Brad Bryant Becomes Georgia's 20th State School Superintendent‏

Brad Bryant  was sworn into office as Georgia’s 20th State School Superintendent on July 1. Previously a member of the State Board of Education, Superintendent Bryant was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue in June to fill the unexpired term of Superintendent Kathy Cox who resigned to head the U.S. Education Delivery Institute in Washington, D.C.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve as State School Superintendent,” said Superintendent Bryant. “As a parent who had children in public schools and whose wife continues to work in one, I know the challenges we face and how important a quality education is to our state’s future. I will hit the ground running to ensure we provide the foundation that positively benefits our students, teachers and communities.”

“Brad's experience as a parent, local school board member and state school board member makes him uniquely qualified to help lead our state's education system. He is committed to supporting our superintendents, principals and teachers as they work every day to help our students reach new levels of achievement.”

Prior to his appointment as State School Superintendent, Bryant served seven years as the 4th District representative on the State Board of Education. He is the past President of the National Association of State Boards of Education. Bryant also worked as a Special Liaison to the Clayton County and Warren County school systems to help them regain their accreditation. Bryant served on the DeKalb County Board of Education for twelve years, including seven years as its Chair.


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Atlanta School Leader Beverly Hall Named 2009 National Superintendent of the Year

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beverly Hall, superintendent of Atlanta, Ga., Public Schools has been named the 2009 National Superintendent of the Year. Hall was honored today at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in San Francisco. The National Superintendent of the Year program is co-sponsored by AASA, ARAMARK Education and ING.

“Beverly Hall is an outstanding superintendent whose leadership has turned Atlanta into a model of urban school reform,” said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech. “Throughout her long and successful tenure in Atlanta, Hall has accomplished significant gains in student achievement. She has demonstrated a commitment to setting high standards for students and school personnel, working collaboratively with the school board, and meeting the needs of the local community. AASA is proud to bestow this national honor on Hall.”

“Congratulations to Beverly Hall for representing the ‘best of the best’ in public school leadership,” said Dennis Maple, president, ARAMARK Education. “ARAMARK is honored to be a part this special program that rewards and recognizes a professional like Hall who truly cares about the wellbeing of her students. Also, we salute this year's state winners who so earnestly strive to give every child the ideal learning experience and the greatest chance for success.”

“ING values education and all educators who tirelessly strive to improve student achievement,” said Rhonda Mims, president of the ING Foundation. “Congratulations to Beverly Hall for being recognized for her outstanding leadership in ensuring students receive a quality education. ING also acknowledges all superintendents who are advancing education in their districts.”

Hall has been superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, serving 50,000 students, for 10 years, making her one of the longest-serving superintendents of an urban school district. She previously served as state district superintendent of Newark, N.J., Public Schools.

Hall is credited with transforming the 102-school system in Atlanta through a comprehensive reform agenda. Every elementary school in Atlanta made adequate yearly progress in 2008, and graduation rates at several high schools have risen sharply.

Hall worked most of her early career in New York City, where she was a teacher, principal and superintendent of a community school district. She also spent a year as deputy chancellor for instruction in the New York City Public Schools before her appointment to run the Newark, N.J., schools, whose operation was taken over by the state.

She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and an advanced certificate from Brooklyn College, and her doctoral degree from Fordham University. She won the Richard R. Green award for urban education leadership from the Council of the Great City Schools in 2006.

As the 2009 National Superintendent of the Year honoree, Hall is entitled to present a $10,000 college scholarship to a student at the all-girls high school in Jamaica from which she graduated before emigrating with her family to New York City.

A national blue-ribbon panel selected Hall from four finalists. The other national finalists were: Suzanne Freeman, superintendent of the Trussville, Ala., City Schools; Stu Silberman, superintendent of the Fayette County, Ky., Public Schools; and Gene White, superintendent of the Indianapolis, Ind., Public Schools.

The finalists were measured against the following criteria: leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.

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Schools Honored for AP Performance

More than 80 "AP Honor Schools" named

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox named more than 80 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools today.

"Georgia is making tremendous strides with Advanced Placement -- not only in the number of students taking the courses, but in the number of students having success," Superintendent Cox said. "Much of that progress comes from the dedication to rigor and excellence at each of our AP Honor Schools."

Advanced Placement (AP) classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP classes offer rigorous college-level learning options to students in high school. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit.

The 2009 AP Honor Schools are named in three categories, based on the results of 2007-2008 AP classes and exams:

- AP CHALLENGE SCHOOLS: Schools with fewer than 900 students that are offering AP classes in the four core areas of English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science
- AP ACCESS & SUPPORT SCHOOLS: Schools with 30% of AP test takers that are African-American or Hispanic and at least 30% of all AP exams scoring 3 or higher
- AP MERIT SCHOOLS: Schools with at least 20% of students taking AP exams and at least half of the AP exams scoring a 3 or higher

The AP Honor Schools are listed below.

