Atlanta Public Schools has a long history of cultivating talent that impacts the world.
From the legacy of civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the vision of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, the leadership of the first Black mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, and the birth of trailblazers including Tuskegee Airman Louis Johnson and journalist and activist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Atlanta Public Schools graduates have left an indelible mark on Atlanta and the world.
Credit: Ben Hendren
Credit: Ben Hendren
As I take in the rich history of Atlanta Public Schools, I am inspired and hopeful that we will continue building on the APS legacy together. My family and I are elated to call Atlanta home and look forward to serving the community for the long haul.
In just a few days, the 87 schools that incorporate APS will welcome approximately 50,000 scholars who are future business owners, educators, civil rights advocates and community leaders. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that each student thrives and leaves APS ready to continue the legacy of leadership that our graduates have upheld for decades.
I am committed to serving the children of Atlanta with excellence and challenging each area of our organization to remember that our scholars’ possibilities are limitless.
We have the resources and talent to achieve greatness for our scholars. Over the first 100 days of my service to the children of Atlanta, I look forward to visiting every campus. We know firsthand that the magic happens in schools. I am eager to witness the talent of our scholars and educators. We also look forward to engaging with the community during the same period. Community input is invaluable as we embark on our journey toward excellence together.
Our teachers must approach their roles with a sense of focus and urgency, maximizing each moment they have with our scholars. Our leaders must proactively set high expectations for their schools and ensure their communities are engaged. Our district office personnel must be on the ground, supporting the efforts of our teachers, leaders and staff. Our board must continue to work together and set policies that position our district for the success we aspire to achieve.
We understand there is critical work to be done, and I am committed to leaning in with a sense of urgency as we begin our work. The data makes clear the disparities within subgroup performance. I have heard firsthand the need to enhance our support for our students with exceptionalities. We also understand that literacy is a civil right, and we must focus on this area to ensure our children can read, write, comprehend and articulate what they have read and written. We are also committed to running our district as efficiently and effectively as possible, directing resources into our classrooms and toward the success of our scholars.
Although there are many challenges, together we can and will solve them. The opportunities within APS abound. We owe it to our students to provide the very best. Our legacy is built on excellence, hard work, collaboration and defying the odds and to accomplish what others might believe is not doable. I firmly believe APS can and will be the best urban school district in the country. I acknowledge this goal is lofty, but it is attainable if we bind together as a community with a laserlike focus on our children’s success and nothing else.
Benjamin E. Mays said it best: “The tragedy of life is not found in failure but in complacency; not in you doing too much but doing too little; not in you living above your means, but below your capacity. It’s not failure, but aiming too low, that is life’s greatest tragedy.” Let’s aim for the excellence that our children deserve together. Atlanta, let’s get to work!
Bryan Johnson is the Atlanta superintendent of schools.
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