Rotary Club of Athens elected Hilsman Middle School and Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School as the recipients of proceeds raised through the club's annual Polar PlungeFest in order for them to create a food pantry for students and families at each school. The schools received $4,500 each to purchase cold storage and racks, while Food Bank of Northeast Georgia received $17,000 to purchase carts, wagons, backpacks, and food to stock the shelves at each school.
Representatives recently visited Hilsman for a check presentation and BHL to scout the location where the food pantry will be housed. A special thank you to Rotary President Ralph Johnson, Erin Barger, Food Bank of NEGA President and CEO and incoming Rotary President, and Polar Plungefest event chair Trai McRae for leading this effort - and to everyone in the community who participated in PlungeFest to support Thriving Students and stronger family connections!
Hilsman group photo, from left to right: Tracey Massey, Operations Specialist for Food Bank of NEGA, Ralph Johnson, Dr. Randall Watkins, Hilsman Assistant Principal, Tessa Barbazon, CCSD Executive Director of Student and Family Support, Erin Barger, and Katherine Bailey, Hilsman Site Coordinator for Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens
BHL group photo, from left to right: She-Ra Gonzalez, BHL Family Engagement Specialist; Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, CCSD Chief Communications and Engagement Officer and Rotary member; Dr. Annie Turman, BHL Principal; Erin Barger; and Tracey Massey.
Representatives recently visited Hilsman for a check presentation and BHL to scout the location where the food pantry will be housed. A special thank you to Rotary President Ralph Johnson, Erin Barger, Food Bank of NEGA President and CEO and incoming Rotary President, and Polar Plungefest event chair Trai McRae for leading this effort - and to everyone in the community who participated in PlungeFest to support Thriving Students and stronger family connections!
Hilsman group photo, from left to right: Tracey Massey, Operations Specialist for Food Bank of NEGA, Ralph Johnson, Dr. Randall Watkins, Hilsman Assistant Principal, Tessa Barbazon, CCSD Executive Director of Student and Family Support, Erin Barger, and Katherine Bailey, Hilsman Site Coordinator for Family Connection-Communities in Schools of Athens
BHL group photo, from left to right: She-Ra Gonzalez, BHL Family Engagement Specialist; Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, CCSD Chief Communications and Engagement Officer and Rotary member; Dr. Annie Turman, BHL Principal; Erin Barger; and Tracey Massey.
CCSD was delighted today to participate in the annual statewide Future Educator Signing Day led by the Georgia Department of Education through the Teach in the Peach initiative! Twelve CCSD high school students from Clarke Central High School, Cedar Shoals High School, and the Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA) who have completed or are in the process of completing the Teaching as a Profession pathway at ACCA affirmed their commitments today to teach full-time in Georgia classrooms after graduating college. These students have already gained hands-on classroom experience as part of this career pathway, and many of them will be taking the GACE paraprofessional certification exam this month, giving them the opportunity to work in classrooms while earning their teaching degrees!
Congratulations to these students:
• Jakia Butts, 12th grade, Cedar Shoals and ACCA
• Mariah Carson, 12th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Camryn Coleman, 12th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Shelby McDaniel, 12th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Gillian Williams, 12th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• (Not pictured) Elise Geier, 12th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Tina Brooks, 11th grade, Cedar Shoals and ACCA
• Cheyenne Hardy, 11th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Duncan Jones, 11th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Elizabeth McArthur, 11th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Vera Mize, 11th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA
• Dar'Maya Ollie, 11th grade, Clarke Central and ACCA.
Congratulations also go to Mariah Carson on being chosen as CCSD's recipient of the $500 Teach in the Peach scholarship and Camryn Coleman, Elizabeth McArthur, and Vera Mize receiving the Top Intern awards for the TAP program in CCSD this year! See a full photo gallery on the CCSD Facebook page!
May breakfast and lunch menus are ready for viewing! View in three ways:
1. Monthly printable menus at www.clarke.k12.ga.us/menus
2. The menus for the following week are posted every Friday afternoon at www.clarke.k12.ga.us/menus
3. The menu for each day is available every morning when you download the official CCSD mobile app and navigate to your child's school in the menu!
Download for Android https://aptg.co/xQ_qX1
Download for iPhone https://aptg.co/zCh8gX
Six CCSD high school seniors have officially found their "E" (Employment), as they have signed on to begin working full-time at Caterpillar in Athens immediately following graduation! These students have been working at Caterpillar through CCSD's Work-Based Learning Program and were among the 14 students in Clarke and surrounding counties who completed the company's local apprenticeship program. Most of the students participated in a formal signing ceremony at Caterpillar's headquarters today.
