Someone recently made the comment that we are only complaining, and not taking action to improve our school system. It recently dawned on me, why not take that challenge?We have almost an entire new state administration, so let's cry out to these folks for help. Believe it or not, every legislator or government leader I have met has always told me that they do not hear from the public as often as people would think. They actually like to hear from us - so let your thoughts be known!
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Here's how:
If you would like to write the governor, the state school superintendent and the state school board and specifically ask them to help us by investigating and possibly taking over our board and some of our schools, write down your feelings in a letter or an email. If you would like, give them a call—they are more accessible than you think and it's their job to listen to the public. Below is the contact information you will need.
Contacting our new Governor, Nathan Deal is quite easy. Just click this link and fill out the handy contact form.
We also have a brand new state school superintendent, Dr. John Barge, who was just sworn in along with the Governor. To contact Dr. Barge use the info below:
Dr. John D. Barge
State Superintendent of Schools
2066 Twin Towers East
205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-2800
(404) 651-8737
E-mail: state.superintendent@doe.k12.ga.us
Brad Bryant has served as Interim State School Superintendent, leaving the 4th district seat open. I'm not certain if he is still acting as super this week or if he has or will return to his board seat, but below is contact info for Brad Bryant (which may not be current).
William Bradley "Brad" Bryant
Chief Executive Officer/Superintendent
Georgia School System
Tel: (404) 657-7410
Fax: (404) 657-6978
E-mail: state.board@doe.k12.ga.us
If you are a registered voter, click here and submit your name to get a listing of your locally elected officials. The DeKalb delegation is very powerful in the legislature. Our school system's director of Internal Affairs, Ron Ramsey, is an elected state senator. Feel free to email him with your concerns about our school system—he holds two public jobs designed to protect education. He is required by law to do so. If you have an issue that you want internally investigated, send it to Ron Ramsey by clicking here and send a copy of your request to Ms. Tyson and the Board by CLICKING HERE to Email the entire DCSS Board of Education
Additionally, we are about to have a visit from SACS (administered by AdvancED), the accrediting organization which accredits our school system. If you have issues you would like leaders at SACS to know, send an email (with DeKalb Schools in the subject line) to SACS by clicking SACS accreditation
To write a letter to SACS leaders, send to:
Dr. Mark Elgart
President/CEO
AdvancED (SACS/Casi)
9115 Westside Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Or Call -
888.41ED NOW (888.413.3669)
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Rather than writing a sample letter or a bullet-point listing of topics for you to use, we simply encourage you to speak from your heart, asking the people with the power for the help that we seek for our county school system and our 100,000 students.
Let's get going!
