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You Don't Know What You Don't Know
a message from Dr. Curtis Jones, superintendent
My dad once told me, "Curtis, there are some things you don't know because you haven't been around long enough. You need to learn what those things are. Right now, you don't know what you don't know."
I remembered that conversation with him earlier this week when I attended the Winter GAEL conference. GAEL is one of those acronyms that we, in the education community, need to know about. While at this conference I also learned about G-CASE, GACIS, GSSA, GASSP, GASPA, GAMSP and GAESP. These are a bunch of acronyms that represent different organizations. GAEL is the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders.
I was in attendance because of my position as a board member of the Georgia School Superintendents Association. I realized while attending some of the sessions what I don't know about GAEL. Don't know might not be the right words. I didn't appreciate GAEL.
At the conference I saw educational leaders who were principals, teachers, HR directors and curriculum and instruction specialists. All the different professional organizations we have in education were represented. At the conference, we came together to hear what the Georgia Department of Education shared and to develop a common framework for where we are and how we are moving forward this school year and next.
How much are we in GSCS missing out because of our low attendance at this conference? I know over the last years we cut out a lot of travel because of our budget situation. And, I wonder how much ground other systems have made because they continue to have a better understanding of the environment and landscape than we do?
A few questions came to mind. If we are truly professionals, how involved are we in our professional organizations? How well do we understand the professional organization's mission and vision and the services and benefits that they provide? What are we missing out on if we are not fully engaged in our profession?
I challenge you to think about that. At the end of this message are all the organizations I mentioned. I encourage you to Google them and look at their website. See what is offered...what do they recognize and reward? How do they help with professional development? And, how do they keep members informed? I think this becomes one of those factors that too easily gets put to the side and we don't understand the full impact of not participating until it's too late.
- Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education (G-CASE)
- Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS)
- Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA)
- Georgia Association of Secondary Schools Principals (GASSP)
- Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators (GASPA)
- Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL )
- Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP)
- Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP)
Dare to do Better!
Have a great weekend everybody!
COL DR
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- Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education G-CASE
- Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional SupervisorsGACIS
- Georgia School Superintendents Association GSSA
- Georgia Association of Secondary Schools Principals GASSP
- Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators GASPA
- Georgia Association of Educational Leaders GAEL
- Georgia Association of Middle School Principals GAMSP
- Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals GAESP
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GRIFFIN-SPALDING Offers Teachers, Students Google Email & Collaboration Solution
Griffin-Spalding County School System announced today that they have entered into an agreement to provide all K-12 schools across the district with free access to Google Apps Education Edition. Students and staff throughout the district will be connected to a common e-mail, chat and calendar system (Gmail, Google Talk and Google Calendar), cloud collaboration tools (Google Docs, Google Sites, & Google Groups) and multimedia tools (Google Video for Education) that will enable them to work together and learn more effectively.
"Google Apps will help us communicate with our students and staff more efficiently while relieving the district of the traditional costs associated with email and collaboration solutions," said Rod Smith." "This innovative technology allows us to do what we do best -- educate our students."
The end users and the public will see no changes in the email system. Email addresses will stay the same. The Google Apps should be in place by March 1. Email for all staff will be in place by the beginning of the next school year. Currently some classified staff does not have district email due to the costs associated with the old system. Parents must sign a release form for their student to be issued an email account.
"Today, these email accounts are important for students since many college applications and scholarship applications must be connected to an email," continued Mr. Smith.
Training is planned for staff in the spring and fall.
Google Apps Education Edition allows schools to give Google's communication and collaboration applications to their entire education community for free. All services are hosted by Google and are available to users via any internet-connected computer and many mobile devices. Google Apps includes the following services:
- Gmail - provides gigabytes of email storage, highly effective spam filtering and powerful search with integrated voice and video chat
- Google Calendar - allows easy coordination of work or class schedules, meetings and events online;
- Google Video - online video private to a school's domain
- Google Docs - allows users to create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and drawings in real-time as well as upload and share any file type
- Google Sites - develop and customize rich websites and embed Google Docs, Google Calendars, videos, and other media - no HTML required.
- Google Groups - create mailing lists and discussion forums allowing students and teachers to easily and efficiently sharing documents, calendars, sites, and media with specific groups.
For More Information:
Rod Smith, rod.smith@gscs.org, (770) 467-4631
Google, Google Apps, Gmail, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Video are trademarks of Google Inc.
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Internal Transfer Fair set for March 5
- Moreland Road Elementary School, 4:15-5:45 pm
- All school represented
- Certified personnel and paraprofessionals only
- Bring your transfer request form signed by your current supervisor
- No one will be considered for transfer without either attending thie event or submitting the completed transfer request to HR prior to 2/26/13 with a written explanation as to why transfer fair attendance is not possible
- All transfers must be completed by May 15
Griffin-Spalding County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. |
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GSCS Middle Schoolers Win Regional Math Competition
When baking a cake you can choose between a round pan with a 9 inch diameter and a 7 inch X 9 inch rectangular pan. If both pans are 2 inches deep, what is the volume of the larger pan. Use 3.14 for pi.
Need help with the answer? Ask one of these middle schoolers. The Math Team from Cowan Road Middle and Rehoboth Road Middle both placed 2nd in their division.
Cowan Road Middle team: Dyamond Wright, Gerron Lewis, Justin McBride, Donovan Kirkland, Justin Calloway and sponsor Lisa Mauldin.
