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Langston Hughes Student Achieves Historic Win at Harvard Debate Competition
Schools

Langston Hughes Student Achieves Historic Win at Harvard Debate Competition

Langston Hughes High's Madison Webb has become the first Black girl to win the prestigious Harvard Diversity Project’s International Debate Competition. This marks the third consecutive win for her team, fondly known as Atlanta's Great Debaters. Last year, Banneker High School’s Xavier Shankle and Westlake’s Keith Harris were part of the same team, and took the top prize at the prestigious summer debate tournament. The South Fulton students were thrust into the national spotlight for their incredible performance against debaters from 15 countries. This year, Webb, along with partner Christian Flournoy of the Westminster School, secured the win with a perfect 5-0 winning ballot. Flournoy also made history as the youngest Black boy to win the tournament. The students receive thei...
Fulton County Schools to Start Virtually on Aug. 17
Schools

Fulton County Schools to Start Virtually on Aug. 17

In a press conference earlier today, Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney announced that Fulton County Schools will begin the 2020-2021 school year using the Universal Remote Learning model. The first day of instruction will be Aug. 17.  “The data and information from our health partners is overwhelming. This virus is spreading and not slowing down,” said Superintendent Mike Looney. “I was hopeful the direction would change, but it is clear that we must pivot from the Face-to-Face model to the Universal Remote Learning model in order to keep our students, their families, and our staff members safe.”    In May, Superintendent Looney announced three models the district was developing while monitoring the spread of COVID-19: (1) Face-to-Face instruction with enhanced cleaning and social dist...
Westlake’s Hankerson and Johnson Win USA Today Coach and Player of the Year
Schools, Sports

Westlake’s Hankerson and Johnson Win USA Today Coach and Player of the Year

It's been a storied year for the Westlake girls basketball team, and the awards and honors continue to pour in. Just last night, Westlake's Coach Hilda Hankerson and celebrated point guard Raven "Hollywood" Johnson were announced as the USA Today Sports Awards Coach of the Year and Player of the Year. The announcement was part of a star-studded virtual presentation streamed online. Announcers for the USA Today Sports Awards included Golden State Warriors MVP Stephen Curry, Kansas City Chief quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New England Patriots Coach Bill Bill Belichick. Coach Hilda Hankerson has led the Westlake Lady Lions since 1997. She guided her team this year to a 72 to 53 win over Collins Hill to capture their third consecutive Class 7A state championship. Coach Hankerson has t...
South Fulton Principal to Discuss Race and Culture in Education during Microsoft Event
Schools

South Fulton Principal to Discuss Race and Culture in Education during Microsoft Event

On the heels of being named principal at Global Impact Academy in Fairburn, Dr. Anthony Newbold is taking the lead on critical conversations in education. The administrator will participate in a panel discussion on race and culture as part of a Global EdTech Academy series later today. The event, titled “Connecting the Community,” will kick off at 6 p.m. ET online. It’s presented in partnership with Microsoft and CUE, free to attend and available to the public. Dr. Newbold is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Northwest Council for Computer Education Learning Specialist. As principal of Fulton County Schools Global Impact Academy, set to open in 2021, he'll oversee a new STEM-focused model offering high-tech, high-demand college and career-focused courses that incorporate ...
That Time WSB-TV Got Dragged by Westlake
Editorials, Schools

That Time WSB-TV Got Dragged by Westlake

Editorial by Shetia Kelty It should have been an unequivocally positive story about Westlake High School graduates preparing to take on the world. Instead, WSB-TV took a sharp and offensive turn when reporter Tyisha Fernandes characterized the school as historically failing and the 30331 zip code as a horrible place students can only hope to escape. I beg your pardon... (Editorial continues below...) Photo: Westlake celebrates the Class of 2017 by displaying the colleges where the students have been accepted. It's the same tired story mainstream media loves to play over and over again. Black students can't simply excel. They have to have overcome some type of hardship - even if it's manufactured. The narrative is not unique. It's not personal. This story angle runs in ...
South Fulton Students to Lead Peaceful Protest
Community, Schools

