Table of Contents
- Back-to-school Message from State School Superintendent Richard Woods
- Georgia Teachers are Superheroes
- Media Specialists Twitter Takeover
- Future Ready Librarians/International Society for Technology in Education Crosswalk
- Library Card Sign-up Month Tools for Libraries
- Digital Library of Georgia Provides 8th Grade Social Studies Resources
- K-12 Digital Library of Georgia Survey
- OpenAthens Webinars
- Worth Sharing
- Going Social
- GaDOE Media Mailing List
Back-to-school Message from State School Superintendent Richard Woods
Dear students, families, educators, and supporters of public education in Georgia –
Welcome back to school! Whether you’ve already had your first day or are still enjoying the last few days of summer, I’m wishing you the very best start to another year of learning.
To our students, I want you to know that all of us here at the Department of Education are working day in and day out to expand the opportunities available to you. I encourage you this year to work hard and be kind. Pursue your passions and talents – find what interests you most and seek to learn more about it. Learning isn’t easy, but it is an adventure. If you’ll pursue knowledge with an open mind, a positive attitude and a sense of curiosity, amazing things will happen.
To our teachers, at this time of year more than ever, I remember so well what it was like to be in your shoes. I wish you the very best during this hectic, exciting time and thank you for all you’ve done already to make this a successful year for your students. I have no doubt your creativity, passion, and skill will make all the difference for the children in your classroom.
Families, thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. This is an enormous responsibility and we don’t take it lightly. I encourage you to team up with your child’s school and work with them to build a better future for your child, and all students in Georgia. We are grateful you’ve chosen Georgia’s public schools.
My mission each and every day is to create an environment at the state level that allows our students to thrive – that expands, never restricts, the opportunities available to them. I can’t wait to continue this work alongside each one of you.
Have a great school year, everyone. It’s time for the adventure to begin!
Sincerely,
Richard Woods
State School Superintendent
Georgia Teachers are Superheroes
Eric Crouch, a teacher in Muscogee County and Georgia’s 2016 recipient of the Milken Educator Award, had an idea for a fun video that would welcome teachers back to school and encourage them as the year got off to a start. The result was the video below that is posted on some social media platforms. The making of this video came with location help from Douglas County Schools and three star educators: Mr. Crouch, 2017 Teacher of the Year Casey Bethel, and 2019 Teacher of the Year Allison Townsend.
Media Specialists Twitter Takeover
Twitter Takeover is coming! Beginning in the month of October, school media specialists will be taking over the GaDOE ELA Twitter account. We are excited about the opportunity for you to highlight the innovative things that are happening in your school libraries! If you are a K-12 media specialist in Georgia and are interested in participating, please email Anisha Donald,
Future Ready Librarians/International Society for Technology in Education Crosswalk
Developed with support from Follett, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) teamed up with Future Ready Librarians (FRL) to create a crosswalk showing the relationship between the FRL framework and the ISTE Standards for Educators. This resource can guide and deepen the the work you do as a library media specialist.
Library Card Sign-up Month Tools for Libraries
This month, Disney Pixar's superhero family, the Incredibles, will team up with the American Library Association (ALA) to promote the value of a library card. As honorary chairs, the Incredibles will remind families, students and people of all ages that signing up for a library card is a great step toward a truly super lifestyle: libraries offer fun and informative resources to help you pursue your passions and succeed in school.
Digital Library of Georgia Provides 8th Grade Social Studies Resources
These items include:
Kevin Shirley, Professor of History at LaGrange College, and Co Coordinator, National History Day Georgia notes: "These materials are precisely what Georgia students need. Giving them the opportunity to examine, study, and analyze primary sources directly aligned to Georgia Studies will build skills and empower learning. In the case of National History Day, many of our participating teachers will use these tools and resources as the ‘gateway,’ introducing their students to research process and the relationship between primary and secondary sources. It is an excellent collection!"
Joy Hatcher, Georgia Department of Education Social Studies Program Manager states: "The Digital Library of Georgia has assembled a wonderfully rich collection of sources that social studies teachers will find helpful in promoting inquiry. Georgia teachers will be thrilled!"
K-12 Digital Library of Georgia Survey
The Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) is a GALILEO project that connects Georgians to free primary sources through its portals:
The Digital Library of Georgia is working closely with the Georgia Department of Education, National History Day Georgia, Georgia Humanities Council, New Georgia Encyclopedia, and GALILEO staff to improve outreach to K-12 educators. The DLG is seeking your advice as they develop new offerings. Please take a few minutes to answer their
Educator Engagement survey so that they can better serve you and your students. Responses will be accepted through September 30.
OpenAthens Webinars
Two OpenAthens webinars have been conducted by GALILEO. You can view the recordings on the GALILEO Support YouTube Channel:
The following session is scheduled—if you are unable to attend live, please register to receive the recording.
Join Russell Palmer, GALILEO, and Christopher Holly, EBSCO for a general overview of OpenAthens, followed by Q&A time for k12 library staff.
September 27, 2018 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
If there are other topics or questions you would like GALILEO to consider for a webinar, please email Russell Palmer at
russell.palmer@usg.edu.
Worth Sharing
Going Social
GaDOE Media Mailing List
Do you want to share the GaDOE Media Updates? If so, encourage your colleagues to join the email mailing list by following the directions on this page.
Thank you,
Tony Vlachakis
Educational Technologist
Library/Media Liaison
tvlachak@doe.k12.ga.us
