superintendent Cox launched two online teacher tools, PBS TeacherLine and Verizon Thinkfinity. PBS TeacherLine offers low-cost, high-quality professional development classes to teachers so they can build content knowledge and earn the Professional Learning Units needed to maintain their certification. The Verizon Thinkfinity tool provides more than 55,000 lesson plans, activities and other resources for classroom teachers.

Student Contest
The GaDOE iTunes University site is one that students will be able to use to take digital content with them, but also give them an avenue to demonstrate their own creativity. Superintendent Cox announced a student contest today that will encourage students to develop short movies that can be uploaded to the iTunes University site. There will be three category themes:

1. Elementary School: Theme – “Reading For Me!”

2. Middle School: Theme – “Monumental Math Moments!”

3. High School: Theme – “Making It Happen!”

Complete contest details can be found by visiting http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ts.aspx?PageReq=TSContest

“Today’s students have grown up surrounded by technology,” said Superintendent Cox. “It is my hope that this contest will spark their creativity and demonstrate how they can integrate technology into the classroom and share with other students.”

Winners of the contest will be featured on the GaDOE iTunes University site.

The Sallie Mae Fund, Sallie Mae Celebrate Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill with Resources That Help Families Save, Plan and Pay for College

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading saving, planning, and paying for college company, will join the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, JA Worldwide and the Council for Economic Education in celebrating Financial Literacy Day on Capitol Hill tomorrow, April 27. The event concludes a month-long education campaign encouraging effective money management among young people around the country. The Sallie Mae Fund will provide members of Congress, their staff, and other attendees with its recently updated “Mission: Possible!” toolkit.

Through a special U.S. Senate resolution introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), April was again declared national Financial Literacy Month. Senator Akaka, along with Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), will be on hand to commemorate the occasion and better understand how Sallie Mae and more than 60 other representatives from the national personal finance education community, including federal agencies, not-for-profit organizations and corporations, promote financial literacy to consumers of all ages.

The “Mission: Possible!” toolkit is a free, 25-page step-by-step guide that helps families save, plan and pay for college. It provides students and families with college prep timelines for middle school and high school, a breakdown of higher education options, information on the admissions and financial aid processes, an overview of college costs and financial aid, and a glossary of terms. The toolkit is handed out at The Sallie Mae Fund’s free “Saving, Planning and Paying for College” seminars, and can be downloaded online at www.SallieMaeFund.org.

“By learning financial literacy fundamentals now, aspiring college students lay the foundation for successful money management in the future,” says Erin Korsvall, director of community relations, Sallie Mae. “Mission: Possible!, along with other free resources, empower families to make wise decisions about saving, planning and paying for college.”

The Sallie Mae Fund is a nonprofit foundation sponsored by Sallie Mae that increases access to higher education and supports communities where Sallie Mae employees live and work. Since 2001, The Fund has contributed more than $123 million to address key barriers to college access and support the community.

Sallie Mae is committed to promoting financial literacy and smart money management. Through a range of saving for college programs, free planning tools, interest-free tuition payment plans and responsible student loans, the company helps families make the investment in college wisely. For example, Sallie Mae’s Smart Option Student Loan, which features interest-only payments while in school, helps customers graduate with less student loan debt and pay off faster after graduation.

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Atlanta Leaders Announce New Early Education Initiative

/PRNewswire/ -- After 18 months of study, the Early Education Commission (EEC) has issued strategic recommendations for improving access to quality early education for children ages zero to five across metro Atlanta, and ultimately the state.

The recommendations lay out a multi-year plan for assuring consistently high-quality early learning - with Georgia ultimately becoming a national leader in ensuring that children enter kindergarten ready to learn and on a path to "read to learn" by third grade. "Read to learn" refers to a reading skill level necessary for a third-grader to learn at an age-appropriate pace and become a successful student.

