East Cobb Schools

Trump to make East Cobb visit to Wheeler High School

by

Wheeler High School, STEAM program

President Donald Trump will be touting his new investment accounts for children next week in a visit to Wheeler High School in East Cobb.

Trump will be coming to Wheeler next Wednesday to promote Trump Accounts, which which are federally-sponsored, tax-advantaged investment accounts for U.S. children under 18 that were launched earlier this month.

A White House spokeswoman said that  “President Trump is giving every American child a head start in life, a nest egg to grow up with, and a real stake in their own future through Trump Accounts.”

But she did not offer a reason why the White House chose Wheeler.

The White House later Thursday issued a link for public tickets to the Wheeler event, which starts at 2 p.m. next Wednesday, July 22. Seating is first-come, first-served, and “tickets do not guarantee admission to the event.”

The Cobb County School District issued this statement when contacted by East Cobb News:

“We are honored that the President of the United States has chosen to visit the Cobb County School District. We look forward to welcoming the President and showcasing the academic excellence, exceptional educators, and high-achieving students that have established Cobb Schools as a national leader in public education. For additional details regarding the President’s visit and the event, we refer all questions to the White House.”

The statement did not explain the Cobb school district’s role in arranging Trump’s visit or how Wheeler was chosen for the event. East Cobb News has followed up seeking that information.

(The district later published this post on its website.)

Cobb Board of Education member John Cristadoro, who represents the Wheeler and Walton attendance zones, said in a Facebook message that “regardless of which side of the aisle you’re on, it’s a big deal to have a sitting president choose our school for this.

“Cobb County Schools keep proving we are a national model for what education can look like when the focus stays on students. This is one more sign of that, straight from the White House. Unfortunately for everyone asking — I don’t have a way to get you tickets.”

Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon said in a social media message that “this is a fantastic opportunity for patriots in Cobb County and metro Atlanta to hear directly from the President.”

“Georgia Republicans stand united with President Trump. We are grateful for his continued engagement in our state and look forward to a strong showing of support.”

The Cobb County Democratic Committee responded by saying on its Facebook page that “the most corrupt president in US history will be in Cobb County next Wednesday at Wheeler High School. Details on mobilization and protest efforts will be released soon.”

County party chairwoman Essence Johnson said in a later statement that “Cobb County tax dollars are not being used to prepare Wheeler High for incoming students, but to play politics with a wannabe dictator.

“I don’t know why school leadership thought that they could sneak this visit through and not expect community pushback, but believe me there’s going to be pushback. . . . ”

She accused Cobb County schools of being “full of right-wing leadership that needs to be purged,” including Cristadoro, vice chairman David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb and Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Of the latter, Johnson said Ragsdale is “a poor man’s Trump and surrounds himself with similar yes-men.”

The statement closed by urging the public to contact the Cobb school district “and demand they deny bringing this partisan sham to Cobb County.”

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Former Cobb school board member Scott Sweeney dies

by

Scott Sweeney, an East Cobb resident who served two terms on the Cobb Board of Education and later the Georgia Board of Education, has died.Former Cobb school board member Scott Sweeney dies

His death was announced Tuesday by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia, to which Sweeney had been appointed in 2025.

The cause of death was not disclosed, but a release by the state charter schools commission said Sweeney passed away on Friday.

Sweeney and his wife Sandy, to whom he was married for 28 years, had two sons who graduated from Walton High School.

He served on the Cobb school board from 2011-18.

“Marty and I are deeply saddened by the passing of State Charter Schools Commissioner Scott Sweeney,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said in the release.

“Throughout his service on the Cobb County Board of Education, the State Board of Education and most recently the Commission, his longstanding commitment to improving the quality of education in Georgia has made our state stronger and our students better prepared for opportunities beyond the classroom. We are keeping his wife, Sandy, and their two sons in our prayers.”

Sweeney was a Republican who represented Post 6 on the Cobb school board, which at the time included the Walton and Wheeler attendance zones.

He was defeated for re-election in 2018, then served on the Georgia Board of Education, including a stint as chairman.

“Scott Sweeney cared deeply about Georgia students and families, a commitment he made clear during his years of distinguished service on the State Board of Education,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said in the state charter school commission release.

“He was a thoughtful leader, a strong partner with both the Georgia Department of Education and the local districts he represented, and a man of kindness and integrity. He will be deeply missed, and I am lifting his wife and children up in prayer.”

In February 2025, Kemp appointed Sweeney to the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia.

