a message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones

"In Search of Excellence" is an international best-selling book written by Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr. First published in 1982, it is one of the most widely read business books ever, selling 3 million copies in its first four years, and being the most widely held library book in the United States from 1989 to 2006.

This week I remembered reading this book primarily because I found myself in search of excellence. My main activity has been meeting with principals for their "Mid-Year Formative Conference." During our one-on-one meetings:

• We review the Leader Key standards they were going to work on this year, and look at the evidence that has been collected thus far. We have conversations about how well they are achieving those standards.
• We talk about their competence and being able to meet all the required Leader Key standards, Georgia Leader Duties and Responsibilities.
• We talk about their professional growth plan where they picked (in most cases) two standards to delve deeper into for self development. We come to an agreement about their progress and focus on their professional growth plan.
• We talk about progress toward short team goals the system has set. (The district's short term goals include the system's making AYP, supporting a Vision for Public Education, supporting Year 2 of Race to the Top, and having a successful SACS visit (which we accomplished in November).

Through these meetings I have found that we have excellent leaders. I wish you could see the pride in their eyes when they share the documents you have produced (in many cases examples of student work, and in other cases how you have come together to agree on a common understanding of what core content is).

I wish you could hear the pride in their voices when they describe what happens in your grade-level meetings and professional learning communities. Principals are proud and very excited about the work you are doing, and it's showing! It's showing in benchmark data as they explained how we are moving towards increasing student achievement again this year.

We are using the old version of Leaders Keys as the evaluation system. At the same time we're piloting the new version of Leader Keys. So we have 5 principals actually receiving their evaluation under both models. It's a lot of work, but it's good work.

Going back to at least 2006, we began looking for a better leader evaluation system. In 2009, we changed what we were doing. We changed it again in 2010. This year we have changed it once more. I guess that is why I thought of the book, "In Search of Excellence".

I've come to realize that you can never be satisfied with the status quo. We are all life-long learners. We all have room for improvement. I wanted to share how your principals and department heads are going through that same process. We're working towards being standards-based and research-driven. We're looking for the evidence. I think it's something of which we can be proud.

I close with two congratulations. First, Griffin RESA recently announced that Rehoboth Road Middle School won 3rd place in the 2012 Middle School Math Contest (small schools division). Team members were Brooks Davis, Henry Hart, Nathaniel Haulk (as an alternate), Turner Jordan, and Francisco Zepeda. Congratulations to these students and their coach, Mrs. Raye Aragon.

The RRMS Math Team (Photo submitted by Elizabeth Ogletree, RRMS)

Also, congratulations to Jordan Hill Elementary School, just announced as the winner of the 2011 Single Statewide Accountability System Award. The hard work of the students, faculty, staff, has earned the school the gold award for making great gains in student achievement.

This is particularly noteworthy because it means the school has:

• met AYP for 2 consecutive years,
• demonstrated that at least 30% of students have exceeded standards in all test areas as measured by state assessments, and
• placed in the 97th Percentile or higher in statewide and greatest student achievement gains.

I think it's exciting that Jordan Hill Elementary School is 1 of 14 elementary schools in Georgia to receive this award this year. Congratulations, Jordan Hill Elementary School!

Have a great weekend everybody!

These Moreland Road Elementary 5th grade students were just inducted in the Beta Club.  The ceremony was on Friday, January 27, 2012.

(Left to Right) Back Row: Chyanne Christian, Valerie Vargas, Jonathan Perkins, Brittany Peek, A'miraca Moreland, Catherine Jameson, Jacob Hillis, Joshua Harmon, Edyn Carpenter, and Carlie Collins. Middle Row: Johnathon Jenrette, Taylor James, Matthew Hurd, Nori Henley, Darla Gore, Ashlyn Fowler, L.J. DeStefano, Ashundi Daniel, Avery Cook, and Jamin Bennett. Front Row: Kayla Stinson, Austin Pelley, Chadd Hill, Austin Hightower, Kaylin Gulledge, Levi Garrett, Dylan Carter and Camden Pritchard.

Submitted by Sara Johnson, Moreland Road Elementary 

In an effort to create a more efficient support organization for the Griffin-Spalding County School System, Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation has merged with the Griffin-Spalding Partners in Education.

The merge, completed on December 31, 2011, was a result of the 18-month long process beginning with participation in the Spalding Collaborative Strengthening Communities federal grant project.

"We concluded we could have a single, more financially efficient organization to manage both partners in education and the fiscal resources of the Griffin-Spalding Education Foundation," said Anna Burns, Director of School and Community Services. She continued, "We believe this new organization will better serve the needs of our teachers and students."

Grants Available

This is the 21st year classroom grants will be funded through Partners in Education. Funds are raised in the community and through the Teachers Giving to Teachers campaign.

• Mini-grants up to $300 are available to Griffin-Spalding individual teachers.
• Grants up to $1,000 are available to schools or teams of teachers.
• The deadline date for applications is February 5, 2012.
• Applicants will be notified of results no later than March 2, 2012.
• Grant projects must be completed by the end of November 2012.
• Apply online at www.supportspaldingschools.org.

"Grants for teachers and students offer great opportunities for projects that could not be funded otherwise. All of the projects that will be awarded funding will enhance the curriculum already being taught in our classrooms," said Evan Stitt, a chairman of the Partners in Education Board of Directors.

In 2011, these organizations together funded $19,500 through 44 grants ranging from $85.00 to $1000.00 each. Teachers in 14 schools were able to jump start educational projects not funded through tax dollars in subjects including math, literature, and science.

Website

Applications for grants and scholarships can be found on www.supportspaldingschools.org.The newly-formed Partners in Education website built through funds from the Strengthening Communities grant will absorb the foundation's website after spring 2012 grants (January and February) and teacher scholarships (March).

Education Foundation Payroll Deduction Giving (Teachers Giving to Teachers)

All projects of both organizations will be maintained after the merger, including the Foundation's Teachers Giving to Teachers payroll deduction, which raises almost $900 per month. "All funds raised through Teachers Giving to Teachers go directly back into our school through grants and scholarships to teachers," said Jim Smith, Assistant Superintendent / CFO of the Griffin-Spalding County School System. He is also the newly elected volunteer treasurer of Partners in Education.

He continued, "Teachers participating in this worthwhile program will see a slight change on their payroll stub because of this merger. The notation for payroll deduction will change from "EdF" to "PIE". Donors will be receiving a notice about this before the end of January. All funds will continue to go to the same great causes."

Any Griffin-Spalding County School System employees interested in participating in Teachers Giving to Teachers may contact Elizabeth Benz (elizabeth.benz@gscs.org / 770-229-3700 ext. 340) or Anna Burns (anna.burns@gscs.org / 770-229-3700 ext. 341).