Stephanie Blank, Trustee of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, will chair the governing board of the Georgia Coalition for Early Education (GCEE), a new, independent successor group to the EEC that will offer strategic assistance to existing providers, funders and stakeholders in early learning and care. A national search is being launched for an executive director of the coalition.

"The key to Georgia's future economic prosperity and social well-being lies in the care and education of our youngest children," said Ms. Blank, who served on the EEC. "There is ongoing advocacy and quality improvement work in metro Atlanta and the state: our goal is to move early learning to the top of the public agenda and broaden the scope and reach of those efforts."

Co-chaired by Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta CEO Dennis Lockhart and Spelman College President Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D., the EEC assembled in the fall of 2008 to investigate the impact of early learning on the short- and long-term economic health of metro Atlanta. The commission learned from nationally renowned experts in the early education field, studied research, assessed the state of early learning in the metro area and state, and identified opportunities for improvement.

"It is essential that children be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten - we know brain development in a child's early years charts a course for success over a lifetime," said Dr. Tatum. "We also know that there is more to school readiness than being ready to read - social, emotional and other cognitive milestones are important, and the EEC's recommendations address all of those."

In addition to the neuroscience aspects of early childhood education, EEC members learned about the positive return on investment early intervention provides versus the exponential cost of remediation, and the importance quality centers and trained educators play in these outcomes.

Said Dennis Lockhart, "Beyond the intrinsic social value, investing in early education is just the smart thing to do. Research clearly shows that early interventions have better rates of return than do traditional economic development projects."

Consistent with the commission's recommendations, the GCEE will focus on four main areas:

-- Improve Quality - for both center-based and home-based early care and
education.
-- Enhance Parental involvement - supporting families with the tools and
resources needed to provide quality learning experiences.
-- Increase Public Awareness - to raise awareness of how quality early
learning experiences impact a child's long-term success.
-- Intensify Advocacy - for increased quality, accessibility and
affordability of early childhood care and education.

"This commission has recommended vital next steps that will significantly support and enhance ongoing efforts in our state," said Holly Robinson, Commissioner of Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. "Helping parents identify and assure quality early education is critically important for their children and for Georgia. And Stephanie Blank is a brilliant choice as chair of the coalition; she is a greatly respected community leader who researches, understands and is devoted to this issue."

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GaDOE and GPB Partnership Wins National Award

The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), received a My Source Education Innovation Award recently from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes the use of pioneering methods and emerging digital technologies to serve the educational needs of communities. The $3,000 grant award was presented to State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox and GPB President Teya Ryan at the Council of Chief State School Officers/Public Media Executive Summit.

The GaDOE and GPB received the award for incorporating digital media to illustrate learning objectives for Project ExPreSS (Exam Preparation for Science and Social Studies). The ExPreSS program was offered last summer throughout the state to any high school students that were interested in receiving remediation for the science and social studies sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT). Students in the program had an overall retest pass rate of 68 percent; more than double the previous year’s pass rate on GHSGT retests in science and social studies.

“The partnership we have with GPB truly helped make Project ExPreSS a tremendous success,” said Superintendent Cox. “The digital resources they provided us helped bring the performance standards to life for all of the students and teachers involved in the program.”

“Project ExPreSS is a great example of how GPB is using its resources to help improve student achievement in Georgia,” said Ryan. “We’re proud to partner with the GaDOE and look forward to finding more ways to enrich the classroom learning environment through the development of high-quality digital resources.”

The success with the summer ExPreSS program showed that there was a greater need to offer it again and make an online version available to reach even more students.

FreeOnline ExPreSS creates an online opportunity designed to help students prepare for the science and social studies GHSGT. Science and social studies are the two sections of the GHSGT that Georgia students fail most often. The program offers self-paced units based on the instructional plans created for the summer Project ExPreSS.

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Piedmont Financial, LLC, MassMutual Announce Scholarship Program For Local Multicultural College Students

/PRNewswire/ -- Local multicultural college students from the metro area of Atlanta will have a chance to win scholarships and internship opportunities in the financial services field as part of a newly-expanded scholarship program sponsored by Piedmont Financial, LLC, a general agency of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual).

