Posts filed under ‘Teachers Honors’
CTAE Announces Its Teachers of the Year
CTAE Announces Its Teachers of the Year
2013 CTAE Performance Recognition
The 2013 Career, Technical and Agricultural Education “High School Teacher of the Year” distinction was recently awarded to Linda Hassan-Randle of Crim Open Campus. The Middle School Teacher of the Year honors went to Kameelah Chase of Sutton Middle School. Ms. Chase was also the APS district Middle School Teacher of the year. Finalist honors went to Lorraine Bowen of North Atlanta High School and Alisha Foots of B.E.S.T Academy. The awards were announced at the 5th Annual CTAE End-of-Year Performance Recognition Event honoring outstanding CTAE teachers and local business partners. Additional awards were given to teachers who worked to prepare students for state and national competitive events, who excelled in placing students in work-based learning opportunities, and those who helped to plan and implement CTAE professional development workshops. Schools also nominated business partners for special awards in recognition of their outstanding service to the students of APS. CTAE Advisory Board members were recognized for their service during the 2013 school year. CTAE Advisory Board members were instrumental in recruiting hundreds of guest speakers for this year’s College and Career Motivation Week.
Dr. Michael Maze, CTAE Director with Kameelah Chase, Middle School CTAE Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Michael Maze, CTAE Director with Linda Hassan-Randle, High School CTAE Teacher of the Year
Teacher Awardees
Dr. Connie Duncan, Mays High School
Dr. James Dunton, Grady High School
Melissa Edwards, Therrell Law, Gov & Public Policy
Richard Elder, Crim Open Campus High School
Michelle Espinoza, Washington Health Sciences & Nutrition
Terry Foster, Carver Health Sciences & Research Dwionne Freeman, North Atlanta High School
Dion Harper-Jones, Therrell Health Sciences & Research
Linda Hassan-Randle, Crim Open Campus High School
Vikki Harmon, Washington Banking, Finance & Investment
Sandra Jackson, Therrell Health Sciences & Research
Patricia Kendall, Grady High School
Phyllis Lucy, Crim Open Campus High School
Rosie McCoy, West-End Academy
Leola McNeil, Grady High School
LaRhonda Palmer, Carver Health Sciences & Research
Tonia Schofield, Grady High School
Melanie Smith, Carver Health Sciences & Research
Jimmy Stapp, South Atlanta Computer Animation & Design
Dr. Theo Smith, Benjamin Mays High School
Angela Turner-Williams, So. Atlanta Health & Medical Sciences
Business and Community Partner Awardees
Barbara Campbell, Century 21
Peta Gay-Major, Price Waterhouse Coopers
Monty Green, MVM Agency
Christine Harden, Piedmont College
Prescott Miller, Round Hill Capital, LLC
Douglas N. Palfrey, J. P. Morgan Securities
Darrell Stallings, H. J. Russell & Company
Nikki Thornton, Project Restore
CTAE Advisory Board Honorees
Ruth Alvarez-Moon, Atlanta Workforce
Rhonda Bailey, EPA
Roni Bell, Georgia DOL
Mary Blake, Retired Educator
Robert Bonner, New York Life
Niambi Brown, Jr. Achievement
Greg Clay, Atlanta Speaks
Velma Cooper, Retired Educator
Odie Donald, The Donald Group
Cynthia Evers, Atlanta Metro College
Mark Galvin, Piedmont Hospital
Juli Gilyard, Atlanta Technical College
Joe Jackson, Grtr. ATL Econ. Alliance
Leonard McReynolds, Primerica
Dr. Sheryl Neely, Atlanta Public Schools
Angie Neely Penn, Neesan Grp
Felicia Taylor, Georgia Power
Asziree Thompson, Citizens Trust Bank
Inman’s Teacher Jatisha Marsh Selected as 2013 National Teacher Fellow
Inman Middle School Teacher Jatisha Marsh is among twelve teacher leaders from eleven states selected as a 2013 Hope Street Group National Teacher Fellow. The National Teacher Fellowship is a competitive program designed for teacher leaders wanting to share their expertise, experience and ideas in helping to shape education policy nationwide. Marsh was selected from nearly 100 applicants from 27 states to serve as representatives of Hope Street Group, advocating for education policy changes. She will meet with fellow educators to present to national, state and local policymakers, as well as peers across the country.
“This fellowship will provide me the forum to combine my interests education and policy,” says Jatisha Marsh. “The opportunity to talk and collaborate with teachers from across the country regarding educational policy issues excites me. The fellowship will allow me to interact with business leaders and government officials while bringing teacher voice into the shaping of educational policy.”
Jatisha Marsh is a middle school teacher at Inman Middle School where she is a member of the Local School Council, an Atlanta Public Schools Ethics Advocate, and the Site Director for the Before Care and After School Program. She attended Florida A&M University on a full scholarship and graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and History as well as a Masters in Business Administration. She also holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgia State University. Jatisha entered the teaching profession in 2006 through Teach For America. She has received a number of recognitions and honors, which include appointment to the APS Farm to School Task Force, TFA/CRSS School Board Fellowship, and IIE Korean Workshop for American Educators Award Recipient. Jatisha also serves as a Recruitment Ambassador for TNTP.
