Vol. 1, No. 2 Spring 2009 Informacion en espanol en atlantapublicschools.us Inside A singular success BEST IN THE U.S. Pages 4-5 Dr. Hall named 2009 National Superintendent of the Year Dr. Beverly Hall’s role in helping Francisco. It is the top professional Superintendents Association, and one Atlanta Public Schools make dramatic honor for a K-12 school administrator, of the 100 most influential Georgians progress has not gone unnoticed in the making Hall the first Georgia of 2009 by Georgia Trend magazine. state of Georgia – or the nation. superintendent to receive the national Since Hall came to Atlanta in 1999, In February she was named 2009 title. student test scores have steadily National Superintendent of the Year by This is one of several recent honors improved, along with graduation rates. the American Association of School for Hall, who was named Georgia “Beverly Hall is an outstanding Superintendents at its National Superintendent of the Year in superintendent whose leadership has Conference on Education in San December by the Georgia School See SUPERINTENDENT Page 20 Dr. Beverly L. Hall Read after me Page 18 The real thing Rockin’ robots Pages 12-13 Bulldog Branden Page 24 Kennedy Middle School student Brandon Morris, right, works with Bethune Elementary student Jacoreya Comer as part of a tutoring program sponsored by the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program. Story, Page 7. PHOTO: REBA SALDANHA 2 —The Atlanta Educator Spring 2009 Investing in our students’ futures elcome to the Kelly Schlegel. You will learn how 10 years ago, Atlanta was one of the lowest- second edition of APS Chief of Security Marquenta A. performing urban school systems in America — WThe Atlanta Sands turned a crisis into an today, we’re one of the top. District-wide Educator. This has been an We’ve made opportunity by forming a well- graduation rates have increased 80 percent. exciting and historic year for “ trained cadre of APS crossing They’ve gone from 39 percent in 2002 – the major investments Atlanta Public Schools. Test guards. Don’t miss the story written earliest comparable year – to 71.7 percent for the scores are up, students are on to improve our by a proud Sarah Smith Elementary class of 2008. To make this kind of dramatic Dr. Beverly L. Hall a path to success — and the schools, and those parent who describes programs that progress, we’ve raised standards, redesigned our nation is taking notice. investments are led to higher performance on annual schools and invested heavily in our most important Over the past few months, paying off. assessments. assets — our children and their teachers and school our schools have welcomed We are extremely proud of our leaders. Tuskeegee Airmen, students and staff at Atlanta Public We’ve made these strides thanks to dedicated Colombian exchange students Schools and we are dedicated to faculty and administrators and through partnerships and musical icons. Innovative academic programs making sure that the academic progress our with our civic, business and philanthropic such as Project GRAD and the Confucius Institute students have made continues. communities. Each understands that an investment are providing unparalleled opportunities for our We know the Atlanta community, like the rest of in student success is an investment in the future. students. the country, is going through very difficult We are proud to share these inspirational stories In this issue, you will read about kindergarteners economic times. In spite of the current financial with you. who speak Chinese at Toomer Elementary School, climate, we are determined to continue providing and Inman Middle School girls who take the “CSI” our students with a world-class education. approach to solving math and science problems We’ve made major investments to improve our Dr. Beverly L. Hall is superintendent of Atlanta under the leadership of award-winning teacher schools, and those investments are paying off. Just Public Schools. It’s simple: www.atlantapublicschools.us Atlanta Board of Education LaChandra D. Butler Burks, Chair By its very nature, the Atlanta Cecily Harsch-Kinnane, Vice Chair Public Schools Web site – www.atlantapublicschools.us – can Khaatim Sherrer El Emmett D. Johnson be unwieldy because of the volume Yolanda K.Johnson of information it contains. The Brenda J. Muhammad redesigned version adheres to one Kathleen B. Pattillo rule: simplicity. Mark B. Riley “We wanted to make sure the Eric W.Wilson content was easy to find,” said Stephen J. Alford, a director of Published by: communications and leader of the site redesign team. “We didn’t Atlanta Public Schools want visitors to feel Beverly L. Hall, Ed.D. overwhelmed.” Superintendent of Schools The Communications and Suzanne Yeager Information Technology Chief Communications Officer departments worked with outside Submit story ideas to: contractor SchoolWires to create Morieka V. Johnson the site’s first major update in four Director of Communications