Dear Partners, Colleagues and Friends,
Like many state agencies and organizations, we used the past two years during the pandemic to review programs and initiatives and look for ways to improve. Several examples of GOSA’s continuous improvements include:

  1. Partnering with Atlanta Speech School’s Cox Campus to provide free-of-charge content to Growing Readers Specialists;
  2. Through our Governor’s School Leadership Academy (GSLA), adapting teacher induction and teacher leader training to asynchronous and synchronous models that can be used anytime and anywhere by educators;
  3. GSLA partnering with the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) to provide coaching to GAEL’s aspiring principals program;
  4. Enhancing the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) by adding computer science and cybersecurity courses that are aligned to Georgia’s industry needs;
  5. Adding a college and career fair during the GHP 2022 summer program to encourage some of Georgia’s best and brightest students to stay in Georgia for both higher education opportunities and their careers; and
  6. Developing a GHP alumni directory to keep GHP alumni engaged with the program in years to come.

As all of us “reboot,” and look forward to upcoming years, I hope that we never forget the way society leaned on schools and educators, as we all grappled with the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I believe that parents have a renewed appreciation for public schools – they not only educate children no matter the obstacles, but they also find ways to feed, counsel and guide their students even during a pandemic.
 
This past legislative session’s budgets and legislation show a genuine appreciation for public schools and educators. In this newsletter, you will learn about highlights of Governor Brian Kemp’s FY23 budget recommendations and the General Assembly’s support. You will learn how Governor Kemp and the General Assembly found ways to strengthen the teacher pipeline, provide more parental involvement through school transparency and give parents a choice about whether their children should wear masks in school.
 
Many thanks to Governor Kemp and to the members of the General Assembly for supporting schools, parents and students.
 
Teachers and educators, now more than ever, we understand the many hats that you wear and the long hours through which you persevere to support Georgia’s students. Thank you for your continued service to schools and students.

Best,
                                                                          
Joy Hawkins
Executive Director

 

Read the full newsletter online

     What's Inside:

  • 2022 Legislative Session - Putting Parents, Students and Teachers First
     
  • First Lady, DECAL, and Malcolm Mitchell Unveil New Children's Book, "Hey, Georgia"
     
  • Georgia’s K-12 Teachers and Paraprofessionals Receive Classroom Grants
     
  • Georgia Department of Education Announces Grants to Expand Opportunities for Teachers
     
  • Broadband Expansion Continues in Georgia
     
  • Governor’s School Leadership Academy - Application Window is Now Open
     
  • Superintendent Woods Names 2022 AP Honor Schools
     
  • "Follow the Students to the Future" - GAEL Summer Conference Registration (in-person is sold out, virtual is open)
     
  • Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) Finalists Chosen
     
  • DECAL/QCC Summer Camp Checklist
     
  • District Spotlight on Douglas County School System