Georgia Schools: Atlanta High School’s Leadership Team Escorted Out

In a bizarre twist of events, the leadership team at an Atlanta high school has recently been ousted in anticipation of “fresh blood” that is being brought in to oversee the school. However, what is concerning students and parents at the school is not necessarily that the current team is leaving, but rather how they were dismissed. Vague letters of explanation about the sudden transition did little to ease anxiety, and now parents are demanding that Atlanta Public Schools comes clean about its abrupt dismissal of their beloved principal and five members of his leadership staff.

Sudden Dismissal and a Security Escort

According to a report at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the dismissal came just prior to the end of the school day on a Friday afternoon. Principal Mark Mygrant was just getting ready to make bus announcements for the end of the day when district officials showed up at the school. Deputy Superintendent Karen Walden, flanked by the interim HR director and security personnel, told Mygrant it was time for him to pack his things and exit North Atlanta High School, where he had been the principal for the past five years. Security officers then escorted Mygrant out of the building, in plain view of parents, teachers, and students.

“I was at work when Karen Walden and the interim HR director came in and informed me that my services were no longer needed,” Mygrant explained to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I asked if I should move

A wealth of resources and web site links for all subject areas for kindergarten teachers.

Resources

• Shape Book Patterns- A to Z Shape Book Patterns with and without lines
• Literacy Sites available en francais and English- Literacy Center offers a fun and interactive site where early learners can explore numbers, letters, colours and shapes in English and French.
• RECENTLY UPDATED! OCDSB Kindergarten RESOURCES
• CENTER SIGNS- A wonderful site. Every sign you can think of! Great for labeling
• Internet4classrooms- Online Interactive Web Sites ~ Literacy and Math ~ For use as Independent Skill Activities during Center Time
• More Sequenced Lesson Plans from Utah- Looking for ideas and formal lesson plans and activities for your core curriculum then do check this one out!
• BACKFLIP Kinder Collection
• Carls Corner- 'Where kids play and teachers learn' Literacy
• FRENCH sites- FSL Activities with M. Renaud
• KINDERGARTEN ~ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia- Includes Kindergarten systems of various countries, functions of Kindergarten, what should kindergarten activities include, readings and external links
• Kindergarten Rubrics- In writing and science..can be modified and adapted
• Kindergarten Web Site...ings of the Day- Check in here frequently for new additions!
• Mrs. McCullers' Top Dog Blog- Kindergarten Blogs ... you made a great job for your Blog.
• Kindergartenconsultant.com- Kindergarten Consultant
• Kindergarten Web Sit...ings of the Day
• Songs 4 Teachers - Back to School- Presents songs & poems for 'Back to School' and more!
• Teacher.Net Lesson Plans- A plethora of lesson plans and ideas.
• Tracking Templates - GREAT TOOL FOR K Teachers- Tracking Templates for Personal & Social Development skills
• abcteach index of resources
• teachers.net

Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement. Students work through the assignment until all group members successfully understand and complete it.

As public schools continue emphasizing collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills in 2026, cooperative learning remains one of the most effective instructional strategies for preparing students for both academic success and future careers. Research from the Institute of Education Sciences continues to support instructional practices that actively engage students in learning through discussion, teamwork, and shared responsibility.

Cooperative efforts result in participants striving for mutual benefit so that all group members:

• Gain from each other's efforts.
• Recognize that all group members share a common fate.
• Know that one's performance is influenced by both individual effort and the contributions of teammates.
• Feel proud and jointly celebrate when a group member is recognized for achievement.

This video illustrates the team model of learning.

Why Use Cooperative Learning?

Research has consistently shown that cooperative learning techniques:

• Promote student learning and academic achievement.
• Increase student retention.
• Enhance student satisfaction with the learning experience.
• Help students develop oral communication skills.
• Develop students' social and interpersonal skills.
• Promote student self-esteem.
• Encourage positive relationships among students from diverse backgrounds.

What would it take for you to complete high school, even if all the odds were against you? Would the promise of a job after graduation entice you to see your high school career through to the end? That is the hope of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has recently proposed a program to inspire Chicago youth to graduate from their city high schools. Some see the proposal as a blatant bribe, while others call it an initiative that could potentially increase the dismal graduation figures that are currently a reality in the city.

The Problem with Chicago Schools

Graduation rates in Chicago Public Schools are dismal indeed, although they have seen the slightest uptick in recent years. The Chicago Tribune reports that during the last academic year, graduation rates stood at just 60.6 percent, which was higher than it had been in previous years. Students in the city have many obstacles getting in their way of education, including a high crime rate in their neighborhoods, low-income families, and many kids with just one parent. Many kids in the Chicago school system are receiving some sort of government help, with a large percentage qualifying for the free or reduced lunch program.

Recently, Chicago Public Schools experienced a 10-day teacher strike after the teachers union and city officials could not come to an easy agreement on contract terms. Some of the concerns voiced by teachers at the time could play a role in low

STEM education, the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, is an essential component to preparing the workforce of the future. However, it appears schools across the country are failing to answer that call. Few primary and secondary schools are offering courses in these subjects that directly apply to the workforce needs of today, and even where courses are available, they are still not considered part of the core curriculum. The good news is that as gurus in these industries begin to sit up and take notice of the gap in our education system, some schools are also rising up in an effort to bring STEM studies to public education.

STEM is not widely embraced by the public education system in the U.S. currently. According to a U.S. News and World Report report, only 2,100 high schools out of 42,000 currently offer the Advanced Placement test in computer science. This number is actually down 25 percent over the past five years. In addition, few states allow computer science to be taken to meet a math or science requirement. Only nine states allow computer science to be used as a core class that goes toward meeting graduation requirements.

“It will get you just as close to graduation as it will if you take woodworking,” Brad Smith, executive vice president of legal and corporate affairs at Microsoft, told U.S. News and World Report. “I love wood, but it’s not the future of our economy,”