South Fulton Students to Lead Peaceful Protest

Teens Looking for Change will lead “The Stand Out,” a peaceful protest at Piedmont Park today, June 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The group is comprised of high schoolers from Fulton County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools, representing Banneker, Westlake, Grady and North Springs. The students shared their vision for the event in a Zoom conference last night hosted by Willie Davis, Jr., candidate for Fulton County School Board. The group is mobilizing fellow students in their school districts, and giving them an opportunity and platform to stand up, take initiative and make change. As part of the event, they’ll pay homage to Breonna Taylor, the EMT killed in her home by Louisville police who would have celebrated her 27th birthday today. The students’ goal is to be a positive example of ho...
FCS Summer FoodStops Launch on June 3
Schools

FCS Summer FoodStops Launch on June 3

Even though schools are closed for the summer, students in Fulton County will be offered breakfast and lunch. Starting Wednesday, June 3, the Fulton County School Nutrition Program will begin operating the Summer FoodStop meal distribution at 22 sites throughout the district. Sites in South Fulton include Banneker High, Creekside High, Langston Hughes, High, Liberty Point Elementary, McNair Middle and Westlake High. A full list of sites is available online. The FCS Summer FoodStops provide an opportunity for families to drive through and pick up meals for the children in their family. Families can pick up meals for all children under the age of 18, or under the age of 21 for youth with special needs. To maximize social distancing, drivers are not to leave their vehicles, however w...
Principal Stamper Wins Award for Exemplary Leadership
Schools

Principal Stamper Wins Award for Exemplary Leadership

The Principals Center at Georgia State University recently announced that Banneker High School Principal Jason Stamper is the recipient of the 2020 Joe Richardson Award for Exemplary Leadership. He's the third Fulton County Schools principal to receive the honor since 1995. The annual award is named in honor of the founder of Georgia State’s Principals Center, Dr. Joe Richardson, who was inspired by Dr. Roland Barth, formerly of Harvard and the founder of the Principals Center movement. The award is presented to an educational leader who is considered highly competent and successful within the school district and among their professional peers. Recipients represent the mix of leadership attributes that cultivate a school environment where both students and staff excel and exemplify...
Heritage Elementary’s Kelsey Drews Named FCS Teacher of the Year
Schools

Heritage Elementary’s Kelsey Drews Named FCS Teacher of the Year

Kelsey Drews, 2nd-grade teacher and grade level chair at Heritage Elementary School, has been named 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year (TOTY) for Fulton County Schools (FCS).   She was surprised by Principal Cheree Turner, FCS staff and school board members on Monday afternoon at her home. The announcement came with confetti and loud cheers of support. Drews has been in the public school system for seven years, five of which have been with FCS. She was named TOTY for Heritage Elementary earlier this year. "I see my role in the classroom as a facilitator, nurturer, and coach," said Drews in her TOTY application. "I do not consider the room that I work in to be my classroom. It is the students that make the room a classroom, and it is theirs. They guide everything I do." Dr...
Super Senior of the Year Profile: Xavier Shankle
Schools

Super Senior of the Year Profile: Xavier Shankle

As we close out our Super Senior profile series, we're excited to announce our Super Senior of the Year, Banneker High School's Xavier Shankle. He has been not only a tremendous asset to his school and community, but also to The Observer in helping us to cover school news. We were delighted to present Xavier with a $100 gift card to celebrate his accomplishments and to thank him for his hard work. Xavier's is a model student. He is graduating third in his class having maintained a 4.0 GPA all four years, and has been named by Fulton County Schools as Banneker's Star Student. He's served as both president of his senior class and Banneker's DECA Chapter where he placed Top 7 twice this year at the state competition. The gifted orator is also an alumnus of the nationally acclaimed Harvard...

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