DCSS Names Six TOTY Semifinalists

As a testament to unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions to education, six remarkable teachers from the Douglas County School System were recognized as semifinalists for the DCSS Teacher of the Year (TOTY) award on August 10. Last spring, all 34 schools named a TOTY. These 34 teachers attended an informational meeting in May and completed an extensive application over the spring and summer. Then, a panel of judges composed of community leaders and former educators read and scored each application, with the top six scores being named as the District’s TOTY Semifinalists. 

Last Thursday, these six teachers were surprised in their classrooms by DCSS Superintendent Trent North and other district administrators to present them with the distinguished honor of being a TOTY semifinalist. 

Upon receiving the honor of being named a semifinalist, many teachers expressed their gratitude, while others said that they were honored to receive the recognition. 

Next, the semifinalists will undergo classroom observations before participating in interviews with the panel of judges. Three finalists and the district-wide TOTY will be named at the TOTY celebration on September 28 at the new Alexander High School Performing Arts Center. The system-wide TOTY will also advance to compete in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition later this year. 

Congratulations to these six exceptional educators for being named DCSS’ TOTY Semifinalists. 

Elementary School

Jennifer Waits, South Douglas Elementary School

Julie Buff, Winston Elementary School

Middle School

Shemeria Hatcher, Chapel Hill Middle School

Chelsea Montford, Stewart Middle School

High School

Jacqueline Roth, FLEX Academy

Teresa Wellmaker, Douglas County High School

New Math Standards Enhance Learning for Douglas County Students

K-12 scholars will enjoy more collaborative math strategies in the classroom this school year due to Georgia’s adoption of a new curriculum.  The change led by Governor Brian Kemp, State Superintendent Richard Woods, and the Georgia Department of Education, transpired as Georgia sought to enhance students' overall quality of mathematics education.     

According to the Georgia Department of Education website, educators, students, and community members collaborated to create the new standards with the expectation to lay a solid foundation for student achievement.  “These updated standards are designed to enhance the overall learning experience and teaching practices in mathematics education by providing deeper understanding and real-world relevance,” explains Dr. Marissa Prather, Director of STEM and Fine Arts for the Douglas County School System.  

Furthermore, the transition is expected to provide clear guidance for teachers regarding specific grade level instruction and foster a more interactive learning environment, Dr. Prather adds.  

Overall, the new standards can transform the educational landscape of mathematics. Chelsie Goodman, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning says educators will find more flexibility with teaching and incorporating ways for more student engagement.  “With these standards, students will develop a more profound comprehension of how mathematical concepts interconnect and how they relate to various aspects of their lives.”

With education evolving, the state recognized the need to make necessary adjustments to the teaching and learning of mathematics with the ultimate goal for scholars to intensify their critical thinking skills, problem solving, and better equip them for real world math implementation.  The Georgia State Board of Education approved the new standards in 2021.

DCSS Students Encouraged to Speak Up for Safety

The Douglas County School System is taking a proactive approach to keeping schools and students safe. Students can now use Speak Up for Safety to report any suspicious behavior or activity in their schools anonymously, using text, email, or phone call.

“We wanted to provide our students with a way to provide discreet information when they encountered a situation where they felt either their safety or the safety of another person would be threatened,” explained Douglas County School System Chief of Police, Tracey Whaley. The simplicity of sending a text or email is one benefit of the program along with the anonymity, Whaley added.      

The confidential digital tip line can be used for reporting bullying, threats of suicide, self-harm, drug or alcohol abuse, school violence, and other student safety threats. Once the call is placed, a trained 24/7 safety team member immediately evaluates all submitted communication and alerts district level emergency contacts as needed.  

To report a concern, students are asked to email speakup@dcssga.org or call/text 770-525-5419.   

Parents and Guardians: Please Verify Your Information in Infinite Campus

Parents and Guardians, we need your help with the enrollment verification process.

It is critical that we have the correct information for your family in Infinite Campus. Our automated messaging system pulls the phone numbers and email addresses from Infinite Campus, and we want to be sure that you receive all of the important messages from your school and from the district.

We ask that you log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Once you are logged in, you will click “More” and “Census Verification” and follow the prompts to verify or modify the contact information for your household.

We ask that you complete the enrollment verification by August 31. We appreciate your help with this important annual verification for our students.

Please see the helpful links below:

• Log into Infinite Campus Parent Portal here.
• Click here for directions on filling out the Census Verification.
• If you need to set up a Parent Portal, please follow the directions available here. For directions in Spanish, please click here.
• If you have any problem accessing the “Census Verification” section of Infinite Campus or if you have a problem verifying or modifying the information, please email parent@dcssga.org
• As a reminder, if you wish to receive text messages from your school and the district, please opt in by texting 67587 and typing “Yes.”

Friday Night Lights: DCSS Football Season Previews

Alexander Embracing New Culture Under Neal

After narrowly missing the state playoffs last season, Alexander High School (AHS) enters the 2023 season under new leadership looking to claim one of the four coveted spots in Region 5-6A. Cody Neal enters his first season as the Cougars’ head coach after a successful stint at Grayson High School as the offensive coordinator. 

Through his first spring and summer with the Cougars, Neal said that he has been pleased with the team’s progress thus far, adding that the team has competed very well at summertime camps and in early-season practices. 

“We’re really excited about the direction of our football program, and we believe we have a very bright future ahead,” said Neal. “For our program, it’s about working hard each day, showing up, and doing the right things on and off the field. Even with the small things, we believe they carry over to the football field.”

In Region 5-6A, the Cougars will face a steep climb back into the state playoffs, as they’ll face defending state champion Langston Hughes, along with in-county foe Douglas County, who advanced to the state playoffs last season also. 