On Wednesday (February 4), the College Board released the AP Report to the Nation, which showed that Georgia ranked 15th nationally in the percentage of 2008 high school seniors that had at least one AP exam with a score of 3 or more.

Schools named in all three AP Honor School categories
(School, district)

- Davidson Magnet School, Richmond
- DeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb

School named in two AP Honor School categories
(School, district, categories)

- Chamblee High School, DeKalb (access and merit)
- Cross Keys High School, DeKalb (challenge and access)
- Decatur High School, Decatur City (challenge and merit)
- Johnson Magnet School, Richmond (challenge and access)
- Montgomery County High, Montgomery (Challenge and access)
- North Oconee High, Oconee (challenge and merit)
- Savannah Arts Academy, Chatham (challenge and merit)
- Thomasville High School, Thomasville City (challenge and access)

AP CHALLENGE SCHOOLS: Schools with fewer than 900 students that are offering AP classes in all four academic areas

Albany High School, Dougherty
Avondale High School, DeKalb
Bremen High School, Bremen City
Buford High School, Buford City
Calhoun High School, Calhoun City
Cook County High School, Cook
Cross Keys High School, DeKalb
Davidson Magnet High School, Richmond
Decatur High School, Decatur City
DeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb
East Jackson High School, Jackson
Greene County High School, Greene
Johnson Magnet High School, Richmond
Lincoln County High School, Lincoln
McIntosh County Academy, McIntosh
Montgomery County High, Montgomery
North Oconee High School, Oconee
Northeast High School, Bibb
Putnam County High School, Putnam
Rabun County High School, Rabun
Savannah Arts Academy, Chatham
Schley County Middle-High School, Schley
Southeast Bulloch High School, Bulloch
Temple High School, Carroll
Thomasville High School, Thomasville City
Vidalia Comprehensive High, Vidalia City

AP ACCESS & SUPPORT SCHOOLS: Schools with 30% of AP Test Takers that are African-American or Hispanic and at least 30% of all AP Exams scoring 3 or higher

Academy of Richmond County, Richmond
Bacon County High School, Bacon
Baldwin High School, Baldwin
Berkmar High School, Gwinnett
Bradwell Institute, Liberty
Bryan County High School, Bryan
Burke County High School, Burke
Campbell High School, Cobb
Central Gwinnett High School, Gwinnett
Chamblee High School, DeKalb
Chapel Hill High School, Douglas
Clinch County High School, Clinch
Cross Keys High School, DeKalb
Dalton High School, Dalton City
Davidson Magnet High School, Richmond
DeKalb HS of Technology, North, DeKalb
DeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb
Douglas County High School, Douglas
Druid Hills High School, DeKalb
Dublin High School, Dublin City
Dutchtown High School, Henry
Eagle’s Landing High School, Henry
East Laurens High School, Laurens
Emanuel County Institute, Emanuel
Fayette County High School, Fayette
Jenkins High School, Savannah-Chatham
Jenkins County High School, Jenkins
Johnson Magnet High School, Richmond
Luella High School, Henry
McEachern High School, Cobb
Montgomery County High, Montgomery
Randolph Clay High School, Randolph
Rockdale County High School, Rockdale
Salem High School, Rockdale
Sandy Creek High School, Fayette
Shaw High School, Muscogee
Shiloh High School, Gwinnett
South Gwinnett High School, Gwinnett
Southwest DeKalb High School, DeKalb
Tech High School, Atlanta Public Schools
Thomasville High School, Thomasville City
Woodland High School, Henry

AP MERIT SCHOOLS: Schools with at least 20% of students taking AP exams and at least half of the AP exams scoring a 3 or higher

Alpharetta High School, Fulton
Brookwood High School, Gwinnett
Centennial High School, Fulton
Chamblee High School, DeKalb
Chattahoochee High School, Fulton
Columbus High School, Muscogee
Davidson Magnet High School, Richmond
Decatur High School, Decatur City
DeKalb School of the Arts, DeKalb
Duluth High School, Gwinnett
Harrison High School, Cobb
Lakeside High School, Columbia
Lassiter High School, Cobb
Milton High School, Fulton
North Forsyth High School, Forsyth
North Gwinnett High School, Gwinnett
North Oconee High School, Oconee
North Springs High School, Fulton
Northview High School, Fulton
Parkview High School, Gwinnett
Riverwood High School, Fulton
Roswell High School, Fulton
Savannah Arts Academy, Chatham
South Forsyth High School, Forsyth
Starrs Mill High School, Fayette
Walton High School, Cobb
West Forsyth High School, Forsyth