“The State Charter Schools Commission mourns the loss of Commissioner Sweeney. He will be remembered as a champion of excellence in public education in all its forms, from traditional district schools to charter schools,” said SCSC Chair Cayanna Good, Ph.D.

“It was both a personal and professional honor for the Commission Board, staff, and charter school community to work alongside Commissioner Sweeney. His leadership, thoughtfulness, and collegiality will be deeply missed.”

John Floresta, the Chief Strategy and Accountability Officer for the Cobb County School District, said in a statement to East Cobb News that “we are stunned; there’s no other way to say it. There will be a time very soon to celebrate his life and his impact on schools but for now, we are mourning with and supporting his family.”

David Chastain, the current Cobb school board vice chairman from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, called Sweeney “a mentor, a colleague, and a friend,” who helped him navigate his arrival to the board in 2015.

“His talent for unpacking challenging issues and asking the poignant questions often guided the board to coming to consensus. Scott was loved his wife, Sandy, and was proud of his family. He often shared the latest news of family adventures and his sons’ accomplishments.

“I am proud of him for continuing to serve all the students of Georgia during his time on the Georgia State Board of Education and later the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia.”

Sweeney was a business advisor at InPrime Legal, an East Cobb firm providing outsourced legal services to small businesses.

In response to a request for comment from East Cobb News, InPrime said that “0ur team is in incredible pain as we grieve the loss of Scott. Right now, our focus is on supporting his family and honoring his memory.”

On Sunday, former Cobb GOP chairman posted on his Facebook page a photo of Sweeney being sworn in as a member of the charter school commission with Kemp and others.

Shepherd’s post said only “Happier times…joining Scott Sweeney as he is sworn in to the Charter School Commission, April 2025. RIP my friend.”

Sweeney was a native of California and was a graduate of UCLA.

He was active in the Cobb County Republican Party, the Georgia School Boards Association and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Kincaid PTA to receive Georgia state arts education grant

by

The Kincaid Elementary School PTA is among the recipients of an arts eductation grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts.Kincaid ES

The council, which is part of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, awards a variety of grants to community arts organizations and programs, including schools.

In Wednesday’s announcement by the Georgia Council for the Arts, several other Cobb organizations also were named as recipients for the grants, which total more than $1.3 million and will be distributed to 179 entities.

Here’s more from Wednesday’s release:

The Arts Education Program Grant will be distributed to 32 organizations to support the arts in K-12 education, and many include a variety of disciplines, from visual art to music or theater, to dance and creative writing.  

Kincaid is the only school in the Cobb County School District to receive an arts education grant, which also was awarded to Marietta City Schools.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

 

 

Moon family legacy at Sprayberry HS stretches 60-plus years

by

Moon family marks 60-year history at Sprayberry High School

Submitted information, photos and video from the Cobb County School District:

When you drive past Sprayberry High School this summer, you’ll see more than construction crews and renovation work. You will see the next chapter of a school that has helped shape generations of students and families.

For the Moon family, every trip past Sprayberry is a reminder of the generations of memories, friendships, and traditions built within its walls.

From the Class of 1963 to the Class of 2026, the Moon family has a history with Sprayberry spanning more than 60 years.

“I think people in Sprayberry don’t keep up with the Joneses. They keep up with Sprayberry, and it’s a different pace of life,” said Stephen Moon, Class of 1988.

Moon’s uncle, Arthur Cochran, started the family tradition when he graduated in 1963. From there, cousins, aunts, and Moon’s three children added to the family’s long history at Sprayberry.

“I think it helped. Me and my sister looked out for each other, and we were both in class together. But it was also really good to have my senior brother there as a freshman,” said Samuel, Class of 2025.

From STEM programs and track and field to the arts, this legacy family has embraced all that Sprayberry has to offer.

“The Moon family is a testament to what the school does. This community really anchors the neighborhoods, and it’s something that people keep coming back for,” said Sprayberry principal Dr. David Church. 

During the 2026 graduation ceremony, Rosie sang the national anthem to begin the special night for her and the rest of the senior class.

“It’s just cool to have a legacy like that. It gives you something to look back on and be proud of,” said Rosie.

Moon’s children — Rosie, Samuel and Max — said they were grateful for Sprayberry and felt prepared for the next chapter of their education after graduating.

“I just appreciate that you guys are here to represent the community and the meaning behind Sprayberry High School,” said Vice Board Chair David Chastain. 

While the family’s current chapter at Sprayberry has come to a close, future generations could one day continue the tradition of making memories at Sprayberry for years to come.

“It was a kind of a sense of closure on an era. For now, we’ll see. Maybe down the line I’ll have kids of my own, and then maybe they come here too,” said Max, Class of 2022.

