Deal taps education standouts to serve as advisers

Deal taps education standouts to serve as advisers


I am excited to let everyone know that I have been appointed to serve on the Governor's Education Taskforce!! I promise to faithfully represent public education and Cobb County!! Wish me luck!!

Special Education Programs, Private Placements, Under Assault

Special Education Programs, Private Placements, Under Assault

As a special education teacher, it breaks my heart to hear that special education is facing cuts. A little known fact is that my first teaching experience was at a private psychiatric day school that took public school students who were too mentally ill or too emotionally/behaviorally disabled to attend public schools. These students could not be served by a public school. They needed the support and specialised instruction that we provided. We had a full time psychologist at the school of about 40 students. We were all specially trained to work with the students. Every classroom had a counselor assigned to it. I am devastated that now students will have to remain in public schools where they don't belong, don't succeed, and where the learning of the other students will succeed. Having been on both sides of the educational divide, there are special education students who don't belong in an inclusion classroom or even in a public school. It is a shame when money decides what is best for children.

The Marietta Daily Journal - Another day another vote

The Marietta Daily Journal - Another day another vote

We need YOU to go to the Cobb website and vote on the calendar!! www.cobbk12.org

The Marietta Daily Journal - District keeps promises of transparency

The Marietta Daily Journal - District keeps promises of transparency

Shaking trees for good principals. Few to be found.

Shaking trees for good principals. Few to be found.

Really good principals are hard to find. No news there, any teacher can tell you the same thing. A principal needs to walk a fine line between caring and harsh, between micromanaging and being too lenient, between being a leader or a dictator. I have worked under a great Principal (Darryl York) and under a really bad principal (name withheld). I was the same person, but so much was changed by the leadership I worked for. Under a harsh principal, I felt unappreciated, I worried more, I always felt I was being watched for faults or mistakes, and most of all, I felt stressed and miserable. When working for someone who made me feel heard, involved, and like a quality teacher, I flourished. I loved my job, I loved coming to work, and most importantly I was a better teacher. In my current position I often see both kinds of leaders, I only hope that the good outweigh the bad.

Teachers: Don’t send e-mails on school accounts

Teachers: Don't send e-mails on school accounts

I was amazed by this legislation. As a teacher, I thought my email was more secure, guaranteed that I was who I said I was. I understand not using the computer during school time, but to say we can't use school computers at all and we can't use our school email accounts, seems to me to be going over the top.

New spot proposed for Smyrna elementary school  | ajc.com

New spot proposed for Smyrna elementary school ajc.com

Grad rate could fall 16 percentage points, Barge says  | ajc.com

Grad rate could fall 16 percentage points, Barge says ajc.com

Local School Board Members Play Hardball With Duncan

Local School Board Members Play Hardball With Duncan

I am so glad to see that local school board members are asking the tough questions of Duncan that most of us wish we could ask. Of course, no answers are given, so we are yet again left with just questions.