Ed Briefs

In this episode of Coffee with Calvin, Dr. Watts sits down with Dr. Al Taylor, Chief of Schools, to discuss the behind-the-scenes work that goes into supporting Each and Every Student.

The Blueprint in Action focus for the months of November and December is Each and Every Student. During these months we will be spotlighting how our schools are taking on the challenge to meet the needs of each and every student.

• A Playground for All at Cooper ES (VIDEO)
  
• GCPS students earn Junior Achievement Awards
  
• All Pro Dad Program Strengthens Family Bonds in GCPS
  

And be sure to catch up on all Each and Every Student spotlight stories here!

Do you have a story aligned to one of the four Blueprint implementation focus areas for 2024-25? We want to share it on our website, through GCPS TV, and social media as part of our 2024-25 Blueprint in Action Campaign! All GCPS staff can submit stories and photos to be reviewed and considered for a web story, Focus Moment video, or social media post. Submit your story today!

GCPS congratulates the district's top 25 teachers, our Semifinalists for the 2026 Teacher of the Year (TOTY) competition. View the profiles of these impressive educators.

Congratulations are in order for a Lilburn Elementary School custodian! Elizabeth Barreto Baquero was named the winner of KISS 104.1 FM’s “Outstanding School Employee Award.” Baquero was nominated by 4th grade teacher Lasandra Cobb, who describes her as a “kind, thoughtful, and loving person who cares about the safety of the school and students.”

October was notable for our GCPS Transportation team, marking both the national recognition of School Bus Safety Week (October 21-25) and the celebration of Bus Driver Appreciation Day (October 21). The month also included the annual School Bus Rodeo event, held at the Suwanee Safety and Training Center.

GCPS recognizes National School Psychology Week, November 11-15, and celebrates the role of school psychologists within schools and communities. This year’s theme, “Spark Discovery”, highlights the work school psychologists do to help their communities seek out new ideas, effect change, and expand horizons for children and youth.

Did you know... GCPS is the third largest transporter of students in the country, transporting 135,357 students twice daily.

To ensure that everyone— students, staff, and community members— has ample time to participate, GCPS has extended the deadline to review and provide feedback on Health (Sex Education) course curriculum materials to November 15. Please visit this link to begin the review.

Please be aware that we will be making changes to our Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) process on December 2, 2024. The look will change, and you will have additional authentication options.

MFA adds an extra layer of security when logging into the Employee Portal. This extra layer of security helps protect your account from unauthorized access, even if your password is stolen. It’s an easy way to keep your information secure. More details and instructions will be shared as we approach the update.

Our United Way Employee Giving Campaign has officially kicked off! At GCPS, we’re committed to making a lasting impact in our community, and this is your chance to be part of something truly meaningful. Together, we can create positive change for children and families in need.

How You Can Get Involved:

• Donate: Log into the staff portal to contribute via a payroll deduction through November 30. Even just $5 per month in 2024 can make a world of difference! You can find the United Way donation window in the About Me menu.

• Participate: Support your campaign by engaging in a local school or ISC event through November 30.

As the premier source of news, information, and analysis in K-12 education, Education Week believes that an equitable– and excellent– education for all students is possible. And more importantly, it empowers its readers to make that goal a reality through in-depth reporting, research, and actionable insights you can put to work in classrooms right away. GCPS offers domain-based access to all faculty, staff, and leadership within the district. Learn more about Education Week here. Learn about using your profile here (video).

HOW TO ACCESS EDWEEK

Easy instructions for instant access to Education Week – the premier K-12 news and professional learning resource.

1. Go to www.edweek.org – if you’re a new user visiting the site, you will be prompted immediately to create an account. If you have an existing account, please proceed to step 2.
2. If not prompted to create an account or automatically logged in, go to the top right – “Sign In.”
3. The “Sign In” box will pop up – sign in if you’ve already created an account; if not, go to “Create Account” using the link underneath (using your authorized district email).

Don’t forget to subscribe to Education Week newsletters here.

As part of the continued investment into Team GCPS, the GCPS Human Resources & Talent Management department is pleased to announce an advanced degree opportunity for paraprofessionals who currently hold a bachelor's degree (or instructional clerks working directly with students).

There is one information session available for the Georgia State University PROPEL Project. You can attend the Zoom session on Thursday, November 14, at 8 a.m.

Friday, November 8, is the last day to make changes to the State Health Benefit Plan and the GCPS Benefits Plan. Employees can access the system via the staff portal.

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. The 988 dialing code is available for call, text, and chat.

You can learn more about 988 and access resources at 988lifeline.org.

Want to share a success story about your school or department with the entire GCPS community?

Are you looking for a way to celebrate an honor and recognize a teacher, student, or team member for their work? Do you want to share an achievement, upcoming event, or opportunity?

Do you have GCPS Good News to share? Let us know through this online form.

• Board meeting and work session (October 17)
  
• Connected (October 24)
  
• GCPS Links (October 17)
  
• Coffee with Calvin (October 3)
  
• Ed Briefs (October 3)
• News Releases
  
• Student Calendars

• Keep Connected with news from GCPS TV… the next episode airs November 14!
  
• The next regular Board meeting is November 21. (Online, find links to sign up for the public comment sections of the meeting.)
  
• Watch for the next issue of GCPS Links on November 21!