Vol. 2, No. 2 Spring 2010 Informacion en espanol en atlantapublicschools.us GATES WAY TO SUCCESS Gates Foundation boosts initiative to maximize teacher effectiveness BY DAVID LEE SIMMONS positions within the district also make classroom. That’s the driving force Andrew Lovett Jr. is a born leader Lovett an asset in the classroom. behind the Effective Teacher in Every who constantly seeks new ways to A management position in the Classroom Initiative, which received a engage his math students. That district would be a natural progression huge boost in January in the form of a dedication helped him win 2009 for Lovett or any teacher who makes a $10 million, three-year grant from the Teacher of the Year for Carver’s positive impact on student Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. School of Health Sciences & achievement. But Atlanta Public The Gates grant bolsters the Research. Schools is dedicated to retaining and district’s work to develop a The same qualities that make him a rewarding teachers who motivate comprehensive evaluation system for Teacher Andrew Lovett Jr. works with AP Calculus students Briahna Head prime candidate for administrative students and produce results in the and Orane Douglas at the Carver School of Health Sciences & Research. See GATES Page 4 Checkmate Chess programs in Atlanta Public Schools have students such as Peter Maynard, right, of M. Agnes Jones Learning Chinese Elementary feeling like kings and Page 6 queens. Story, Page 5. Sharing wisdom Page 8 Living history Pages 12-13 PHOTO: SCOTT KING 2 —The Atlanta Educator Spring 2010 We’re all about student achievement elcome to this school year’s second greatest impact on achievement. In this issue of our motivate our students. issue of The Atlanta Educator. In this newspaper, you will meet the director of the ETEC We’ve had many famous visitors to our schools Wpublication, we have tried to capture program and many APS teachers who exemplify over the years. The latest two — famed the stories of our staff and students who continue to what it means to be an outstanding teacher. primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and U.S. Secretary make a difference in our community. You will read In this issue, you also will meet students from of Education Arne Duncan — are featured in this about programs and initiatives that are helping turn Fain, Dobbs, West Manor, Usher-Collier Heights, issue of The Atlanta Educator. Atlanta Public Schools into one of the fastest Humphries and M. Agnes Jones who are developing These are just a few examples of how Atlanta improving urban school districts in the nation. extraordinary analytical skills, academic proficiency Public Schools is working toward its goal of making Just last month, APS received a $10 million grant and self-esteem through the game of chess. You sure all students graduate from high school with the from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that will get a better understanding of the role knowledge and skills they need to succeed in will intensify our system of teacher performance international relations plays in our schools after college and careers. and accountability under the banner of our Effective reading about our partnerships with China, Turkey I encourage you to take the time to thumb through Teacher in Every Classroom (ETEC) Initiative. Our and Germany. the pages of The Atlanta Educator and help us work to improve teacher quality reflects a keen Read about the oral history lessons students at spread the good news about APS in the weeks and Dr. Beverly L. Hall understanding of what we know from data and Morningside Elementary are getting from graduates months to come. experience: Children can excel in the presence of from the 1940's and 50's and learn about talented highly effective teachers. While the district writers who participate in the Def Poetry Jam at incorporates several innovative reform models, we Dunbar Elementary. In this issue you'll also see Dr. Beverly L. Hall is superintendent of Atlanta know that the ETEC work will have the single why music education continues to inspire and Public Schools. Atlanta Board of Education Harvard takes note of APS LaChandra D. Butler Burks, Chair Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, Vice Chair Urban Superintendents Program pays a visit to Dr. Hall Brenda J. Muhammad Khaatim S. El BY MEAGHAN CASEY dramatic improvements of APS are a at Carver. Nancy M. Meister result of the work of an entire “During our time there, we noticed Yolanda K.Johnson More than a decade ago, Dr. Beverly community, who, under the leadership of that the use of student data drives Reuben R. McDaniel, III Hall began her mission as superintendent Dr. Hall, stood up and said, ‘We want instruction throughout the district,” said Courtney D. English to transform APS into a continuously more for APS students.’” Echelson. “District leaders, principals Emmett D. Johnson improving urban school