Greetings!

Welcome to 2026! A new year full of possibility, promise, and resolutions that (hopefully) haven’t been broken yet. As we kick off the semester and shake off a restful holiday break, I’m grateful to our teachers and school staff who jumped right back into instruction this first week—and to the parents helping everyone adjust to those early mornings as we return to the school routine.

Let's get to the updates:

• January Board meeting: Monday, January 12 at 2:30 pm. We will be hearing a midyear update on the progress of the strategic plan including a discussion of the newly formed literacy council and a monthly financial report. The full agenda is here.
• Celebrate our new and re-elected board members: Their swearing-in ceremony will be at 10 am on Monday, January 12 for Tony Mitchell, Jr. (District 2), Jennifer McDonald (District 4), Patreece Hutcherson (District 6), and Dr. Kaycee Brock (At-Large Seat 8). More detail here.
• Honoring the legacy of Dr. King: In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all APS schools will be closed on Monday, January 19th. We look forward to welcoming our students back on Tuesday, January 20th.
• Congrats to APS students named "20 under 20": Check out the inspiring stories of these students’ ability to excel academically while leading nonprofits, advocating for gun safety, and meaningfully impacting our community. See Rough Draft's 2026 honorees here.

Committing to rigor across the district

The expansion of access to—and success in—Advanced Placement courses across APS was recently highlighted in the AJC. The article spotlighted Midtown High School’s 23 AP offerings, noting increases in both participation and exam scores, particularly among historically underserved students. Check out the full article here.

Join an upcoming District 3 community meeting

Each month, community members are invited to share their feedback and hear updates about ongoing district work. Meetings are scheduled for 10 am on 1/30, 2/26, 3/20 & 4/24.

Graduation dates released

Please save the dates—Tuesday, May 19 through Friday, May 22, 2026—for Commencement Week, when the Class of 2026 will celebrate "walking the stage" at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion.

Students can share ideas directly with Dr. Johnson

Middle and high school students, Superintendent Johnson wants to hear from you. Share your thoughts and ideas during the upcoming virtual office hours on Thursday, January 15 at 6 p.m.

Celebrate literacy with our earliest learners

Literacy Beyond the Stars invites Atlanta’s youngest learners and their families to a fun evening of imagination, exploration, and early learning featuring hands-on activities for children from birth through K.

Ken.Zeff@atlanta.k12.ga.us

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