As Sprayberry continues its Ed-SPLOST-funded renovation, the campus is being reimagined for the next generation of students while preserving the traditions and community spirit that have defined the school for more than six decades. While the Sprayberry campus may look remarkably different when students return in August, the sense of belonging that has connected families like the Moons across generations remains unchanged.

Today’s construction is creating tomorrow’s Sprayberry — a school ready to welcome future generations and thousands of more students who will create their own memories, traditions, and legacies for years to come.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb school board to hold property tax public hearings

by

The Cobb Board of Education will hold three public hearings in July that are required before it establishes the millage rate for the 2026-27 budget year.

The Cobb school board in May adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget of nearly $1.9 billion that continues a property tax rate of 18.7 mills.

But because the millage rate isn’t being “rolled back” to reflect current FY 2026 spending levels of $1.71 billion, that’s considered a property tax increase under Georgia law.

The state also mandates three public hearings. Two of them will be next Thursday, July 9, at 11:30 a.m. and 6:05 p.m., both in the board room of the Cobb County School District central office (514 Glover St., Marietta).

The third hearing is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the same venue, followed by the school board’s monthly meeting at 7 p.m., when the millage rate is set to be adopted.

The Cobb school district’s fiscal year 2027 budget starts on July 1. For more budget information, click here.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Founding head of school of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy dies

by

Founding head of school of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy dies

Mt Bethel Christian Academy announced on Saturday that Vivian Lovett, who served as the first head of school at the East Cobb parochial school, has passed away.

A message on the school’s Facebook page did not disclose the cause of death or other related details, but said that “we will share more details regarding her celebration of life soon.”

Lovett was the head of what was then only the Lower School of MBCA when it opened in 1998, on the campus of what was at the time called Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.

The school was a direct ministry of the church, and was started because, according to its mission statement, “the demand for quality Christian education far exceeded the supply of available options for parents in the immediate area.”

Over her 20-year tenure, “Mrs. Lovett’s vision, faith, and unwavering commitment established the foundation upon which our school stands today,” the MBCA message continued.

She “was the heart and soul of the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy community. She was more than an administrator—she was a mentor, leader, encourager, and faithful servant whose influence extended far beyond the walls of the classroom. She knew students by name, celebrated their successes, comforted them in difficult moments, and inspired them to pursue both academic excellence and a deeper relationship with Christ.”

Lovett retired in 2018, as MBCA was undergoing a major transformation. That was the year of the first graduating class for the school’s high school component, which held classes on a new campus on Post Oak Tritt Road.

That same year, MBCA was honored as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

In 2021, MBCA became independent of the church, and in 2023, the school lease was terminated by the church, which had separated from the United Methodist Church.

MBCA, which has until 2028 to leave the Lower Roswell Road campus, is in the process of relocating K-8 grades to the Post Oak Tritt Road facility after Cobb approved major site plan changes last year.

More than 700 students attend MBCA, making it the largest religious-affiliated school in East Cobb.

“Her greatest legacy lives in the thousands of students who walked our halls and the families whose lives were forever changed through the ministry of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy,” the MBCA message stated about Lovett.

“Her steadfast faith, compassionate leadership, and genuine love for children helped shape countless lives and left an enduring mark on our community.”

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Profiles: New principals at McCleskey MS and Timber Ridge ES

by

Profiles: New principals at McCleskey MS and Timber Ridge ES

During the summer break, the Cobb County School District has been published brief Q and A profiles with newly appointed principals.

Four district schools in East Cobb will be getting new principals when the 2026-27 school year begins in August.

They include Dr. Tonya Polk, who was appointed principal at McCleskey Middle School. She succeeds Dr. Andrea Jenkins-Mann, who is the principal at Cobb Horizon School, an alternative high school program.

Polk has been in the Cobb school district for 12 years, and for the last two years has been an assistant principal at Sprayberry High School.

McCleskey is a Sprayberry feeder, and Polk said that in that time, “I have gained insight into the skills students bring to high school and the areas where they need stronger preparation, and I look forward to using that experience to help ensure McCleskey students are fully prepared for the next level.”

Polk holds business-related degrees from Valdosta State University and the University of West Georgia.

At Timber Ridge Elementary School, Dr. Kristi Lankford will step in as principal following the retirement of Shannon McGill.

Lankford was most recently an assistant principal at Pearson Middle School and taught at Dowell Elementary School and Fair Oaks Elementary School, as part of more than 25 years in Cobb schools.

