
We are thrilled to announce our 2024-25 school-level Teachers and Support Professionals of the Year! Each school that had eligible candidates per the district's selection criteria is represented. From this group, a district-wide Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year will be selected and announced Oct. 24 at our annual awards banquet. The district Teacher of the Year will then compete at the state level.
Be on the lookout on our Facebook and Instagram (@ClarkeCoSchools) pages over the next several weeks as we highlight each winner in the lead up to the announcement of our Teacher of the Year finalists and the Oct. 24 awards dinner!



Scenes of new hire orientation this week at the CCSD Administrative Building! Can we get a warm welcome to these new members of the CCSD family?
#CCSD2024
#BetterTogether
#OptimizedTalent

Thank you to Hughes Subaru for visiting Timothy Road Elementary School yesterday morning, donating $5,000 in school supplies to TRES students and activities to STEM teachers at Timothy Road for their classrooms! Hughes Subaru has been a partner of TRES since 2021 as part of their Subaru Loves Learning program. Thank you once again Hughes Subaru for the donation and wonderful surprise to our students and teachers!
#CCSD2024
#BetterTogether
#ConnectedCulture

Thank you to Executive Director Catherine Neace of the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education in Clarke County for stopping by Gaines Elementary School this afternoon to surprise teacher Kylie Noble with the Charlotte Brown Chair for Teachers of Special Education award! The FFE originally planned to present this award to Ms. Noble on July 26 when the organization's other 2024 Teaching and Staff awards were announced, but Ms. Noble was (just a little bit) preoccupied that day as she was preparing to welcome her baby daughter into the world. The baby was born July 27, and she and mom are at home and doing well.

We are 24 HOURS away from the 58th Classic City Championship!
Here is everything to know ahead of the game between the Cedar Shoals Jaguars and Clarke Central Gladiators!
Order your tickets ahead of time here! https://gofan.co/event/1586108
#CCSD2024
#ClassicCityChampionship






Check out this week's "Better Together" weekly newsletter!
For English: secure.smore.com/n/853ac/preview
For Spanish: secure.smore.com/n/bz9pg/preview

At its meeting last night, the Clarke County Board of Education officially approved the promotions of Ms. Kimberly Arnold to assistant principal at Cedar Shoals High School and Ms. Jenna Suares to assistant principal at Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School as well as the hire of Ms. Darlene Boles as assistant principal at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School.
Ms. Arnold and Ms. Suares have been with their new schools since the start of the school year and had previously worked as instructional coaches in CCSD prior to their promotions – Ms. Arnold at Classic City High and Ms. Suares at Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary.
Ms. Boles comes to our district from the DeKalb County School District where she has served as a classroom teacher, literacy academic coach, and, most recently, as a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) Specialist.


We are SIX days away from the 58th Classic City Championship between the Cedar Shoals Jaguars and the Clarke Central Gladiators football teams! Kick-off is 6:30 p.m. at Billy Henderson Stadium! Tickets go on sale Monday on GoFan, buy online or at the door for $12! Stay tuned next week for additional details for the 58th Classic City Championship!
#CCSD2024
#BetterTogether
#ClassicCityChampionship


CCSD STUDENTS,
The Athens Film Festival is offering discounted tickets for students! See 80+ screenings from August 15-17 and attend workshops for aspiring filmmakers, all for HALF the price! Go to athensfilm.com/student for more!
#CCSD2024
#BetterTogether
#ThrivingStudents


It's time once again to nominate a CCSD Employee of the Month! The Employee of the Month program recognizes and rewards staff members for their service and dedication to the students and families of the Clarke County School District. Each month (September through May), a CCSD employee is chosen for the award, surprised at their school or building, and invited to the monthly Board of Education meeting for recognition.
Any member of the CCSD community (student, parent/guardian, staff member, community member) may nominate any full-time district employee with at least one full year of service. Nominations for September Employee of the Month are now open! Go to bit.ly/CCEmployeeAward to get started!

To view the complete job description and start your application, go to ccsdjobs.org. Act fast, deadline to apply is August 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.! #BetterTogether #OptimizedTalent #CCSD


HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Meet with Dr. Hooker throughout the year and make your voice heard! All 11th- and 12th-grade students interested in serving on this year’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council are invited to complete the online application by Friday, August 30. Through participation in the council, students will learn about CCSD initiatives and share their perspective on being a CCSD student with Dr. Hooker. All students will also have a chance to develop their leadership and advocacy skills. The council will meet five times over the course of the year; students are asked to commit to attend all meetings.
Apply here: https://clarkesd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MHYfLuCZXms2IS

It's time for year two of CCSD's regional AdaptED Sports Program! The Classic City Dawgs will start adapted handball on Aug. 11. Participation is completely free for any public or private school students in grades 1-12 in Clarke, Oconee, Jackson, Madison, Barrow, and Oglethorpe counties who have a qualifying disability.
Wheelchair handball is a GHSA-sanctioned co-ed sport. All athletes compete in wheelchairs regardless of whether they use a wheelchair in everyday life. Wheelchairs are provided by CCSD at no cost to students and families.
If your student is interested in participating, please complete this form: https://bit.ly/clarkeadapted
For more information and to sign up, please contact CCSD area AdaptED Sports coordinator Chris Aiken at aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Parents and students can ask questions, gather more information and sign up by contacting CCSD Area Coordinator Chris Aiken: aikenc@clarke.k12.ga.us


Check out this week's "Better Together" newsletter featuring highlights from the past week and more news and information from CCSD!
For English: https://secure.smore.com/n/2pfue/preview
Para Español: https://secure.smore.com/n/gcubf/preview
If you are a community member who is not already receiving the newsletter through our parent/guardian mass notification system, and you would like to receive the newsletter in your email each week, please email communications@clarke.k12.ga.us.

It Takes a Village: The Clarke County Mentor Program is seeking community members to become mentors to a CCSD students and make a difference in their lives. Mentors act as a role model and friend; they encourage positive choices, promote high self-esteem, and support academic achievement. Mentors visit their assigned “mentee” at school, ideally once each week during the school year, for a meal, game, academic help, school program, and conversation.
Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker checked in on his mentee yesterday on the first day of school and encourages anyone looking to make an impact to start the process of becoming a mentor today.
Learn more about the program requirements and the application process at clarkecountymentorprogram.org.

To view the complete job description and start your application, go to ccsdjobs.org. Act fast, deadline to apply is August 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.! #BetterTogether #OptimizedTalent #CCSD


FIRST DAY OF NEW OPPORTUNITY
These Cedar Shoals High School students arrived to their first day of school yesterday and became some of the first group of students to become part of the Center for Readiness in English and Career Education, or CRECE.
CRECE is a program beginning in CCSD this school year and has the overarching mission of providing transitional support and opportunities to students, families, and community members new to Athens from outside the United States to grow and flourish as students as well as members of our community.
CRECE offers half-day morning and afternoon core and elective courses for high school-aged newcomer English Learners (ELs) from both Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central high schools for a maximum of two semesters.
Give a warm welcome to these students as we wish them the greatest success as they join us in CCSD!
#CCSD2024
#BetterTogether
#ThrivingStudents

Click here for the full first day of school photo gallery! https://www.facebook.com/ClarkeCoSchools/posts/pfbid0irVB8qpnDM7fG7WvvqVsfoPAktqq4R3CHpp3SXaDPDm9C6Rd1jwXwQyTN6DaZV9Jl

A new dawn at Clarke Middle School


The sun is rising on a great school year at the Clarke County School District!