Students of African-American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Hispanic descent who reside in the state of Georgia can apply for one of three $5,000 college scholarships. Applicants must meet certain academic criteria, such as having concentrations in the fields of business, economics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing or sales.

Nationally, MassMutual is making $135,000 in scholarships available in nine metropolitan areas as part of the program.

"We've always been committed to attracting talented professionals to the field of financial services, and in particular to supporting people of diverse backgrounds, both as agents and as clients," said William Brill, General Agent of Piedmont Financial. "These scholarships and internship opportunities will, ultimately, help us better serve Georgia's increasingly diverse community."

This marks the second consecutive year that MassMutual Piedmont Financial has participated in the scholarship program with MassMutual. This year, MassMutual is expanding the scholarship program, which began in 2009 with four metropolitan areas, to nine.

"Our scholarship program is a very important part of our commitment to diversity and education, and because of it and our other efforts, we're already making a big difference in the lives of the communities we serve," said Nick Fyntrilakis, assistant vice president of Community Responsibility for MassMutual.

The scholarship program's application deadline is May 30, and winners will be notified in late summer.

To be eligible, applicants must:
-- Be of African American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander or Hispanic
decent.
-- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident with a permanent
resident card or passport stamped I-551 (not expired).
-- Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0
scale.
-- Have plans to attend FULL-TIME, a degree-seeking program at a U.S.
accredited institution in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
or Guam during the 2010-2011 academic year.
-- Be entering their sophomore, junior, senior or 5th year senior year at
a four-year university or be a community college student.
-- Reside or plan to attend an institution in one of the following
metropolitan areas: Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Los Angeles,
CA; San Francisco, CA; Central New Jersey; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; or
San Antonio, TX.
-- Be majoring in business, economics, finance, financial planning,
management, marketing or sales.
-- Demonstrate leadership and extra curricular activities.
-- Must apply for federal financial aid by completing the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)


For more information on how to apply or to obtain an application, visit www.hsf.net/massmutual.aspx.

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NASA and NSTA Send Teachers Flying for Science in Microgravity

/PRNewswire/ -- NASA and the National Science Teachers Association, or NSTA, have selected high school teachers from Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Washington to fly an experiment in microgravity.

This flight opportunity will allow high school teachers and students to propose, design, fabricate, and evaluate an experiment the teachers will fly in a reduced gravity environment. The overall experience will include scientific research, hands-on design and test operations aboard a modified Boeing 727 jetliner. Zero-Gravity Corp. of Las Vegas will conduct the flights the week of July 29 to Aug. 7 in cooperation with the Reduced Gravity Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"This is another innovative NASA project for students and educators to work on actual flight projects that use the unique environment of space while applying their academic knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Joyce Winterton, associate administrator for Education at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The teams selected to participate in the program are:
-- Delaware Agriscience Teachers, Middletown High School, Middletown,
Del.
-- Dover High School/Capital School District in Dover, Del.
-- A team of Einstein Fellows, who are teachers spending a year in
Washington at a congressional office or a federal agency
-- Fairport High School/Fairport Central School District in Fairport,
N.Y.
-- Fulton High School in Fulton, Mo.
-- Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C.
-- Jackson High School in Jackson, Mo.
-- Jefferson County Public Schools and Trussville City Schools/Hewitt
Trussville High School in Homewood, Ala., and the University of
Alabama, Birmingham
-- Muscogee County School District in Columbus, Ga.
-- New Deal High School/New Deal Independent School District in New Deal,
Texas
-- Northbrook High School/Spring Branch Independent School District in
Houston
-- Van Alstyne High School/Van Alstyne Independent School District in Van
Alstyne, Texas


"For years NSTA and NASA have enjoyed a strong partnership that has benefited thousands of classroom science teachers," NSTA Executive Director Francis Eberle said. "We are excited we can bring the experience of 'weightless science' to scores of teachers and students nationwide with this program."