Rehoboth Road Middle team: Francis Zepeda, Turner Jordan, Nathaniel Haulk, Elizabeth Smyly, Austin Grant and coach Raye Aragon. |
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Rehoboth Road and Cowan Road Middle Math Winners and Coaches |
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Teachers Retirement Workshop
a note from Human Resources
A pre-retirement workshop is set for Tuesday, February 12, 4:30-5:30 pm in the GSCS Learning Center. To register visit www.trsga.com. |
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STAR students and teachers
Left to right: Jed Paz, GHS STAR student; Richard Burrell, GHS STAR teacher; Jon Eady, SHS STAR student; and Claudia Dennis, SHS STAR teacher.
The 2013 STAR Students and teachers for the Griffin-Spalding County School System were announced at the February 5, 2013 Board of Education meeting.
- Jed Paz - Griffin High School
- Richard Burrell - STAR Teacher
- Jonathan Franklin Eady - Spalding High School
- Claudia Dennis - STAR Teacher, Spalding High School
To be named STAR student, a high school senior must have the highest score on one test date on the three-part SAT and be in the top 10 percent or one of the top 10 students of their graduating class based on grade point average.
The STAR student selects the teacher who had the most influence on their academic success to be the student's STAR teacher.
The PAGE Foundation serves as the state coordinator of the PAGE STAR Program, which has honored more than 21,500 students and their teachers.
The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program is now in its 52nd year. The program is sponsored by the:
- PAGE Foundation
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- Georgia Department of Education
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Additional Professional Development Options
February 19
- ESOL teachers, 8:00 to 4:00, Preparation for the Title III audit
- Middle School band and chorus, 11:00 am, Kennedy Road, Middle School Collaboration
February 20
- ESOL teachers 8:00-12:00, Finalize audit plans and update status of ACCESS testing
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Email Signature Format
Curtis L. Jones, Jr.
Superintendent
Griffin-Spalding County School System
216 South Sixth Street
P. O. Drawer N
Griffin, GA 30224
770.229.3700
curtis.jones@gscs.org
Daring to do better!
Our values: *Competency*Open Communication*Loyalty*Defined Autonomy*Respect
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GSCS Students Sign On for College Ball
Congratulations to the 11 students who signed national letters of intent to play college football. February 6 was National Signing Day.
GHS - Moses Mayes, Faulkner (AL) University; Keith Henley, Hutchinson (KS) Community College; and Rusty Duffee, Limestone (SC) College.
SHS - Jevaris Jones, New Mexico Military Institute; Larry McCord, Arizona Western College; Philip Goodrum, Devontez Carter and Ben Allen, Mesabi Range (MN) Community Technical College; Courtney Johnson, Ontario Yancey and Ronnie Owens, West Georgia Technical College.
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gscs Communicator Editor
Griffin Spalding County School System
PO Drawer N
Griffin, Georgia 30224
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Employees
of the Month
Middle Schools
Carver Road
Danielle Diggs
Danielle Diggs, Special Ed Lead Teacher: Mrs. Diggs has worked diligently at ensuring that the services of all students with disabilities are met. She works extremely long hours, tries to learn as much as possible, and always has a positive attitude. She gives 100% everyday!
Cowan Road
Gamal Kemp
Leading a youth basketball team is more than just winning and losing. Cowan Road Middle School would like to recognize and congratulate Gamal Kemp for his hard work and dedication to Cowan Road Middle School students and our Panthers Basketball Team. In addition to his role as instructor, as a coach Mr. Kemp works to instill sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, respect, positive attitude, and communication with students.
Congratulations to Gamal Kemp and the Cowan Road Middle School Basketball Team! - Central Georgia Middle School Athletic Boys Basketball 2012-2013 West Region Champions and Central Georgia Middle School Athletic Boys Basketball 2012-2013 League Champions
Kennedy Road
James Ray
James Ray is definitely performing in a "Cougar Way!" He goes above and beyond his teaching duties and responsibilities to serve the students and stakeholders of Kennedy Road Middle School. Mr. Ray not only prepares his students for future by providing a quality standard-based education today, he helps distribute important school information and events by maintaining a student-led, morning news broadcasting show and a great school website at Kennedy Road Middle. Thanks for all of your hardworks and efforts Mr. Ray! Go Cougars!
Rehoboth Road
Always around to help out in every aspect of athletics and academics, he goes the extra mile to assist others...students, his peers, and administrators. | |
~~~~~ | | Employees of the Month are submitted by each school. |
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February 5, 2013
Board of Education Meeting | | |
The Board of Education met in its regular session on Tuesday, February 5, 2013. Recognitions included STAR students and teachers, Regional Middle School Math winners, Regional Stock Market winners and Relay for Life award for 100% participation. They also heard about Camp Invention set for June 10-14 at the Science Enrichment Center.
On the consent agenda, the board approved:
- field trip request from Cowan Road Middle
- grant renewal
- personnel actions
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Appointments | |
At its February 5 meeting, the Board of Education approved the administrative appointments for the 2013-14 school year. All principals, assistant principals and central office administrative staff will remain in the current location with two exceptions.
Anthony Aikens will move from assistant principal to principal at Jordan Hill Elementary School after the June 30 retirement of Ellen Lee. Mr. Aikens has served Jordan Hill since 2008 as assistant principal where he provided instructional support to teachers and coordinated all testing along with other assistant principal duties. He has also served as AP at Kennedy Road Middle. He holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in mathematics and an Ed. Specialist in Leadership and Supervision.
Judy Parker, APR, becomes Director of School and Community Services (Communications and Partnerships) with the retirement of Anna Burns, APR. Judy is a senior-level communications strategist with over 20 years experience in urban and suburban school systems. Judy came to GSCS in October as communications specialist. She has worked in four school districts in Washington state as well as the Scottsdale, AZ unified system. Judy has experience in all facets of public relations and management which garnered numerous professional awards and recognition. She holds a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and an MBA in marketing and management. | |
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Did you know that almost 40% of all money raised in Relay for Life is contributed by our GSCS teams? | |
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