She said that what she likes best about being an educator is that “as a principal, witnessing the success and growth of both students and staff is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy supporting others as they build confidence, reach goals, and recognize their own potential.”

Lankford earned education degrees from the University of South Florida.

Polk and Lankford will begin their new roles on July 1, as will Dr. Christina Moll at Addison Elementary School and Lauren Rabil at Kincaid Elementary School.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Walton HS STEM program gets visit from Project Lead the Way

by

Walton HS STEM program gets visit from Project Lead the Way

Before the school year ended, the Caterpillar Foundation and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) visited Walton High School to visit students preparing for STEM careers.

The visit included discussions with district and school leaders, followed by a tour of Walton’s robotics facility, where students showcased the impact of expanded STEM opportunities.

Here’s more from the Cobb County School District, which also submitted the photos:

Through support from the Caterpillar Foundation and PLTW, Cobb Schools has brought computer science education to all middle schools, creating a strong foundation for advanced STEM learning in high school.

“The Caterpillar Foundation focuses on workforce readiness, and partnerships like Project Lead the Way help us bring advanced manufacturing and digital technology opportunities to students across the country,” said Caterpillar Foundation President Asha Varghese.

Walton students say the program’s hands-on learning and mentorship have strengthened their engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, helping them succeed in competitive robotics.

“We can’t just hope students are prepared—we have to work together to make sure they are,” said Dr. David Dimmett, President and CEO of PLTW. “The students we met today are well on their way to future success.”

The partnership continues to strengthen STEM education across Cobb Schools, equipping students with the skills needed for college, careers, and the workforce of tomorrow.

Cobb school district sues county over tax-collection fees

by

The Cobb County School District on Tuesday said it has filed a lawsuit against Cobb County government for what it calls “a money-grab” over administrative fees levied to collect property and sales taxes for schools.

Cobb board of educcation vice chairman David Chastain

In a press release issued Tuesday morning, the district said that over the last 15 years, it has been billed more than $130 million in administrative fees to collect property taxes that are then turned over to the school district.

This year, that total is $13 million, and the district claimed in the release for fiscal year 2027—which begins on July 1—the county is charging the district $20 million.

That’s due to an increase in what the county charges the school district in those collection fees, from 1.6 percent to 2.5 percent of the total taxes collected—from property taxes and Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Taxes (SPLOST).

“This lawsuit is about the hundreds of teachers and thousands of students who would be affected. Every Cobb homeowner, business owner, parent, grandparent, and student benefits from a strong public education,” Cobb Board of Education vice chairman David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb said in the district release.

“The Commission is trying to take millions of dollars from our classrooms for a tax increase, disguised as ‘administrative fees.’ Cobb’s parents want smaller class sizes, not more ‘fees.’ ”

The district’s press release—which didn’t state an author’s name—alleges that the county is guilty of “a money-grab, from classrooms, for absolutely no reason, other than the presumed hope of ending the senior school tax exemption or forcing a tax increase on Cobb homeowners. Both of which are strongly opposed by the District.”

The lawsuit, which was filed in Cobb Superior Court, named Cobb County and Cobb Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson as defendants. (You can read the lawsuit by clicking here.)

But the ire of the district’s statements, and claims in the lawsuit, are aimed at the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

“The collection fee is both unreasonable and unlawful. No reasonable person would believe the County incurs over $20,000,000 in annual expenses just to collect school taxes,” the district lawsuit states.

“And more importantly, the County lacks legal authority to charge the collection fee in the first instance.”

The lawsuit states that a 2011 Georgia law, Local Act 240, requires a county tax commissioner “to remit all educational taxes collected to the Cobb County Board of Education without charging a collection fee.

“But the County has unilaterally decided that Local Act 240 is invalid and has refused to comply with its mandate.”

Cobb delays vote on appointing police chief for two weeks
Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid

The lawsuit further states that Cobb improperly adopted a home rule ordinance from 2011-2021 to circumvent the new law and “unlawfully” charged the school district a 1.6 percent collection fee, even after that provision expired.

Since then, the lawsuit alleges, the school district’s fees have increased from $9.4 million in fiscal 2022 to the present $13 million.

“Despite receiving more than $130,000,000 in collection fees since 2011, the County remains unsatisfied,” the lawsuit states.

A discussion between the school district and the county over the fees was to have taken place in February, with the county seeking an increase in the tax-collection fee to 2.5 percent, according to the lawsuit.

But the the lawsuit said that Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who asked for the meeting with school district leaders, tabled that discussion, saying it was premature, and no further talks were held on the subject.