“We know there aren’t going to be any easy games in our region, and our kids know that,” said Neal. “We believe that our non-region schedule is going to prepare us for that region schedule once we get past week 3.”

To prepare, AHS will face three non-region opponents, Riverwood, Lithia Springs, and Sandy Creek, each of which was a state playoff team in 2022. The Cougars will also lean on strong leadership from seniors Ty Griffin and Randall Strickland.

Neal added that the Cougars have also placed an emphasis on relationship building among the coaching staff and players, as no coaches from last year’s team remain on staff. 

“We’re still working hard to build those relationships with the kids and have them build relationships with each other,” Neal said. “Everybody enjoys being there every day and wants to be there. Sometimes I have to kick those guys out and tell them to go home because they enjoy being there and spending time with one another.”

The Cougars open the 2023 season at home tonight versus Riverwood. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

CHHS Trending in the Right Direction in Stephens' Third Season

Entering their third year under head coach Brad Stephens, Chapel Hill High School is looking to make some noise in Region 5-5A and earn a state playoff spot after missing the tournament in the past two seasons. 

“We’ve had a lot of commitment from our kids this summer, and it’s been great. Everyone who has been here has been incredibly committed,” said Stephens. “We really feel like we’re trending in the right direction, and we expect big things from our football team this year.”

To reach their goals, CHHS will have several veteran players to lean on, as senior linebackers Alex Teal and Gregory Wardlaw will anchor the defense. Offensively, junior receiver Chryshawn Sellers and quarterback Delancy Alexander will lead a unit that Stephens says will look to throw the ball much more than in past seasons. 

With this new outlook on offense, the head coach underscored the importance of the team’s summer work in 7-on-7 and padded camps, adding that these have given the team’s quarterback and receivers more opportunities to develop timing and chemistry while also allowing the coaching staff to develop relationships with players as well. 

“With us transitioning to being more spread and throwing more, the 7-on-7 has helped us a lot. It’s really helped our quarterback with making reads, developing timing with receivers, and allowing the team to just connect with each other,” said Stephens. “The 7-on-7s we went to helped a lot, but we still went to two contact camps because we want to be physical.”

With a new look offensively, the Panthers will first tackle a difficult non-region schedule that features games against Stone Mountain, South Cobb, and a neutral site matchup with South Atlanta before stepping into region play. In the region, CHHS will face stiff competition, including cross-town rival Lithia Springs. 

“One thing that we feel has really prepared us has been competing over the summer. We went down to Georgia Tech and finished in second place out of 32 teams at their camp. That was a good stepping stone for us. At camps I always told our guys that when something bad happens, go make something great happen on the next play. That mentality helped us compete a lot and we had a lot of good things happen at camps.”

The Panthers open their season tonight at home against Stone Mountain. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

For more information and a schedule for our fall, winter, and spring sports, click here.

Classroom Corner

DCSS Offering Opportunity for Middle School Students to Travel Abroad

For the second year in a row, the Douglas County School System is sponsoring 12 lucky middle school students to travel abroad free of charge. This year, the selected students will have the opportunity to visit Brazil and Argentina in February 2024 to explore both countries and experience their diverse cultures. 

“Our vision in the Douglas County School System is to ensure that all students become productive members of a global society,” said Superintendent North. “That’s why we’re so excited to partner with the board of education and this esteemed travel company to send these students on the adventure of a lifetime once again.”

To earn this experience, students must first submit an essay detailing why traveling to Brazil and Argentina would make them a more productive global citizen. The essay deadline is August 28, and students must submit their essays online here. Students must also maintain at least a “C” average in all classes, have few discipline referrals, and have a good attendance record. 

For more information about this opportunity, click the flyer to the left, or students may reach out to Mitch Springer, Executive Director of 6-12 Teaching and Learning, at mitch.springer@dcssga.org.

State Superintendent Seeks Students for 2023-2024 Advisory Council

State School Superintendent Richard Woods is seeking students in grades 10-12 to serve on the 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council. These students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom and other education-related issues. They will also serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools. 

“The primary goal of my Student Advisory Council is to provide a voice for students across Georgia to share their perceptions and ideas, and every year, they serve as a valuable resource as I make decisions that impact students across the state," Superintendent Woods said. “I enjoy meeting and learning about each council member. Their feedback, opinions, and perspectives provide insight for me and the Georgia Department of Education leadership and staff to make the best possible policy choices."

Applications for ambassadors must be submitted by September 8 at 5 p.m. Click here for more information about the program or to access a link to the application.

Sports Calendar

Key Dates

• August 21: Millage Rate Public Hearing (8 a.m.)
• August 21: Millage Rate Public Hearing (7 p.m.)
• September 4: Labor Day (holiday for all)
• September 5: Teacher Work Day
• September 6: Progress Reports (elementary & middle schools)
• September 15: Start of Hispanic Heritage Month
• October 6: Grading Period Ends
• October 9-13: Fall Break
• October 18: Progress Reports (high school)
• October 18: Report Cards (elementary & middle schools)
• November 7: Teacher Work Day
• November 15: Progress Reports (elementary & middle schools)
• November 20-24: Thanksgiving Holidays
• December 15: End of First Semester

Family Resources

DCSS Community Bulletin Board

Looking for a great weekend event, after-school care, or a new activity? Check out DCSS' Community Bulletin Board at the link above to learn all about events and activities occurring in Douglas County.

Douglas SEES

DCSS offers several resources for student health, wellness and support through the Douglas SEES website. Visit the link above to learn more about the resources available to students and families.

DCSS Family Health Center

DCSS' Family Health Center is a resource for families and staff within the school system. The center is located at the lower level of Burnett Elementary School and offers several services. Click the flyer above to learn more.