12.14 APS Weekly News Tip Sheet (Week of December 14, 2020)

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of Communications and Public Engagement
130 Trinity Avenue SW | Atlanta, Georgia 30303

 

Ian Smith, Executive Director
404-802-2855, office
404-603-6934, cell

ian.smith@atlanta.k12.ga.us

 

Seth Coleman, Media Relations Manager
404-802-2891, office
404-406-5570, cell
seth.coleman@atlanta.k12.ga.us

   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

December 14, 2020

Atlanta Public Schools Weekly News Tip Sheet (December 14 - 19)

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, Media Relations Manager.  Thank you for your interest in Atlanta Public Schools!

 

APS Will Observe Early Release Day on Jan. 5, 2021


Atlanta Public Schools will observe an early release for traditional schools on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, to allow time for staff and eligible high school students to vote in the upcoming Georgia senate run-off election.

 

Schools will adhere to the half-day dismissal schedule as follows:

  • Elementary – 11:30 a.m.
  • Middle – 12:30 p.m.
  • High – 12:00 p.m.

 

After-school activities, including targeted intervention programs, will continue as scheduled.

 

 

Fulltime Employees to Receive $1,000 “APS Cares” Stipend

 

Approximately 6,500 Atlanta Public Schools employees will receive an extra $1,000 in their paychecks this week.

 

The “APS Cares” stipend is a one-time payment for regular full-time or part-time/hourly employees who work during the school day and average 29 hours per week or more. District administrators have said the stipends are a way to express appreciation for teachers and other employees who did not receive raises this year because of budget uncertainties, and for their hard work and accomplishments amid the pandemic.

 

Earlier this year, the District increased its minimum hourly wage from $12.70 to $15. The Atlanta Board of Education (ABOE) approved the use of about $7.5 million from budget savings from last year for the “APS Cares” stipends.

 


Two APS Teachers to Receive Inaugural Award for Educators Under 40 Making a Difference

 

Janni Buggs, an ESOL teacher at L.P. Miles Elementary School, and Amirah Williams, a teacher at KIPP Ways Academy, are among 10 educators selected to the inaugural class of the L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Teacher Recognition Program.

  1. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown were lifelong educators who positively impacted the lives of others and were pillars of the community.  The memorial recognition program keeps their spirit alive and recognizes teachers age 40-and-under who embody similar qualities and have a passion for teaching beyond the classroom.

"This year has shown us what good teachers truly mean to society. Teachers deserve respect, celebration, and elevation," said Jatisha Marsh, L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Teacher Recognition Program Founder. “We are proud to welcome the inaugural class and look forward to their future contributions to the field of education."

Award recipients will receive an award and gift card along with access to professional development and gain entry into the L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Under 40 Alumni Group for future networking opportunities.

Founded in 2020, the L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Teacher Recognition Program aims to recognize teachers 40 and under who have made outstanding contributions to their schools’ and the community. For more information on the L. Faye Marsh and Joseph Brown Memorial Teacher Recognition Program, visit www.teacherrecognitionprogram.com.

 

###

About Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 51,000 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.