years. This transition also included Atlanta Public Schools the launch of Web sites for each 130 Trinity Ave., SW school in the district. Atlanta, GA 30303 “The migration of our school Tel:404-802-2893 and district Web sites onto a single [email protected] format enhances APS’ ability to www.atlantapublicschools.us streamline communications,” said Sign up for our mailing list at IT project manager Glenn www.atlantapublicschools.us/aesubscribe Melendez. The result is a site that All of these options also are if a school can’t provide an galleries that highlight district can be tailored to individual needs. available on the individual school exceptional — or at least adequate activities, teacher profiles and a Produced by: Visitors can download an Web sites. Bolton Academy parent — Web site, then parents of section for realtors. These GRANT COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING GROUP interactive calendar onto a smart Beth Hamilton appreciates the potential students may question if additions provide more examples Boston N New York phone or PDA, or sign up for e- change. the school can educate their of how APS is making a difference 781-598-8200 mail alerts. Thanks to a Google “More parents are using the Web children.” in students’ lives. [email protected] translator, users also can view the site,” she says. “Many people The new APS Web site also Visit the new district Web site at site in several languages. ‘shop’ for schools these days, and features expanded video and photo atlantapublicschools.us REASON TO BE PROUD OF APS: APS is on a consistent nine-year trend of progress. The Atlanta Educator Spring 2009 —3 APS BOARD MEMBER PROFILE Cecily Harsch-Kinnane Board vice chair and former teacher values parents’ input Cecily Harsch-Kinnane is vice chair of the Atlanta Experience out in love with the school and in love with the district.” Board of Education. This is the second in a series Harsch-Kinnane has been involved in Atlanta Harsch-Kinnane has served as PTA president at of board member profiles to be published in Public Schools for more than a decade. She Morningside. She also has served on the PTA boards at The Atlanta Educator. and her husband, Paul, have three children, Inman and Grady. two of whom are APS students at Inman She was co-president of the Council of Intown Position Middle School and Grady High School. Neighborhoods and Schools, and has served on the Cecily Harsch-Kinnane has served on the Their eldest daughter graduated from principal selection committee at several schools. She also Atlanta Board of Education since January Grady and is a freshman at Brown has been involved with Habitat for Humanity, the City of 2006. She was elected vice chair in January University. Atlanta Elected Officials Compensation Commission and 2007. “All three of them have had a the Atlanta Youth Soccer Association. Harsch-Kinnane is wonderful experience in APS,” said currently a board member for the Odyssey program, a non- Background Harsch-Kinnane. “I’m a strong believer profit organization that manages summer programs for APS A native of Atlanta, Harsch-Kinnane is a in public schools. My husband and I students. former middle- and high-school math teacher. She built a house near Morningside Points of Pride earned her bachelor’s degree in (Elementary) purposely, so that we “APS is unique in its appreciation and respect for what mathematics from Brown could send our children there. parents and community members bring to the district, and University and has done I remember when we what individual schools bring to the community,” she said. graduate work in math went in to meet with “There’s a receptiveness that you don’t always find in every education and educational the principal, she was system. Our schools are wonderful places, happy places, psychology at Georgia State so receptive and so vibrant places. Dr. Hall is diligent in making sure of that. I University. intuitive. The value that, and it’s something I hope to continue to build “As board members, we all outreach was on.” have our own strengths in immediate, and they Cecily Harsch-Kinnane’s e-mail address is certain areas,” she said. did a lot of work to [email protected]. The Atlanta Board of “Educational policy has make sure our Education meets April 13, May 11 and June 8 at the Center always been a special interest daughter’s for Learning and Leadership Auditorium, 130 Trinity Ave., of mine.” placement was S.W., Atlanta, 30303. For more information about the correct. We walked board, visit atlantapublicschools.us/board CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CHUCK BURBRIDGE Each quarter, The Atlanta Educator will introduce you to Atlanta Public Schools faculty, staff and administrators. How long have you worked controls. When I was hired, there was a What challenges does the What are the biggest cuts in for Atlanta Public Schools? question of whether the controls that were district face moving the budget? Q in place were actually working.