ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of Communications and Public Engagement
130 Trinity Avenue SW | Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Seth Coleman, Director of Media
404-802-2891, office
404-345-8630, cell
seth.coleman@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Jasmine Mosley, Media Relations Manager
404-802-2888, office
404-937-0473, cell
jasmine.mosley@atlanta.k12.ga.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2023
Atlanta Public Schools Weekly News Tip Sheet
(June 5 -10, 2023)
Editors/Producers/Reporters: The following is a list of events, programs, accomplishments, and/or initiatives occurring in Atlanta Public Schools (APS) this week. Please use it as a guide as you develop your coverage plans.
Members of the media are invited to attend all events on the Weekly APS News Tip Sheet. If you have an interest in these stories, please contact Seth Coleman, Director, Media, or Jasmine Mosley, Media Relations Manager.
Thank you for your interest in Atlanta Public Schools!
Ramon Garner Named New Principal of Mays High School, Donna Davis to Serve as Interim Principal of JLIA
Current John Lewis Invictus Academy (JLIA) Principal Ramon Garner was named principal of Benjamin E. Mays High School, and current JLIA Assistant Principal Donna Davis was named interim principal of JLIA.
Both moves will become effective on July 1, 2023 after being approved by the Atlanta Board of Education (ABOE) at its monthly legislative meeting Monday evening.
Garner is a dynamic and experienced principal who has done an outstanding job of galvanizing the teachers, students, and the JILA school community. He began his teaching career with Atlanta Public Schools in 2005 at BEST (Business Engineering Science Technology) Academy as a middle grades mathematics and reading teacher. One of his career highlights at BEST Academy was being selected as a District Finalist for Teacher of the Year in 2009. Garner holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Central Michigan University, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Troy State University, and a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education from Albany State University.
Davis recently completed the APS Aspiring Leaders Program and is a compassionate, highly skilled school administrator with over 18 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree and bachelor’s degrees in science education from Georgia State University.
The Mays GO Team and the Mays school community played significant roles in the selection process.
Atlanta Public Schools’ Instructional Technology Department Earns 2023 ISTE Distinguished District Award
The Instructional Technology Department for Atlanta Public Schools has received the honor of being one of just three school districts in the nation to earn the Distinguished District Award from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), a nonprofit focused on accelerating innovation in education.
The ISTE Distinguished District Award recognizes school districts that demonstrate effectiveness and innovation through the use of technology. ISTE Distinguished Districts ensure equitable and accessible learning opportunities for all students, aimed at improving outcomes and increasing engagement and embrace new ideas and act on them.
The other districts joining APS as ISTE Distinguished Districts for 2023 are Los Angeles Unified Schools and the Parkway School District in suburban St. Louis.
“On behalf of Atlanta Public Schools, it’s an absolute pleasure and privilege to accept one of the 2023 ISTE Distinguished District Awards,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring. “I am beyond proud of the department of Instructional Technology members that lead the charge in ensuring all APS teachers and staff are armed with innovative instructional technology strategies to truly personalize learning for each individual student. Atlanta Public Schools is creating the intellectual engineers of tomorrow!"
APS and other districts and individuals who have earned honors from ISTE this year will be recognized during the organization’s annual conference, ISTELive 2023, June 25-28 in Philadelphia.
“It’s always great when ISTE has the opportunity to recognize change makers in the field of education,” said Richard Culatta, ISTE CEO. “This year's recipients stretch across the globe from Tunisia to Canada and beyond, showcasing the innovative work taking place across national borders. It is an honor to award these individuals and school districts.”
The APS Instructional Technology team is led by Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Instructional Technology Dr. Aleigha Henderson-Rosser, Director of Instructional Technology Natasha Rachell, and Digital Learning Specialists Tommy Clay, Felisa Ford, Jennifer Hall, and Dr. Melissa Dandy Walker.
Maria Grovner Receives National Education Association Award for Teaching Excellence
Atlanta Public Schools Counseling Coordinator Maria Grovner was recently selected as the winner of the National Education Association California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence.
Grovner, a 25-year educator, was nominated for the national award by the Georgia affiliate of the NEA, and was honored at the NEA’s annual awards ceremony last month in Washington, D.C.
Among her many initiatives in the District, Grovner started a professional learning series for counselors based around the work of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, which focuses on the idea of “getting into Maria Grovner good trouble.” As part of that, she spearheads the APS No Place for Hate Initiative, which provides K-12 schools with an organizing framework to develop long-term solutions for creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable climate. For the past seven years, all of the district’s traditional schools have received the No Place for Hate designation for implementing activities that have a lasting impact on students.
Learn more about Grovner and the award here.
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About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 50,000 students across 87 schools and five programs. The District is organized into nine K-12 clusters with 64 traditional schools, 19 charter schools, six partner schools, two alternative schools and five alternative programs. To learn more about Atlanta Public Schools, follow us on social media – Twitter (@apsupdate), Facebook (Atlanta Public Schools), and Instagram (apsupdate) – or visit us online at www.atlantapublicschools.us.