Congratulations to these students and best wishes to them on their bright futures as they step from the classroom right into well-paying, full-time jobs in a key industry for the regional workforce!
• Joshua Luna, Clarke Central High School and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA), Assembly division at Caterpillar
• Anthony Castro-Soto, Cedar Shoals High School and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at ACCA, Welding division at Caterpillar
• CJ Long, Computer Science pathway at Cedar Shoals, Logistics division at Caterpillar
• Brandon Morales-Flores, Cedar Shoals and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at ACCA, Welding division at Caterpillar
• Travon Tucker, Graphic Design pathway at Cedar Shoals, Assembly division at Caterpillar
• (not pictured) Est Martinez-Calderon, Cedar Shoals and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at ACCA, Welding division at Caterpillar.
If you are a CCSD student who will be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade next school year and are interested in work-based learning opportunities like this, we encourage you to apply to the WBL program at bit.ly/WBLAPP. You can also reach out to your school’s WBL Coordinator for more information:
• Cedar Shoals, Tammy Caudell – tcaudell@clarke.k12.ga.us
• Clarke Central, Brook Thompson – thompsonb2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Congratulations to these students and best wishes to them on their bright futures as they step from the classroom right into well-paying, full-time jobs in a key industry for the regional workforce!
• Joshua Luna, Clarke Central High School and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at Athens Community Career Academy (ACCA), Assembly division at Caterpillar
• Anthony Castro-Soto, Cedar Shoals High School and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at ACCA, Welding division at Caterpillar
• CJ Long, Computer Science pathway at Cedar Shoals, Logistics division at Caterpillar
• Brandon Morales-Flores, Cedar Shoals and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at ACCA, Welding division at Caterpillar
• Travon Tucker, Graphic Design pathway at Cedar Shoals, Assembly division at Caterpillar
• (not pictured) Est Martinez-Calderon, Cedar Shoals and Advanced Manufacturing and Welding pathway at ACCA, Welding division at Caterpillar.
If you are a CCSD student who will be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade next school year and are interested in work-based learning opportunities like this, we encourage you to apply to the WBL program at bit.ly/WBLAPP. You can also reach out to your school’s WBL Coordinator for more information:
• Cedar Shoals, Tammy Caudell – tcaudell@clarke.k12.ga.us
• Clarke Central, Brook Thompson – thompsonb2@clarke.k12.ga.us
Congratulations to the Winterville Elementary School girls and J.J. Harris Elementary School boys on winning the 2026 CCSD Elementary Soccer League championships Thursday night, April 16! Winterville topped Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary, 5-3, while J.J. Harris defeated Timothy Road Elementary, 3-0. See more photos in our Facebook gallery!
Also at last night's Board of Education, we recognized some outstanding students and staff, including:
• the Hilsman Middle School Student Council for its five state awards won at this year's state convention
• Governor's Honors Program finalists and alternates from Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School
• Our April Employee of the Month, Barrow Elementary School special education paraprofessional Dominique Green
• Angela Gay, school social worker for Howard B. Stroud Elementary School and Cedar Shoals High School, on being named state School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Workers Association of Georgia.
Congratulations to all!
• the Hilsman Middle School Student Council for its five state awards won at this year's state convention
• Governor's Honors Program finalists and alternates from Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School
• Our April Employee of the Month, Barrow Elementary School special education paraprofessional Dominique Green
• Angela Gay, school social worker for Howard B. Stroud Elementary School and Cedar Shoals High School, on being named state School Social Worker of the Year by the School Social Workers Association of Georgia.
Congratulations to all!
At last night's Board of Education meeting, we honored CCSD bus monitor Nicole Jeter, whose quick thinking, swift action, and calm demeanor recently helped save the life of one of our drivers during a medical emergency while out on the road on the bus and ensured the safety of others.
As noted by one of her colleagues, though she was understandably concerned about her teammate and shaken by the events that transpired, Ms. Jeter maintained a high level of professionalism throughout the situation. She was able to immediately recognize symptoms and provide the responding medical team with the critical information they needed, all while reassuring her distressed coworker that everything was going to be okay until help arrived.
Ms. Jeter truly exemplifies what an outstanding monitor should be and what a CCSD hero looks like.
As noted by one of her colleagues, though she was understandably concerned about her teammate and shaken by the events that transpired, Ms. Jeter maintained a high level of professionalism throughout the situation. She was able to immediately recognize symptoms and provide the responding medical team with the critical information they needed, all while reassuring her distressed coworker that everything was going to be okay until help arrived.
