Inside The Atlanta Educator: Grady High teacher Korri Ellis

Have you checked out the latest issue of The Atlanta Educator? It’s chock full of amazing features about the teachers, administrators, staffers, students, parents and community supporters who continue to enforce Atlanta Public Schools’ journey to excellence. You can read them one article at a time online here, or by clicking on www.issuu.com/atlantaeducator. We wanted to give you some examples before the break, starting with this feature on Grady High science teacher Korri Ellis. Here’s the intro; read the rest at the jump!

When Korri Ellis thinks about community engagement, she thinks green.

She thinks about trees her Grady High students planted on campus and throughout Midtown. She thinks about the school recycling program that began a couple years ago. She also thinks about harvesting organic produce from the school’s garden and creating meals for students to enjoy. 

As chair of the Grady High School Science Department and 2008 APS High School Teacher of the Year, Ellis has reinforced Georgia Performance Standards by creating partnerships with just about every environmental group in town. That list includes the Piedmont Park Conservancy, Georgia Conservancy, Trees Atlanta, Georgia Organics, Farmer D Organics, the Georgia Aquarium — and more.

Read more here.

Holiday concerts usher in season of good cheer

It’s hard to imagine celebrating the holidays without classic carols like, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “Jingle Bells.” It’s also difficult to imagine elementary schools without music programs — and the talented teachers who help students embrace the arts.

While many districts have cut arts programs, the sound of music is alive and well throughout Atlanta Public Schools. Holiday concerts featuring jazz bands, orchestras, choruses and plays made this a busy week, but TalkUpAPS did peek in on a few performances, including the holiday show at Thomasville Heights Elementary.

Members of the school band, orchestra (above) and choir put on a rousing holiday show that kept parents smiling. Kudos to the music directors who kept everyone in tune and on key! Also, if you missed the amazing APS honors concert at Maynard H. Jackson High, watch highlights from the show on our Media Gallery.

Happy Holidays!

APS schools to close Dec. 20-Jan. 5 for winter break

Atlanta Public Schools will close from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5 for winter break. The last day of classes for schools on the APS traditional school calendar is Friday, Dec. 17. Classes resume after winter break on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011. APS administrative offices will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 22 until Monday, Jan. 3.

Peyton Forest Elementary dancers lead the way

The Peyton Forest Elementary Tigerette Dance Troop performed and led the Cascade Southwest Christmas/Kwanzaa Parade on Dec. 4. Two of the students were asked to make special presentations to Mayor Kasim Reed (presented by Icis Martin, fourth grade) and Andrea Boone, commissioner of constituent  services for the mayor (presented by Harper Sims, fourth grade). The dance troop is advised by Bridget Dukes (teacher), Beverly Fuller (teacher), and is under the leadership of Principal Marissa Kalu-Thompson.

Harper-Archer media specialist Keisha Robinson named Symetra ‘Hero in the Classroom’

Join the club, Keisha Robinson! The Harper-Archer Middle School media specialist became the fourth APS teacher to join the ranks of the Symetra “Hero in the Classroom” group. The announcement came in an assembly at the school Tuesday that included the Atlanta Falcons and SunTrust Bank.

Robinson, Harper-Archer’s media specialist for 11 years, was nominated for the award by co-worker and administrative assistant Sandra Perrino. Principal Allison Marks her pride in how Robinson brings recognition to the school.  The media center staff of Robinson and Perrino has written grants that has won the school more than $10,000 this year.

Sutton Middle’s FBLA chapter earns national, state rankings

Sutton Middle School’s chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) has been ranked No. 5 among the FBLA Top Ten Middle School chapters in the nation. More than 100 students have joined the club since its recent inception, and committed to the FBLA mission. FBLA is a nationally organization with more than 200,000 members around the world, and helps students learn business-related skills and leadership skills while serving their communities.

Kameelah Chase, a business/techology education teacher at Sutton who serves as the FBLA chapter advisor, was pleased with the huge interest and support from administrators, parents and students.

Sutton’s chapter was established with the help of North Atlanta High School’s Chapter, as well as the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) office to help increase the unlimited opportunities FBLA provides for its members, and to help strengthen the transition from middle school to high school.

20 APS high school students earn half of Posse Atlanta’s full-tuition scholarships to premier colleges

Twenty of the 40 local high school students awarded four-year, full-tuition scholarships to attend four premier colleges and universities by The Posse Atlanta Foundation are APS students. The students, who attend seven APS high schools, will be honored during a ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Georgia-Pacific Auditorium (133 Peachtree St., N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303). Students are selected for the program based on academic excellence and outstanding leadership.

JROTC cadets march in step as Lt. Col. Torbert retires

On Dec. 4, 500 cadets from the APS Junior Officer Training Corps (JROTC) showcased programs at 10 APS high schools. The dramatic Pass-in-Review at Grady Stadium also marked the end of an era for Lt. Col. Thomas E. Torbert, who retired as the Deputy Director of Army Instruction in the Office of High Schools.

APS robotics teams participate in 100 Black Men of Atlanta FIRST LEGO League competition

UPDATE: That’s right, we were featured on CNN! Watch here.

Robotics teams from Parkside and Towns elementary schools, B.E.S.T. Academy, Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, King and Inman middle schools and Drew Charter School competed in the Project Success FIRST LEGO League, sponsored by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., on Dec. 11 at B.E.S.T. Academy.

Implemented in 2005, the robotics program was designed to inspire elementary and middle school students’ interest in science and technology through exciting mentor-based activities. FIRST (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) is an international nonprofit organization that aspires to transform culture by making science, math, engineering and technology just as cool as sports.

Elementary students compete in the FIRST LEGO League. Middle and high school students vie for top honors in FIRST Tech Challenge competitions. The 100 Black Men of Atlanta manages four teams, with a goal of creating robotics mentoring and resources to more APS students.

Famous black inventor and scientist, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, an active member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, works closely with the initiative and houses the 100′s Robotics Program at his laboratory. Dr. Johnson’s donation of time and resources provides the teams an opportunity to see scientists at work, while supplying furniture, computers, software and the services of an IT specialist and engineer.

During Saturday’s main event, students milled in and out of the gym, monitoring the action and waiting for their chance to compete. After one victory, members of the B.E.S.T. Academy team shook hands and congratulated their competitors.

Photos by Scott King, look for a video soon.

Radio personality Elle Duncan helps Parks Middle students carve out career paths

Parks Middle School has always worked to provide students with positive role models and mentors to help carve their journey to success. Today was no exception as attorneys, chiropractors, funeral directors and scientists descended on the campus for Career Day.

“It was a great success this year,” said guidance counselor Barbara Santiago. “We actually had so many volunteers that we had to turn some away.”

In one seventh-grade class, Delta Air Lines pilot Patrick Ryan shared that is path to the cockpit of a commercial airplane included a stint cleaning high schools.

“You always thave to be prepared and work hard,” he said. “No matter what the task is, do your best.”

The day’s events culminated with a speech by V-103 on-air personality Elle Duncan, who urged students to block out distractions and focus on excelling in school.