district. Established in 1990, USP is a rigorous and teachers all seemed very Eager to observe that transformation course of study comfortable and excited first-hand, Dr. Robert S. Peterkin, former designed for describing how data Published by: director of the Urban Superintendents professionals who have analysis shapes teaching Atlanta Public Schools Program (USP) at the Harvard Graduate worked innovatively and learning in schools. Beverly L. Hall, Ed.D. School of Education, paid a visit to and effectively in There is a distinct APS We also noticed abundant Superintendent Atlanta during the week of Jan. 11-14. metropolitan school culture found“ in every student work displayed Suzanne Yeager Peterkin brought with him Harvard districts as teacher- school that involves throughout each of the Chief Communications Officer Graduate School of Education lecturer leaders, school common language, schools we visited, Submit story ideas to: Dr. Janice Jackson and doctoral students principals or central common expectations demonstrating the rich Morieka V. Johnson, Editor Leslie Boozer, Lizzy Carroll, Drew office administrators. and instructional variety of learning taking Director of Communications Echelson, Laura Kelley, Melissa USP doctoral students practice. place in Atlanta Public Atlanta Public Schools Matarazzo, Lynette Tannis, and build upon their own Schools at all grade 130 Trinity Ave., SW Maqueda Randall-Weeks. experience as educators Drew Echelson levels. Atlanta, GA 30303 The group spent time shadowing Dr. through coursework, an Doctoral student, Harvard “We observed a level of Tel:404-802-2893 Hall, who chairs the USP Advisory internship, research and Graduate School of Education consistency among and [email protected] Board and regularly mentors program writing of a between schools in APS www.atlantapublicschools.us participants. dissertation. that we have never “Dr. Hall has the powerful ability to As part of the on-site experience in observed in large school districts,” Sign up for our mailing list at communicate from families to the Atlanta, the USP visitors witnessed Echelson added. “There is a distinct APS www.atlantapublicschools.us/AEsubscribe boardroom,” said Echelson, speaking on board and cabinet meetings and culture found in every school that PHOTOS BY SCOTT KING behalf of his fellow USP classmates. participated in reflective conversations involves common language, common Produced by: “She understands that in order to get with Dr. Hall and APS staff. They also expectations and instructional practice. GRANT COMMUNICATIONS results, she must engage an entire toured the single-gender Coretta Scott There is a palpable spirit in APS that it CONSULTING GROUP community in the complex work of King Young Women’s Leadership is a school district on the move, and that 781-598-8200 improvement. It’s apparent that the Academy, as well as The New Schools was felt throughout the organization.” [email protected] www.grantgroup.com APS POINT OF PRIDE: Atlanta Public Schools is on a consistent 10-year trend of progress. The Atlanta Educator Spring 2010 —3 APS BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: KHAATIM SHERRER EL Sherrer El works to put ‘public’ back in public education Khaatim Sherrer El serves as the Atlanta Board of school issues. Education representative for District 2. This is the fifth in “We saw the neighborhoods stepping up their efforts to a series of board member profiles in The Atlanta shut down drug dealers who were located on the routes Educator. kids took to school or the bus stop,” he said. “It was big and small stuff all at once that we worked on.” LEADERSHIP Khaatim Sherrer El has served on the Atlanta Board of EXPERIENCE Education since 2003, when he won a special election. Sherrer El’s experience with the Community Council He was re-elected in 2005, and again last fall, winning inspired him to run for the Atlanta Board of Education’s the majority in every precinct. District 2 seat during his senior year at Morehouse. His Sherrer El represents District 2 mantra: “Put the ‘public’ back in ‘public schools: Bethune, Connally, Finch, education.’” Sherrer El said voters could Gideons, Herndon, M.A. Jones, F.L. relate to “this young, energetic man with Stanton and White elementary schools, the commitment and passion to bring the as well as KIPP Ways and University The school board community and the schools together in a Community Academy charter schools; “ city where only half the African Americans and the schools Brown, Kennedy, Parks and Turner were graduating from high school.” middle schools; and Douglass and have to be willing He became the youngest board member Washington high schools. to engage, just as upon his election in 2003, and graduated the parents have from Morehouse in 2007 with a bachelor’s BACKGROUND degree in Urban Studies and Public Policy. Sherrer El became interested in to be willing to Sherrer El also serves on the board of public education at an early age.