Ms. Jeter truly exemplifies what an outstanding monitor should be and what a CCSD hero looks like.
Today, we celebrated the culmination of the tremendous, trailblazing work of the 2025-26 cohort of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council! These 24 juniors and seniors from Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central High School met several times this school year with Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott to not only learn more about district operations and decision-making but also discuss ideas and develop proposals relevant to improving the overall student experience in CCSD. They wrapped up their work today with their final presentations to district and school leaders at the District Office. Proposals revolved around improving student wellness, safety, and connectedness and included the introduction of emotional support animals on school campuses, making period products more readily accessible for students, the installation of vape detectors, streamlining information for students about school events and opportunities, and providing more collaboration opportunities for students at all three of our high schools. District leaders will use these presentations to explore opportunities to make these ideas actionable.
Congratulations to each of these students on their work throughout the year! Information about serving on the 2026-27 council will be provided at the start of the school year.
Congratulations to each of these students on their work throughout the year! Information about serving on the 2026-27 council will be provided at the start of the school year.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Dominique Green, special education paraprofessional at Barrow Elementary School, who has been named CCSD's Employee of the Month for April! Ms. Green supports students in Ms. Lexie McCollum's third-grade class at Barrow and also provides instructional support during specials classes (PE, art, music, etc.) for grades 1-2 and 5. She was nominated by one of her colleagues, who noted that she has established strong relationships with students and coworkers and is always eager to learn and to grow her own knowledge and abilities.
Ms. Green was surprised with the award this morning by Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott and Barrow Principal Dr. Ellen Sabatini and will be recognized publicly at this Thursday night's Board of Education meeting!
Anyone in the community may nominate any full-time CCSD employee with at least one full year of service for the Employee of the Month award at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward.
Ten CCSD high school sophomores and juniors (seven from Clarke Central High School and three from Cedar Shoals High School) were among the 35 outstanding teens representing Athens-area public and private schools who participated in this year's Youth Leadership Athens cohort. The program assists students in developing and/or enhancing their leadership skills, provides them with opportunities to network with adults and students from other area schools, and assists them in developing awareness of relevant community issues.
CCSD students are pictured with Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott during the recent Youth Leadership Athens graduation.
From Cedar Shoals: Solomon Caplan and Tatiana Velasquez. (Lauren Neace not pictured)
From Clarke Central: Anna Feagle, Miriam Widener, Zarema Douris, Anna Flath, Daly Pruitt, Callie Wallace, and Kayla Walker.
Additionally, Tatiana Velasquez was named a High Honor Graduate, while Solomon Caplan, Anna Feagle, and Miriam Widener were named Superior Achievement graduates. These students were recognized for going above and beyond the core activities of the program by completing additional optional leadership activities.
Congratulations to all!
CCSD students are pictured with Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott during the recent Youth Leadership Athens graduation.
From Cedar Shoals: Solomon Caplan and Tatiana Velasquez. (Lauren Neace not pictured)
From Clarke Central: Anna Feagle, Miriam Widener, Zarema Douris, Anna Flath, Daly Pruitt, Callie Wallace, and Kayla Walker.
Additionally, Tatiana Velasquez was named a High Honor Graduate, while Solomon Caplan, Anna Feagle, and Miriam Widener were named Superior Achievement graduates. These students were recognized for going above and beyond the core activities of the program by completing additional optional leadership activities.
Congratulations to all!
A successful wrap-up yesterday of our New Special Education Teacher Academy! As part of our work to grow and Optimize our Talent to support Thriving Students, this school year, CCSD offered its inaugural year-long professional learning series for all new special education teachers. Beginning in July 2025, newly-hired SPED teachers participated in five different learning opportunities designed to foster professional growth, refine instructional skills, understand behavior strategies, and enhance student achievement by focusing on best practices in the department's three priorities: instruction, compliance, and procedures. A total of 48 teachers attended and participated in these sessions and received certificates of completion during the closing sessions yesterday morning and afternoon!
A wonderful time on Wednesday, March 25, at the annual CCSD Spring Special Olympics Games at Cedar Shoals High School! Thank you to all who once again made this amazing event a success and an exciting day of victories for our students!
We are extremely excited to share that our very own Angela Gay, school social worker for Howard B. Stroud Elementary School and Cedar Shoals High School, has been named STATE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR by the School Social Workers Association of Georgia! Ms. Gay was surprised with the announcement today at SSWAG's annual Spring Conference in Braselton, where she was joined by several of her fellow CCSD school social workers and other district leaders. She was previously named District 9 Social Worker of the Year last fall. Congratulations, Ms. Gay, on this incredible honor, and thank you for your dedication and many years of service to CCSD and Clarke County families!
