State Board of Education Approves Waiver Requests For School Systems Impacted by Violent Storms

The State Board of Education today (May 6) unanimously approved State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge’s recommendation to grant requests from five local school systems to waive the required number of instructional days as a result of the violent storms that swept through Georgia last week. Dade, Floyd, Meriwether, Spalding, and Walker County School Systems suffered severe damage to several school buildings during the April 27th storms that have forced them to use up their allotted emergency days. At a special called meeting today, the board voted to allow these five systems to waive the 180 school-day equivalent so that they will not be required to make up these lost days.

“These schools and communities have been struck by a terrible tragedy," said Superintendent Barge. "While we cannot replace the lives that were lost or undo the damage that was done, we can provide the flexibility they need to help facilitate rebuilding and recovery. The families and communities affected by this tragedy are in our prayers. We hope today’s action will make this recovery process a little easier for them.”

Today’s board vote specifically waived SBOE Rule 160-5-1-.02 School Day and School Year for Students and Employees. For the individual waiver requests, please visit https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/meetings/viewmeetingOrder.aspx?S=1262&MID=19505.

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2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced

State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge announced March 1 the finalists for 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year.

The 10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 154 applicants who were selected as the Teacher of the Year in their school districts. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.

"This is a strong group of outstanding educators who would each make a terrific 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year," said Superintendent Barge. "Congratulations to the finalists and to all those who applied for consideration. I know the judges had a very difficult job choosing just 10 finalists from this group of applicants."

Over the next several weeks, a panel of judges will observe and interview each of the finalists. The finalists will also give a speech at a luncheon sponsored by Georgia Power on April 1. The winner will be announced at the Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet on May 6, 2011, at the Georgia World Congress Center. The banquet, paid for through donations from sponsors, will honor each local district Teacher of the Year. A reception hosted by United Healthcare will be held prior to the banquet.

The 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and the nation, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. The winner will also be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

The 2011 Georgia Teacher of the Year is Ms. Pam Williams, a teacher at Appling County High School. To learn more about Ms. Williams and the Teacher of the Year program, click on the following link: http://www.gadoe.org/ci.aspx?PageReq=TOTY 

2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalists (in alphabetical order by district)
Teacher, Subject, System, School

Jadun O. McCarthy, English Language Arts
Bibb County, Northeast Health Science Magnet High School

Ashlee J. Mitchell, Speech-Language Pathology
Bulloch County, Stilson Elementary School

Vicki Tarleton, Mathematics
Columbia County, Grovetown High School

Nancy Williams, Social Skills
Coweta County, Madras Middle School

Beth Sciarro, Reading
Houston County, Northside Elementary

Ivy K. Smith, Mathematics
Lowndes County, Pine Grove Middle

Christine W. Powell, Journalism, Art History and Literature
Muscogee County, Northside High School

Lisa Boyd, English Language Arts
Rockdale County, Salem High School

Melissa Webb, Second Grade
Savannah-Chatham, West Chatham Elementary School

Nancy C. Rogers, Literature
Thomas County, Thomas County Central High School

The Georgia Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored by United Healthcare.

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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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Peachtree City's Fine Honored as Georgia’s Assistant Principal of the Year

GE Note: Kudos to Ms. Fine for this very fine accomplishment!! Fayette County and Peachtree City are proud of you!

One assistant principal now has her very own school desk, complete with her name on it, thanks to Virco Manufacturing Corporation.

Lisa Fine of McIntosh High was presented with the desk in honor of her being named the state’s Assistant Principal of the Year by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.

Competitors for the title are judged based on an application process where they answer questions about how they have achieved at least three successes in the areas of collaborative learning, curriculum, instruction and assessment and personalization.

As the state’s winner, Fine represented Georgia in the national competition, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, earlier this year in Washington DC.

Virco presented Fine with her personalized school desk on September 16 to commemorate her achievement.

“Ms. Fine faced very tough competition to win this honor. This morning I was fortunate enough to be able to present her with this award from Virco Manufacturing,” says account representative Connie Joyce.

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