Teachers and students will share their experiences and research in a series of interactive Web seminars after the flight week. The seminars are held by NSTA and NASA's Teaching From Space office and Reduced Gravity Flight Opportunities Program. Teaching From Space manages NASA's Education Flight Projects, a national program for educators and students in kindergarten through 12th grade that facilitates and promotes learning opportunities using unique NASA content, facilities and flight platforms.

"This is a unique way to engage students and teachers in hands-on science, as well as give them a ride of a lifetime," said Susan White, director of Education at Johnson Space Center. "Our goal is for that excitement to be carried into the classroom."

The opportunity is one of NASA's many educational outreach programs to improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines critical to future space exploration missions.

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Georgia Tech's Graduate Engineering Program Maintains No. 4 Spot

The Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Engineering was ranked No. 4 nationwide for the sixth consecutive year in U.S. News and World Report's annual list of the best American graduate school programs.

In addition to having one of the nation's top graduate engineering programs, 9 of Georgia Tech's 11 programs have again ranked in the top 10, including industrial (No.1), biomedical (No. 2), civil (No. 3), aerospace (No. 4), environmental (No. 5), electrical (No. 6), mechanical (No. 6), nuclear (No. 8) and materials (No. 8). Of particular note, the civil engineering program moved up to No. 3 from last year’s No. 6 ranking.

"These rankings highlight Georgia Tech’s ongoing preeminence in the engineering arena and our growing prominence in the field of business.  The results are a direct reflection of the caliber of our students and faculty," said Georgia Tech President G.P.”Bud” Peterson. “As we move forward, the quality of the people of Georgia Tech will play a key role in defining our future.”

Georgia Tech’s graduate computer science program ranked No. 10 with several of its specialty programs also ranking in the top 10 including artificial intelligence (No. 7), theory (No. 7) and systems (No. 9).  In addition, discrete mathematics and combinations ranked No. 8.

Georgia Tech’s College of Management full-time MBA program was ranked No. 26, while the Institute’s part time MBA program tied with Georgia State University, ranking No. 24.

By Lisa Grovenstein

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Spelman College to Receive $1 Million from ExxonMobil to Boost Number of Female Engineers

(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil Foundation announced today a $1 million grant to Spelman College to provide scholarships to black women pursuing technology-related degrees. The Women in Science and Engineering Scholars program is the second contribution from the company to help facilitate the recruitment, retention and graduation of black females pursuing degrees in chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science.

“This generous investment will help build on this achievement by enhancing our capacity to develop and prepare women for successful leadership in the fields of math and science.”

“ExxonMobil has had a long-term commitment to science and mathematics education and supports educational initiatives to encourage the next generation of engineering scholars,” said Gerald McElvy, president, ExxonMobil Foundation. “As our country continues to diversify and grow, our goal is to promote awareness of the many opportunities for those who hold engineering degrees and to provide the skills needed for students to be successful, especially for the underrepresented sector of women engineering professionals.”

Six students pursuing a major in one of the targeted physical science or mathematics disciplines will be selected annually as ExxonMobil Scholars. Along with tuition, fees, books, supplies and room and board, the scholarship will provide research training, mentoring and professional development. The scholars also will participate in 10-week paid summer internships with ExxonMobil or other research-active organizations and have access to research labs at both Spelman and Georgia Tech.

“Spelman College has the distinction of being the leading producer of black females who go on to earn doctoral degrees in science and engineering,” said Beverly Daniel Tatum, president, Spelman College. “This generous investment will help build on this achievement by enhancing our capacity to develop and prepare women for successful leadership in the fields of math and science.”

Applicants must be high school seniors with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, belong to an under-represented minority group in scientific and engineering fields and have a combined SAT score of 1,650 or a composite score of at least 25 on the ACT. For more information, send an e-mail to lwinfield@spelman.edu.