Eight APS Educators Awarded $7,500 Grants from Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education
Peter McKnight, principal of South Atlanta School of Law & Social Justice, was one of eight AFAEE Grant winners this week.
APS Superintendent Erroll Davis, Atlanta Falcons football players and Homer the Brave were among the many celebrities and officials who surprised eight outstanding educators in Atlanta Public Schools this week with grants from the Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education (AFAEE). The grants, $7,500 for each teacher or principal, will help fund innovative classroom projects that will improve students’ access to quality education.
The following educators were named 2012 AFAEE winners:
Vanessa Evans – KIPP STRIVE Academy, fifth grade teacher
Stephanie Jones – KIPP STRIVE Academy, fifth grade English language arts teacher
Erik Herndon – Young Middle School, eighth grade guitar
Dr. Evelyn Mobley – West End Academy, principal
Nicole Bartig – Sarah Smith Elementary School, kindergarten teacher
Brittany Beaumont – Springdale Park Elementary, first grade teacher
Bethany Paquette – Drew Charter School, third and fourth grade special education teacher
Peter McKnight – South Atlanta School of Law & Social Justice, principal
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AFAEE PHOTO GALLERY
Since its inception in 2005, AFAEE has recognized outstanding teachers and school leaders for their commitment to excellence, while aiming to create a platform to further award winners’ success in APS, retain motivated educators and attract like-minded individuals to the district. Each winner was awarded $7,500, which includes funding for a school project of the winner’s choice ($3,500), funding for a professional development opportunity to increase the winner’s effectiveness in the school or classroom ($1,500) and a personal stipend ($2,500).
“The opportunity to award these amazing educators is what drives our organization. Their passion is contagious and their dedication to creating a brighter future for APS students is impossible to ignore,” said Prescott Miller, Board chair of AFAEE. “Our partners look forward to seeing the impact the winners’ projects will have on the lives of their students.”
AFAEE has raised more than $1,000,000.00 to recognize and honor highly effective APS Educators.
For more information or to nominate a teacher for the 2013 awards, visit www.atlantafamilies.org.
About the Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education
The Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education recognizes and honors outstanding educators in a manner that informs and engages the community. By recognizing excellent educators each year, the Atlanta Families’ Awards for Excellence in Education hopes to retain excellent teachers and school leaders, inspire other educators to transform their craft, and increase the public’s awareness of educator and student success across the district.
Atlanta Public Schools Names Tamika N. Ball 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year
View the full multimedia gallery from the 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year banquet by clicking on the photo below. Congratulations to Tamika N. Ball, Teacher of the Year. Ms. Ball is an educator at Therrell High School of Health Sciences and Research. Finalists included Kameelah Chase of Sutton Middle School and Carla Daniels of Woodson Primary.
Multimedia – State Teacher of the Year Banquet 2012
Please enjoy multimedia content from the recent State Teacher of the Year banquet featuring our very own finalist Elisha Gray of Jackson High School.
Temporary Banner Page
http://www.apsk12.org/media/index.html
Previous Year winner’s Speech
http://www.apsk12.org/media/VIDEO_PAGES/GTOTY2012Speech.html
2013 Winner announcement and program highlights
http://www.apsk12.org/media/VIDEO_PAGES/GTOTY2012Highlights.html
Evening Photo Gallery featuring Elisha Gray
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GTOTYbanq2012/index.html
Event Audiocast
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GTOTY2012-AUDIOCAST.mp3
Jackson High School Educator Named Finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year
Elisha R. Gray, a special education teacher at Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School, is among the finalists for the 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year. Ms. Gray was named APS Teacher of the Year for 2011-12 last October.
Ten finalists for the state recognition were selected from a pool of 150 applicants from Georgia school districts. The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges, based largely on the applicants’ essay responses.
“I congratulate our ten Georgia Teacher of the Year finalists and those who applied,” said State School Superintendent Dr. John D. Barge. “We have always had a very impressive group of teachers make the top 10, and I know this year will be no different.”
“Ms. Gray represents thousands of APS educators in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district; their spirit, dedication and hard work nurture and enhance the lives of our students,” said Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr. “I am extremely proud of Ms. Gray and all of our talented educators who support the mission of educating today’s children for tomorrow’s world.”
The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet on June 1, 2012 at the Georgia International Convention Center.
Elisha R. Gray, Teacher, Maynard Jackson High School
Nominate a teacher for Symetra Heroes in the Classroom
Symetra Heroes in the Classroom
Do you know an APS teacher who deserves recognition for his or her hard work and dedication to making a difference in student’s lives? Well now is your chance to make that happen! SixteenGeorgiateachers will be selected as an Symetra Heroes in the Classroom presented by SunTrust Bank for their outstanding leadership and instruction. Winners will receive a $1,000 donation to their school, two tickets to a 2011 Falcons home game, a VIP sideline experience at the Georgia Dome, as well as recognition at school and on the field during game day!
Who is eligible?
All K-12 teachers in Georgia.
Who can nominate?
Current or former students of a nominated teacher, Parents of current or former students of a nominated teacher, Coworker of a nominated teacher, Current or former principal of a nominated teacher, School district staff.