This is the last week to get your April Employee of the Month nominations in! Anyone in the community may nominate any full-time CCSD employee with at least one full year of service to the district at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward. Click the link and tell us about an employee who is Raising the Bar in CCSD!
Today, we held our annual Transition Fair at the District Office, where families of adapted curriculum students in CCSD met with dozens of community vendors who shared information on accessing programs, employment opportunities, assistance, financial support, and more! Special thanks to all of the incredible organizations that participated in the Transition Fair! See a full photo gallery here!
HAPPY SCENES from today's exciting visit from State School Superintendent Richard Woods and representatives from the Georgia Department of Education to Barnett Shoals Elementary School, where Superintendent Woods surprised CCSD Teacher of the Year Timothy Pritchett with the news that he is one of 10 finalists for STATE Teacher of the Year for 2026-27! Mr. Pritchett was so dialed into instruction and working with his scholars that it took him almost a full minute to realize Superintendent Woods and a supporting crowd were in the room!
Mr. Pritchett, who would be Clarke County's first-ever winner in the more than 50-year history of the award, will be honored at the Georgia Teacher of the Year awards celebration in May, where the state winner will be announced.
We are so incredibly proud of Mr. Pritchett and the work he does every day representing CCSD and the Barnett Shoals motto, "Where Excellence is a Tradition." And we look forward to continuing to support and cheer him along on his Teacher of the Year journey!
Mr. Pritchett, who would be Clarke County's first-ever winner in the more than 50-year history of the award, will be honored at the Georgia Teacher of the Year awards celebration in May, where the state winner will be announced.
We are so incredibly proud of Mr. Pritchett and the work he does every day representing CCSD and the Barnett Shoals motto, "Where Excellence is a Tradition." And we look forward to continuing to support and cheer him along on his Teacher of the Year journey!
We're just THREE DAYS AWAY from our "Find Your Fit Friday" hiring event for special-education teachers! Register today at bit.ly/sped-teachers and join us this Friday, March 20, from 3-4:30 p.m. at the District Office (595 Prince Ave., Athens) to learn more about the SPED opportunities available in our district! We can't wait for you to join our team and Find Your Fit with CCSD!
A great time at last night's Board of Education meeting, where we recognized:
• Our students from Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School who made all-state band and all-state orchestra
• Our 2025-26 STAR Students and their STAR Teachers - Christopher Koch and Tara Stuart from Cedar Shoals High School and Olivia Bergman and Scott Swain from Clarke Central High School
• Clarke Central High School's Anthony Brooks, who was named Agricultural Education Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education and is now up for state CTAE Teacher of the Year
• Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School pre-K teacher and CCSD March Employee of the Month, Jailenne Parrott.
Congratulations to all!
• Our students from Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School who made all-state band and all-state orchestra
• Our 2025-26 STAR Students and their STAR Teachers - Christopher Koch and Tara Stuart from Cedar Shoals High School and Olivia Bergman and Scott Swain from Clarke Central High School
• Clarke Central High School's Anthony Brooks, who was named Agricultural Education Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education and is now up for state CTAE Teacher of the Year
• Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School pre-K teacher and CCSD March Employee of the Month, Jailenne Parrott.
Congratulations to all!
Reminder about the altered school schedule this week with K-12 parent-teacher conferences:
- Schools will dismiss early Wednesday, March 11 (Elementary schools at 12:20 p.m., middle and high schools at 1:30 p.m.).
- Students will not report to school Thursday and Friday, March 12-13. Thursday is a conference day.
- Students and most school-based staff will be out Friday. However, the District Office will be open during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
- Schools will dismiss early Wednesday, March 11 (Elementary schools at 12:20 p.m., middle and high schools at 1:30 p.m.).
- Students will not report to school Thursday and Friday, March 12-13. Thursday is a conference day.
- Students and most school-based staff will be out Friday. However, the District Office will be open during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
Congratulations to Jailenne Parrott, pre-K teacher at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School, on being named CCSD's Employee of the Month for March! Ms. Parrott was nominated for being "an exceptionally organized educator who consistently advocates for her students and provides high-quality early childhood education" and who "maintains high expectations for all learners while encouraging the development of critical thinking skills at an early age."
It was a great way to start the morning as Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott and OAES Assistant Principal Darlene Boles surprised Ms. Parrott with the award in her classroom, much to the excitement of her students! She will be publicly recognized this Thursday evening at the Clarke County Board of Education meeting.
Anyone in the community may nominate any full-time CCSD employee with at least one full year of service for this award at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward.