ExxonMobil has a long history with Spelman that started in 1884 when company founder, John D. Rockefeller, paid off the $5,000 debt of a school for recently freed black women in Atlanta, while visiting with his wife and mother-in law. That school was later renamed Spelman College in honor of Mr. Rockefeller’s wife’s family. In addition to the Women in Science and Engineering scholarships with Spelman, ExxonMobil develops and supports programs that encourage students, specifically women and minorities, to develop a keen interest in careers in the math and science and related fields. Nationally, ExxonMobil has supported programs such as the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, the Sally Ride Science Academy brought to you by ExxonMobil, Society of Women Engineers, and Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, among others, designed to promote engineering as a career for women.

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University of Georgia hosts symposium celebrating 225th anniversary of its founding

The University of Georgia will celebrate the 225th anniversary of its founding with a two-day symposium April 22-23. Themed “Honoring the Past; Looking to the Future,” the symposium features experts leading lectures and discussions on the university’s history and the future of higher education. The celebration also includes an art exhibition and musical performance. It coincides with an alumni awards luncheon and the rededication of the Fine Arts Theatre.

“The University of Georgia is proud to hold the distinction as the nation’s first chartered public institution of higher learning,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “For 225 years, UGA has served the people of this state through teaching, research and service. Today, UGA stands as the state’s most comprehensive and diverse institution of higher learning. We look forward to celebrating the rich history of this place and the role UGA can and will play in the future prosperity of Georgia.”

The first day of the symposium will focus on the university’s history. The event officially begins April 22 with a keynote address at 9 a.m. by John R. Thelin, University Research Professor at the University of Kentucky. Thelin, whose teaching and research interests focus on the history of higher education and public policy, will speak on “Alma Mater, Lost and Found: The History of the University of Georgia in National Perspective” in Room 150 of the Miller Learning Center, where all presentations will take place unless otherwise noted.

Following Thelin’s remarks, UGA faculty members will speak. At 10:15 a.m., James C. Cobb, B. Phinizy Spalding Distinguished Professor of History, will discuss the baby boomer generation in college. James C. Hearn, a professor at the Institute of Higher Education, will give the response and commentary. Nash Boney, history professor emeritus, will give a presentation on “Historical Images of the University of Georgia” at 11:15 a.m.

After a lunch break, UGA faculty members will lead discussions on race and gender at the university. Robert A. Pratt, professor and chair of the history department will speak about Mary Frances Early and UGA’s desegregation at 1:30 p.m. Sharon Y. Nickols, the Janette M. Barber Distinguished Professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, will give a presentation on the admission of women to UGA. Undergraduate students will take part in a panel response, which will be moderated by Derrick Alridge, director of the Institute of African American Studies.

At 3 p.m. the evolution of campus plans, landscapes and preservation efforts will be the featured. Presentations will be made by Danny Sniff, associate vice president for facilities planning; John C. Waters, a professor in the School of Environmental Design; and Dexter Adams, director of the grounds department in the Physical Plant.

At the same time “Intercollegiate Athletics at UGA” will be discussed in 350 Miller Learning Center. J. Douglas Toma, an associate professor in the Institute of Higher Education, will speak about UGA athletics in a national context. Welch Suggs, assistant to the president, will moderate a panel discussion with former student athletes on Title IX and athletics at UGA.

A reception and concert from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Tate Student Center Alumni Plaza will end the day’s activities. Student ensembles from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music will perform pieces related to UGA, including ones written especially for UGA and songs traditionally heard at sporting events and academic ceremonies.

The theme for April 23 events is “UGA, Still Making History: Looking to the Future.”

At 9 a.m. Stephen R. Portch, chancellor emeritus of the University System of Georgia, will speak on “The Future of Higher Education.”