What are the criteria for selecting Heroes?
Hero selection is based on a teacher’s ability to: balance the core curriculum with students’ individual needs; build trust among students, parents and the community; and invest in their students’ long-term success.
When does it start?
Nominations are being accepted now! The first Falcons home game is Sept. 18 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The sooner the nominations are submitted, the more opportunity your favorite teacher has to be a winner! For more information and to nominate a teacher today, visit
A Record 24 Media Centers Received $5,000 Grants From the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries
Parkside Elementary students enjoy their school's award winning library led by Media Specialist, Tommy Clay.
A record 23 Atlanta Public Schools media centers received $5,000 grants from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries on May 5th, by far the most of any school district in the nation. The grants are awarded to help media specialists expand, update, and diversify their library book collections. APS represented almost ten percent of the 241 school libraries that were selected throughout the nation (earning a total of $1,086,926 in grant money). Last year 15 of the 188 libraries selected were from APS.
According to APS Media Services Coordinator Warren Goetzel, funding for book collections has never been more important. Right now the elementary schools get $15.31 per student per year in state funding, while middle schools and high schools get $13.03 per student per year. “And that’s for all media materials, not just books,” said Goetzel, who made a strong push for his media specialists to apply for the grant this year. ”The average cost of a book is $25. Books become obsolete pretty rapidly these days, and they don’t have the money to update them.” He added that the average usable life of a non-fiction is about five years due to rapid changes in science and technology. “Consider that Pluto’s not a planet anymore,” he said. “Any time there are those changes, you have to discard the book and start over.”
Goetzel and Andrea Waters-Winston, Director for Learning Technologies, were particularly proud of the media specialists for rising to the challenge and taking advantage of this crucial funding opportunity: “External funding is critical to build and maintain balanced book collections. Our media specialists are so dedicated to their staff and students to make sure they have the most updated resources availability.”
Below is the list of the grant-winning APS media centers and their media specialists:
- Beecher Hills Elementary School – Kristie Stargell
- BEST Academy High School – Kesha Legagneur
- BEST Academy Middle School – Bruce Williams
- Boyd Elementary School – Charlotte Davidson
- Capitol View Elementary School – Wilma Brightharp
- Carter G. Woodson Elementary School – Melanie Ellis
- Charles L. Gideons Elementary School – Alice Daniels
- D. H. Stanton Elementary School – Brenda Street
- East Lake Elementary School – Renee Withers
- Fickett Elementary School – Veronica Miller
- Hope-Hill Elementary School – Lisa Carter
- J. E. Brown Middle School Atlanta – Jami Pettway
- John F. Kennedy Middle School Atlanta – Nikki Bivins
- L. J. Price Middle School – Tammy Rosado
- Leonora Precious Miles Elementary School – Reginald Ponder
- Margaret Fain Elementary School – LaToya West
- Parkside Elementary School – Tommy Clay
- Perkerson Elementary School – Gloria Wright
- South Atlanta School of Computer Animation and Design – Tiffonia Lamar
- The New Schools @ Carver – Kathryn Weaver
- Thomasville Heights Elementary School – Imogene Mackey
- Whitefoord Elementary School – Mileeka Frank
- William J. Scott Elementary School – Anja Tigges
- William M. Finch Elementary School – Verble Alexander
(photo courtesy of Parkside Elementary PTA)
Sutton Middle’s Natalie Colbert to serve as state president of American String Teachers Association
Sutton Middle School orchestra director Natalie Colbert has been tabbed to serve as the state president of the American String Teachers Association. She also has been elected as the Georgia Music Educators Association’s state orchestra division chairman for 2011-13.
“I am honored to work with awesome colleagues in APS and throughout the state,” Ms. Colbert said. “I will work hard to represent our school system and the students we all serve.”
Colbert has worked at Sutton Middle for 30 years. The Sutton Orchestra Program maintains an enrollment of 165 students. Each year, three Sutton orchestras attend the District Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE) for evaluation and have consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings. The orchestra has performed in the All-American Music Festival in Orlando, Fla., earning Superior ratings for 10 consecutive years. They also have performed at the National Adjudicators Invitational, earning Superior ratings. In 2010, the orchestra was awarded “Most Outstanding Strings” and “Best Middle School Orchestra.”
M.A. Jones Elementary teacher selected to attend Teach For All Global Workshop in Mumbai, India
Erica Franklin, a second-year Teach For America corps member and fifth-grade teacher at M. Agnes Jones Elementary, is one of six corps members nationwide who was chosen to participate and represent Teach For America in a global workshop sponsored by Teach For All. The other five corps members joining Franklin hail from the following regions: Tulsa, Okla.; the Mid-Atlantic; Miami-Dade County; New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. Franklin was chosen as Atlanta’s representative in the national competition based on her work ethic, transformational vision in her classroom, desire to always better herself and those around her and commitment to her students, her school and our entire region.
“This is an amazing opportunity for Erica,” M. Agnes Jones Principal Margul Woolfolk said. “This was a very competitive selection process and we know that Erica will represent Atlanta Public Schools and our country well.”
