Celebrating Music in Our Schools Month! Thank you to the Clarke Central High School Percussion Ensemble for a terrific performance for Board of Education members and guests last night prior to the BOE meeting. The group is under the instruction of Christopher Simpson and Jordan Raysor.
A special and fun Culture of Literacy event at Winterville Elementary School yesterday morning. In addition to principal Dr. Carletha Pearson and Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker, Winterville Mayor Dodd Ferrelle and members of his Mayor's Book Club visited to read to students while the mayor also busted out his guitar to get the students moving and grooving! Special thanks to Mayor Ferrelle, State Librarian Julie Walker, Madison Mayor Fred Perriman, and Sadie Krawczyk and Chan Weeks from the Georgia Municipal Association for stopping by to share their love of reading with our students. More photos over on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
Thanks to those who stopped by the Athens Community Career Academy last night for its Pathway Showcase, introducing current ninth- and 10th-grade students to the career pathways that still have openings for the 2025-26 school year. If you or your student is a current ninth- or 10th-grader and is interested in taking courses in the Biotechnology, Broadcast Video and Film Production, or Entertainment, Sports, and Event Management pathways, complete the interest form at bit.ly/accainterest today!
A momentous day at the Athens Community Career Academy as we held an official ribbon-cutting for the new lab for the brand-new Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing pathway! Local community and industry leaders and representatives from organizations who made generous donations to help make the lab and pathway a reality were on hand for a tour of the lab and demonstrations by current pathway students and their instructor, Stan Harrison.
This new, three-course pathway introduces CCSD high school students to the science of using natural biological processes to manufacture products to solve human problems through a variety of methods. It also forms a vital connection between students (our future workforce) and local employers in a growing industry and targeted sector for Athens-Clarke County Economic Development with more and more investments continuing to pour in. Students who complete the pathway can earn professional certification as a biotechnician assistant and will have a leg up on their peers whether they continue their studies in the field in college or go directly into the workforce with well-paying jobs and upward mobility.
Whether it's through the further development of crucial medicines and vaccines or new ways to conserve precious resources, we are thrilled that these students will be exposed to and have doors opened to opportunities to further explore cutting-edge science that will have the power to save lives and improve our quality of life. As Mr. Harrison put it, these students will change the world some day.
See more photos on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
At last night's Board of Education meeting, we were pleased to recognize all of CCSD’s school-level bookkeepers along with members of the Business Services Division for their recent completion of the School Financial Accounting Personnel Certificate Program through the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
To earn their certificate, participants had to complete 24 program hours through a variety of instructional activities covering the program’s core curriculum, a pre- and post-program accounting survey, and a financial management school-level project and presentation. The project is intended to demonstrate the participant’s ability to apply the skills and knowledge acquired during the program as well as provide a direct benefit to the school.
Through successful completion of this program, both our new and veteran school-based accounting personnel are now equipped to promote enhanced accountability by advising and supporting school administrators charged with the responsibility of financial management as well educators who are entrusted with public funds and property.
Congratulations to all!
Thank you to those who came out to yesterday's Midday Meetup with Procurement at Food for the Soul on Broad Street! If you are a business owner or know a business owner interested in doing business with the Clarke County School District, please contact the CCSD Procurement Team at 706-546-7721. For questions and more information, please contact Purchasing & Contracts Supervisor Veronica Jackson at 706-546-7721 ext. 79711. Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2025 Vendor Workshop Series, designed for current and prospective vendors.
#CCSD2025
#BetterTogether
#ConnectedCulture
A notice for all CCSD students regarding tomorrow and Monday.
Un aviso para todos los estudiantes de CCSD con respecto a mañana y el lunes.
A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Shawn Hinger, media specialist at Clarke Middle School, for being selected as CCSD's Employee of the Month for February! Ms. Hinger is in her 22nd year at Clarke Middle and has been one of the biggest champions of literacy throughout the district during her career in education, helping lead the charge in our renewed Culture of Literacy campaign to improve educational outcomes for all students.
Ms. Hinger was surprised with the award this morning by Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker, CMS interim principal Derrick Maxwell, and instructional coach (and former CMS student) Mollie Schubach, who nominated her. She will also be recognized this evening at our Board of Education meeting.
Bettye H. Holston Elementary School simultaneously put our Culture of Literacy initiative to work and had a fun "Community Leaders as Readers" Black History Month program this morning as several African American leaders from the district and local community visited and read books to students from all grade levels. Thank you to all who came to spend time with our students and for sharing and promoting a love of reading! See more photos over on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)
This morning, Whitehead Road Elementary School celebrated Black History Month by reflecting on previous Civil Rights Movement protests that combatted segregation, including sit-ins. Students across Whitehead Road learned and reflected how individuals came together to promote change, and conversed in their classrooms regarding how change has shaped our country in the decades that followed, including in our classrooms today. Well done by these teachers and students at Whitehead Road!
#CCSD2025
#BetterTogether
#BlackHistoryMonth
#ConnectedCulture
Clarke County School District will highlight local history during Black History Month centered around education.
