Columbus, GA- The Varkey Foundation recently announced its annual list of finalists for the Global Teacher Prize. The award recognizes exceptional teachers across the world and provides a one million dollar prize to the winner. Eric Crouch, a fifth grade teacher at Double Churches Elementary School, was announced as one of fifty finalists on December 13, 2018; four from the United States have been selected.

Individuals deemed eligible for the Global Teacher Prize are judged on a rigorous set of criteria to include evidence of:

1. Employing effective instructional practices that are replicable and scalable to influence the quality of education globally

2. Employing innovative instructional practices that address the particular challenges of the school, community or country and which have shown sufficient evidence to suggest they could be effective in addressing such challenges in a new way

3. Achieving demonstrable student learning outcomes in the classroom

4. Impact in the community beyond the classroom that provide unique and distinguished models of excellence for the teaching profession and others

5. Helping children become global citizens through providing them with a values-based education that equips them for a world where they will potentially live, work and socialize with people from many different nationalities, cultures and religions

6. Improving the teaching profession through helping to raise the bar of teaching, sharing best practice, and helping colleagues overcome any challenges they face in their school

7. Teacher recognition from governments, national teaching organizations, head-teachers, colleagues, and members of the wider community or pupils

The winner will be selected by the Global Teacher Prize Academy, which consists of head-teachers, educational experts, commentators, journalists, public officials, tech entrepreneurs, company directors and scientists from around the world.

For more information on the Global Teacher Prize, visit https://www.globalteacherprize.org/.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

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Columbus, GA- The 2018 Single Statewide Accountability System Award (SSAS) Schools Greatest Gains and Highest Performing Award winners were recently announced by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA). Two District schools were listed for this achievement. In addition to the SSAS awards, GOSA released the list of schools designated as “Beating the Odds.”Twenty District schools were included in that listing.

“I am very pleased with the tremendous work being done by these school communities. This recognition distinguishes them as leaders within schools having similar characteristics throughout the state for which they and we, as a community, can and should be very proud,” said Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent of Education.

According to GOSA, the SSAS awards are conducted in compliance with state law, O.C.G.A 20-14-37, and State Board Rule 160-7-1-.01. Awards are given to schools with high academic performance and/or high academic growth. In 2018, the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) revised the indicators included in the CCRPI, which adjusted the previous award eligibility criteria for the SSAS awards. GOSA used College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) data from the three most recent school years to determine SSAS awards in two categories: Greatest Gains and Highest Performing*. Each award category has four tiers: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.



*GOSA used CCRPI data from the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school years to determine Greatest Gains and Highest Performing SSAS awards. Each award category has a Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tier. Greatest Gains schools must earn a three-year average CCRPI Progress Score in at least the 93rd percentile. Highest Performing schools must earn a three-year average CCRPI Content Mastery Score in at least the 93rd percentile. For more details on how awards are calculated, click here. This list does not take into account school closures and mergers effective for the 2018-2019 school year.

Beating the Odds

“Beating the Odds” is a statistical analysis that compares a school’s actual performance on the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) with the performance of schools with similar characteristics across the state. Schools that perform higher than similar schools are considered “Beating the Odds.” GOSA released the Beating the Odds Revised Model and Technical Document, which outlines the changes, on August 20, 2018.


For more information, visit https://gosa.georgia.gov/.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 5 | 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Carver High School

3100 8^th St.

Columbus, GA 31906

WHAT: The Carver High School Fine Arts and Theater program will host a workshop for area high school students to prepare for the August Wilson Monologue Competition—a national scholarship program presented by Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company. The workshop will feature acting lessons and one-on-one sessions with the competition’s coordinator, Nikki Toombs, Director of Education, True Colors Theatre Company. Following the workshop, Carver High will host a citywide competition on February 1, 3:00 p.m., in conjunction with the national preliminary rounds held for the Atlanta area.

The competition focuses on the plays of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle, which chronicle the African American experience through the 20th century. The inspiration for the competition was sparked by two of August Wilson’s closest living collaborators, Kenny Leon and Todd Kreidler.

“The goal of this workshop is to make a competition of this magnitude accessible to all of our students who are interested in pursuing unique scholarship opportunities,” said Tamara Curry-Gill, Fine Arts Chair and Theater Teacher at Carver High School.

Gill added that she is excited about the students’ opportunity to work with an experienced actress and accomplished educator. Toombs has performed in several theatres across Georgia and Alabama.

Each student will perform a 1-3 minute monologue of his or her choosing from one of the ten plays in August Wilson’s American Century Cycle. The selection can be a written speech or dialogue taken from one character within a scene, but should include a point-of-entry into the character and a personal connection to the selected material.

The three finalists from each regional city will compete, and the top contestants will be chosen to perform on the August Wilson Stage at the National Finals. The top three contestants from the national competition are awarded college scholarship opportunities in addition to monetary awards and the gift of TCG’s Century Cycle collection. The first place winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize, the runner-up a $750 cash prize and the honorable mention a $500 cash prize. Each of the winners will also receive college scholarships of $1,500, $1,000, $500, respectively.

Registration for the 2018-2019 competition is currently open and will end on January 18, 2019.

For more information, please contact the True Colors Theatre Company education department at education@truecolorstheatre.org, (404) 532-1901, ext. 214.

