View as Webpage • May 10, 2023
Georgia Education Policy Alert
Action Alert: Help us Keep Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Standards in Georgia's Educator Training Requirements! 

Tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, May 11, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission will vote to remove mention of the words “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion” from its educator preparation rules. Censoring educators and limiting opportunities will have a disproportionate impact on historically excluded students. 

We urge you to send emails to the members of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission tonight and tomorrow morning and tell them to vote no on these proposed rules and protect the DEI language that already exists in the rules now.  
Send emails to the members! 

Use the message below to send emails to all members of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.



Abigail Coggin - coggin@bellsouth.net 

Derek Easterling - deasterling@kennesaw-ga.gov 

Jordan Frobos - jordan.frobos@gcssk12.net 

Kedrione Harris - kedrioneharris@calhoun.k12.ga.us 

Dr. Franklin Perry - fperry@liberty.k12.ga.us 

Dr. Holley Roberts - holley.roberts@gcsu.edu

Jane Rookard - jane.rookard@dcssga.org 

Dr. Brandon Seigler - brandon.seigler@fcsweb.org

Brian Sirmans - brian.sirmans@lanier.k12.ga.us 

Beth Townsend - beth.townsend@cherokee.k12.net 

Dr. Jennifer Wade - jennifer.wade@lumpkinschools.com

Carol Williams - jww99@aol.com 

Dr. Judi Wilson - jwilso24@augusta.edu 

Vonda Woodall - vwoodall@oconeeschools.org

Use this Subject Line: Proposed 2023 Educator Prep Concerns

Use the following message: My name is {{FirstName}} {{LastName}}, and I am writing to you today to ask you to vote NO to the proposed changes for rules 505-3-.01, 505-3-.05, 505-3-.06. The removal of the definitions for “diverse” and “diversity,” and the removal of their mention in all other rules has negative implications for the teacher development pipeline and for the students of Georgia, particularly our students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students. It also stands to weaken the validity of the professional standards as a whole, leading education professionals to leave the state of Georgia. 

I urge this commission to reconsider the currently proposed rules and instead return to the previous standards. We need language that makes sure teachers are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to educate all students regardless of race, class, or gender identity. Erasing these distinctions from the standards takes away the tools necessary for the success of educators and the students they serve.
Attend the Meeting, News Conference to Follow
Tomorrow, the GaPSC will meet at 4:00 pm ET and will occur virtually. You can join the meeting virtually here. 

The Georgia Coalition for Education Justice is hosting a news conference immediately after the commission meeting, tentatively at 6:00 pm ET. You can watch the news conference on the IDRA Facebook page.

The Georgia Coalition for Education Justice, coordinated by IDRA, is a coalition of students, educators, parents, and advocates committed to advancing education justice for all children across the state. 
Share With Your Friends!
IDRA is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college.