The Tables Have Turned

In response to: Atlanta School Board Members Settle Lawsuit By The Associated Press Published Online: November 24, 2010

I currently work for Clayton County Public School (CCPS) system, just south of Atlanta, GA. About three years ago we lost our accreditation for a short period and were in danger of losing it even longer because school board members could not settle a dispute. Our county suffered dramatically, we lost over three hundred teachers, student enrollment decreased because parents doubted our capability to educate their children and 1000s of high school seniors’ diplomas were in jeopardy. It was definitely a hard time for CCPS. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) gave us several mandates that we had to comply with before we could reobtain our accreditation. Even though educating our students was never the problem, because our teachers are highly qualified, we were looked at in a negative way but surrounding counties.

Now the tables have turned. Many of the teachers who left CCPS went to Atlanta for employment. Now Atlanta Public Schools are going through the same thing we went through about three years. Because board members can’t seem to settle a dispute, that county (much larger) might suffer the same downfalls we did. I won’t wish any bad on anyone; because in the long run, it’s the students who suffer, but when we were at our lowest we were constantly talked about and looked down on. It’s funny how the world works. Karma is a something serious.