We start our first Flashback Friday with the Knox Institute, the first secondary school for Black students to earn accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of the University of Georgia.
From its inception in 1868 until its closure 60 years later, the Knox Institute served as a prestigious private school for Black Athenians. Prominent Athenians attended the Knox Institute, including world-renowned music composer Hall Johnson, as well as namesake for the Morton Building, Monroe "Pink" Morton.
Stay tuned this month for events happening across CCSD during Black History Month and more local history!
#CCSD2025
#BetterTogether
#BlackHistoryMonth
HISTORY MADE: Congratulations to Clarke Central High School junior Moon Uriostegui, who last week won her weight class championship at the GHSA Area 8 Girls wrestling tournament, making her the first ever Gladiator female wrestler to win an area title! Moon will compete in the state sectionals this coming weekend for a chance to qualify for the state tournament.
CORRECTION: During Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Georgia, a tornado safety drill will occur on Wednesday, February 5 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The drill was previously scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
We are pleased to announce the 2024-25 STAR Students from Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central High School along with the STAR Teachers they selected!
•From Cedar Shoals, Sebastian Caillault. Sebastian has also been announced as the STAR Student for the Clarke County “system,” which includes all public and private schools located within the county. He will now compete in the region contest for the chance to advance to the state competition. Sebastian chose former long-time Cedar Shoals math teacher Greg Huberty, who retired at the end of last school year, as his STAR Teacher.
•From Clarke Central, Wyatt Meyer and STAR Teacher David Ragsdale
•Also from Clarke Central, Luke Schliekelman and STAR Teacher Scott Swain
•And from Clarke Central, Riley Wares and STAR Teacher Chris Sugiuchi.
Read more on our website and check out photos from today's STAR Student luncheon, hosted by the Classic City of Athens Rotary Club, over on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
Scenes from a great morning today as the Clarke County Mentor Program held its annual celebration and fundraising breakfast. The power of the positive value in mentorship between adults and children in our community was on full display, and CCSD was well represented this morning!
•Cedar Shoals High School ninth-grader and current mentee Kenia Gonzalez-Chavez and her mentor, Clarke Central High School Class of 2019 alum and local nurse Marilen Rodriguez-Antunez, received the Celebrated Connections Award along with Marilen's mentor, Dr. Barbara Benson, and were showcased in a video highlighting the extraordinary impact a mentoring relationship can have in both the lives of the mentor and the mentee through mutual caring and support.
•CCSD Superintendent and fierce mentorship advocate Dr. Robbie Hooker received the Impact Award, presented annually to an individual associated with the Mentor Program who, through steadfast commitment and selfless service, has made a lasting impact in the greater Athens community.
•Tharon Johnson, Clarke Central High Class of 1996 alum and nationally recognized political strategist, consultant, and talk show commentator, gave the keynote address reflecting on the impact of the mentorship he received that helped set him on the path toward a successful career in politics and media.
As we celebrate January as National Mentoring Month, we ask that all adults in our community consider becoming a mentor to a CCSD student today. You can learn more about the program and the process for becoming a mentor at clarkecountymentorprogram.org. As Dr. Hooker often reminds us, there are children throughout our community who need more than just presents; they need our *presence* in their lives.
Congratulations to Lizbeth Castro, eighth-grader at Coile Middle School, on winning the 2025 CCSD District Spelling Bee! This was Lizbeth's fourth consecutive appearance in the district bee as she represented Coile all three years of middle school. She advances to represent CCSD in the GAE Region 7 Spelling Bee at Putnam County Middle School on Feb. 22 and will compete for the opportunity to advance to the state bee later this spring. Also, a big congratulations to Clarke Middle School eighth-grader Ojas Kulkarni, who finished as our district runner-up! Check out the full photo gallery over on our Facebook page - @ClarkeCoSchools!
We were pleased to have State School Superintendent Richard Woods visit Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School this morning to present leaders from OAES, Timothy Road Elementary School, Cleveland Road Elementary, and Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School with their Math Leader banners! More photos can be found over on our Facebook page (@ClarkeCoSchools)!
Last night, the BOE officially welcomed newly elected member Mary P. Bagby (District 2) as she and re-elected members Dr. Patricia Yager (District 4), Dr. Mumbi Anderson (District 6, Board President), and Nicole Hull, Esq. (District 8) were sworn-in for four-year terms.
BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Sarah Waller-Price, band director at Coile Middle School, for being named our Employee of the Month for January! Ms. Waller-Price is in her second year at Coile and was nominated by parents who credited her with transforming the band program since her arrival, boosting both participation and performance quality, and nurturing a love of music and pride in accomplishment in her students while instilling the effort and discipline needed for a successful program.
Ms. Waller-Price was surprised with the award this afternoon by CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker and Coile assistant principal Cindy Tucker and will be recognized this Thursday night at the Board of Education meeting.
Thank you to all in the community for your many wonderful nominations and a reminder that any full-time CCSD employee with at least one of year of service to the district may be nominated at bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward.
WEATHER UPDATE: All schools and offices closed Friday, January 10.