Columbus, GA- The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) announced Columbus High School as one of six schools selected as a winner of the new Military Flagship School Award today. The Military Flagship School Award recognizes schools for going above and beyond to provide a supportive environment for military students and families. All schools were eligible to apply for the Military Flagship School Award; applications were evaluated by a committee including active members of the military, School Liaison Officers, school district staff, and members of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission.

According to GaDOE, every school selected as a winner includes excused absences for students during their parents’ overseas deployment departure or deployment arrival day, online or phone registration for incoming military members from overseas Department of Defense military bases, and a military buddy system linking incoming military students with other military students during the first weeks of school.

In particular, Columbus High was noted for their:

1. Student 2 Student (S2S) student leadership program: welcomes new military transfer students by taking them on a tour of the school and serving as a lunch buddy, if needed.
2. Peer Helper program: provides support to military students by offering peer tutors to assist students who are struggling academically and, through a partnership with the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), 24-hour, web-based tutoring services to all military students.
3. Pre-registration night: a separate night observed specifically for transfer students, who are typically military.
4. Attendance policy specifically for military families: administrators will individually consider military absence requests.

Each 2018 winner will receive a special visit from State Superintendent Richard Woods and other officials and will receive a banner to display in their school advertising their status as a Military Flagship School. GaDOE plans to make the Military Flagship School Award an annual recognition, with a new cohort of schools honored each year.

“As the child of a military family myself, it means so much to me to recognize schools that are doing an exceptional job caring for Georgia’s military students and families,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Being part of a military family is a lifestyle full of transition and sacrifice. As educators and public officials, one way we can show our gratitude and respect for those who serve is providing a welcoming, supportive school environment for their families. I commend each one of these schools for their service on behalf of military families and children.”

Parents and/or Guardians:

With the time change occurring this weekend, we want to make sure all of our students arrive safely to and from school. Please be mindful of students who are walking to school or at bus stops. Also, remember it is illegal and extremely unsafe for our children when a vehicle passes a bus while students are loading. When you see a bus with its red lights flashing and the stop arm out, stop. Thank you in advance for your assistance in considering these extra precautions.

Sincerely,

David F. Lewis, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Education

Muscogee County School District

Columbus, GA- The 2018 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) and School Climate Star Ratings were recently released in an announcement by the Georgia Department of Education. The newly-revised CCRPI framework used for the 2018 results was implemented for the first time this year. However, several District schools demonstrated marked improvements according to the School Climate Star ratings, which is the only comparable year-to-year component of the data set.

The CCPRI is Georgia’s tool for annually measuring how well its schools, districts, and the state are helping students achieve their goals. According to the Georgia Department of Education, the index is meant to provide a comprehensive road map to help educators, parents, and the community promote and improve college and career readiness for all students. The newly-revised CCRPI utilizes multiple factors including graduation rate, performance on standardized tests, student attendance, academic growth, and success in closing student performance gaps. Overall scores for schools and the district level are made up of four to five major areas: Content Mastery, Progress, Closing Gaps, College Career Readiness, and Graduation Rate (high school only).

The 2018 results represent the first year this version of the newly-revised CCRPI system has been implemented. Due to the changes in CCRPI components and indicators, as well as the weighting of components, an apples-to-apples comparison of CCRPI scores from year to year cannot be derived.



“Each year the CCRPI has changed to some degree with the most significant changes occurring this year when the system was completely overhauled, making comparisons to prior years not possible. CCRPI now utilizes fewer data elements which will allow schools to focus even more intently on instruction,” said Patrick Knopf, Director of Research, Accountability and Assessment.



“Knowing the 2018 CCRPI results will be used as a baseline for future school performance metrics, we will continue to stay focused on our continuous systems of improvement framework, which is the backbone of the school improvement process for our schools and district,” stated Keith Seifert, Chief Academic Officer.

“To help support these efforts this year, we are implementing new secondary Mathematics instructional curriculum resources: Go Math! and Algebra-Geometry-Algebra II (AGA). Also, a new online-digital literacy intervention resource, Lexia Core5, will be utilized in our early grades,
Pre-K-2, to support reading.”

School Climate Star Ratings

The School Climate Star Rating assesses the climate of a school on a 1-5 scale. School climate refers to culture, quality, and character of school life. The calculation of the School Climate Star Rating is based upon the unique characteristics of each school. Therefore, a district score is not calculated.

Each school in Georgia receives a 1-5 star rating, with five stars representing an excellent school climate, and one star representing a school climate most in need of improvement. Interpretations of each possible star rating are below:


Overall, 20 District schools increased their Climate Star Ratings:




“As evidenced by the significant increases in the Star Climate Ratings, our teachers and administrators have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the climate and culture of our schools, which directly correlates with student and school performance,” said Dr. David Lewis, Superintendent.

“And although this year’s CCRPI results are baseline and not comparable to those of previous years due to the total revision of the calculation methodology, they are meaningful in that they establish a foundation for identifying the grades, schools and groups of students that need more, differentiated support. Data points for each school are being reviewed and utilized to revise or adjust current school and district improvement plans. Going forward, we clearly have much work to do, but we are confident in our staff, instructional practices, and processes we have in place to meet the needs of all students.”

For more information, contact the Georgia Department of Education by accessing www.gadoe.org or e-mail
communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.

The mission of the Muscogee County School District is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. For more information, please contact the Office of Communications at 706.748.2034 or communications@muscogee.k12.ga.us.