A panel discussion on “The Future of Teaching, Research and Service at the University of Georgia” will take place at 10:15 a.m. Panel members include Laura Dunn Jolly, interim vice president for instruction and dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences; David C. Lee, vice president for research; and Arthur N. Dunning, former vice president for public service and outreach.

At 11:30 a.m. UGA President Michael F. Adams will give closing remarks.

The UGA Alumni Association will hold its annual awards luncheon at noon in the Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. Honorees include former UGA provost Arnett C. Mace Jr.; Atlanta businessman John F. McMullan; the Thomson-based Watson-Brown Foundation, Inc.; and the family of Savannah businessman Craig Barrow III.

The symposium will close with the 3 p.m. rededication of the theater. Built in the late 1930s, the structure was modernized to include more restrooms and handicap accessible facilities, more theater seats and better acoustics. The project also restored the original ticket booth, coat check and the theater’s ornamental plaster ceiling.

An art exhibition also celebrating the university’s 225th anniversary is on display at the Visual Arts Building until April 30. University of Georgia Turns 225 includes objects that reflect the history and current state of UGA. Works by Lamar Dodd, George Cooke, Charles Frederick Naegele, Howard Thomas and current students and professors are on display.

“The symposium has a really wonderful mix of people: students, professors, alumni and guests,” said Tom Dyer, professor emeritus and chair of the planning committee. “It should produce a really interesting program.”

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Seeking Nominations for Nation's First Online K-12 Teacher of Year Award

/PRNewswire/ -- The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) are seeking nominations for the first Online K-12 Teacher of the Year Award. The National Online Teacher of the Year Award is a new program that will recognize an outstanding online teacher for exceptional dedication and contributions to online K-12 education. A superintendent, principal, program director/manager, department chair, or any other supervisor of the teacher may nominate an online educator in any public school or state virtual school for the honor.

"Teachers are the real unsung heroes in online learning. Online teachers provide the gold standard in enabling 21st century models of student learning. Students spend more time online learning, writing, creating, playing, researching and working - and teachers are connecting and interacting with students in online courses to provide high-quality instruction, personalized learning and unprecedented access to world-class educational opportunities," said Susan Patrick, the President and CEO of iNACOL.

One top winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Virtual School Symposium (VSS) hosted by iNACOL, November 14-16, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. VSS will bring together more than 1,600 participants from national, state, district, private and other virtual school programs to explore trends and best practices in e-learning. Considered the nation's leading event in online education, experts in K-12 virtual education have robust networking opportunities, learn about the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in e-learning; interact in session presentations; and gain access to the latest research and best practices reports. The winner will be recognized at the iNACOL Annual Meeting on November 14 in Glendale and will be featured on the SREB and iNACOL websites.

Nominations for the Award must be submitted to SREB by April 16, 2010. Forms and complete rules are online at http://www.inacol.org/events/awards.php.

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State Board Member Larry Winter to Hold Meeting in The Ninth Congressional District

Public is Invited to Share Thoughts on Public Education in Georgia

Are you interested in learning more about public education in Georgia? Do you have suggestions that may help Georgia lead the nation in improving student achievement? If so, you may want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to speak directly to the State Board of Education Member Larry Winter representing your area – the Ninth Congressional District.

Mr. Winter welcomes you to an open public hearing taking place on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Lanier Career Charter Academy, 2723 Tumbling Creek Road, Gainesville, 30504.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, student, or simply a concerned citizen – you are encouraged to take part in this important event. Your feedback is critical as the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Schools work together to insure that all Georgia students are receiving an excellent education.

Those wishing to speak at the meeting are asked to sign in when they arrive. For more information contact Mrs. Jacqueline Clarke Dodd at 404-657-7410 or by e-mail: jclarkedodd@doe.k12.ga.us

The Georgia Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services or activities. Individuals who need assistance or auxiliary aids for participation in this public forum are invited to make their needs known to Mrs. Jackie Clarke Dodd, Georgia Department of Education at (404) 657-7410.
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