Wrapping it up

There has been much first semester wrap up during this week before break.  Many good things to share, including the work our department has been doing around Positive Behavior Supports.  It's been very exciting work over the last few months as we planned, retreated, and put into motion our framework of supports for kids and families.  Special Education, Intervention & Support, as well as Discipline & Student Relations have pulled together as a cross-functional team to think through what we currently have in place, what our needs are, who we work with and who we should work with, and where we need to go based on the data and best practice research. We've got some solid supports happening already at schools - such as PBIS Cohort I schools, RTI/SST processes, new evaluation timeline procedures, cross trainings in varied departments, and more - but are also looking ahead to 15-16 and beyond.  Great teaming all the way around.  A productive first semester and more to be shared as we move into those second semester months.

I received the following good news note about Beecher Hills Elementary School from Nicole Spiller, Director of Intervention and Support.  According to an email sent to Principal Crystal Jones from Nathan Schult, Parent Engagement Program Manager at the Georgia Department of Education, Beecher Hills "has been selected to participate in the Academic Parent Teacher Team (APTT) initiative Cohort II beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.  An additional nine school districts will be joining your school/district as part of Cohort II and the final group of ten will be announced later this year.  As shared in the initial interest form, you will receive detailed APTT training spring of 2015, along with ongoing support from WestEd and GaDOE throughout the implementation school year.  In addition, at no additional cost to you WestEd and GaDOE will also support you in the 2016-2017 school year using a modified support model as you continue to implement APTT in year two, but also take on the task of training/supporting at least one other Title I school in your District that year."  Congratulations Beecher Hills.

We also had a good planning meeting at Westside Works this Thursday.  Members of the Atlanta Promise Neighborhood advisory board, representatives from Morehouse School of Medicine, and most importantly, several Washington HS cluster principals and Associate Superintendents, met to discuss APN wrap-around initiatives and what those could mean for the schools, the students, and the community.  Working together for the common good.  More dialogue to come, but so enjoyed the conversation and deeper understanding of the APN focus.



As you can see to the right, we were in a holiday mood at the CLL this week, with each floor "adopting" current APS students and families in need.  Staff gifts and donations were on display on each floor, ready to be distributed by our dedicated social work team.  Good people who care and I was happy to be a part of the district's spirit of the season. 
 



Finally, we had another goodbye today on the 6th floor.  Cindy Davis, who has manned our front area desk ably the past few years, is retiring.  She has logged 40 years at Atlanta Public Schools (yep, you heard right, 40 years!) and is headed off for that next chapter in life.  Cindy began her "tenure with the Atlanta Public Schools in the month of June, 1974 at D.H. Stanton Elementary School under the leadership of Dr. Gwendolyn L. George, Principal."  She also tells me she worked in the Environmental Services Department, moved to the Department of Special Education, then to Human Resources, and finally, back to the Special Education department.  We thank her for her many years of service, the truly engaging humor and grace she has brought to the role, but most importantly, the many lives she has positively touched over the years. Thank you Cindy.  You'll be missed.

 

 



 
Happy Holidays to everyone in our APS community.  Much peace, love, and happiness to you all.