In May, the Cobb school adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget of nearly $1.9 billion.

On May 29, the lawsuit states, Cupid sent a letter to Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale and school board chairman Randy Scamihorn saying that Cobb would be imposing a 2.5 percent collection fee for school taxes, starting on July 1.

In that letter, which is included in the school district’s legal findings (you can read it here), Cupid wrote that there “is no valid legal local legislation designating a commission rate for the collection of school taxes. Without such local legislation, the state law rate of 2.5 percent is applicable.”

Cupid concluded her letter by saying that “there has been no further discussion on this issue since the February meeting and, as Cobb County enters its budget process, it is appropriate to make the change.”

The district’s lawsuit states that “over the next five years, the proposed increase would allow the Board of Commissioners to charge over $100,000,000 in fees for collecting school taxes.”

Cobb government spokeswoman Shelly Weidner told East Cobb News that county officials are reviewing the lawsuit with legal counsel and issued the following statement:

“The County’s position regarding the school tax collection commission was outlined in the May 29 letter provided to the School District and referenced in the lawsuit. This matter involves the interpretation and application of state law governing the collection of school taxes, and we believe it is appropriate for the courts to provide clarity on the issue.

“Because this matter is now pending litigation, we will have no further comment on the specifics of the case at this time.”

The Cobb school district said the $130 million sum it’s paid in property-tax collection fees since 2011 could go to fund the salaries and benefits of 130 teachers.

“Our bottom line is simple: Cobb’s students are already funded less than their peers in most neighboring counties,” the district statement said.

“We will protect the investment parents and grandparents have made to live and raise their families in Cobb.”

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Sprayberry assistant principal named McCleskey MS principal

by

The Cobb County School District had announced that McCleskey Middle School in East Cobb has a new principal.Sprayberry assistant principal named McCleskey MS principal

She is veteran educator Dr. Tonya Polk, who most recently has been an assistant principal at Sprayberry High School.

Her appointment was ratified by the Cobb County Board of Education Thursday night after an executive session.

Polk, whose appointment is effective July 1, succeeds Dr. Andrea Jenkins-Mann, who was reassigned to principal at Cobb Horizon School, an alternative high school program.

Jenkins-Mann had been at McCleskey since 2017.

Several other schools in East Cobb will be getting new principals in the 2026-27 school year that begins Aug. 1.

They include Dr. Kristi Lankford at Timber Ridge Elementary School, Dr. Christina Moll at Addison Elementary School and Lauren Rabil at Kincaid Elementary School.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Lassiter HS graduate earns prestigious Stamps Scholarship

by

Lassiter graduate earns prestigious Georgia Tech scholarship

Submitted information and photo:

Arianna Mukherji, a graduate of Lassiter High School, has been awarded a Stamps Scholarship at the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning one of the nation’s most prestigious merit scholarships for undergraduate students.

Selected through a highly competitive process, Stamps Scholars are recognized for exceptional academic achievement, leadership, initiative, and service. Stamps Scholarships are awarded in partnership with leading universities and typically cover up to the full cost of attendance for undergraduate or, in select cases, graduate study. In addition, Scholars receive dedicated enrichment funding to pursue opportunities such as research, study abroad, internships, leadership development, conference participation, and independent projects around the world.

At the Georgia Institute of Technology, Mukherji plans to study Business Administration. 

During high school, Mukherji demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, business, civic engagement, and community service. She served as President of Lassiter High School’s Student Council and DECA chapter, leading initiatives that increased student involvement, expanded membership, and strengthened the school community.

Through DECA, she helped organize fundraisers supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month and WAGR syndrome advocacy efforts, raising funds and awareness for important causes. As a leader in Student Council and the Lassiter President’s Club, she also helped coordinate Paws for Life, a schoolwide fundraiser that raised approximately $1,200 to support service and therapy animals.

Through internships with Cobb Collaborative’s Vote Your Voice Initiative and Lassiter’s Business and Entrepreneurship Program, she gained experience in civic outreach, digital marketing, data analysis, and strategic communications. Mukherji also worked as an after-school supervisor and tutor, mentoring younger students at Moohan Martial Arts. 

Additionally, she was selected as a finalist for Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program in Social Studies, where she collaborated on research and presented innovative solutions to environmental challenges posed by AI data centers.

The Stamps Scholars Program recently announced its 21st class of Scholars and will welcome 393 students from 34 partner institutions across the United States this fall. Selected from a pool of approximately 655,000 applicants, these Scholars join a network of more than 4,400 current Scholars and alumni connected across 53 partner institutions nationwide and into the UK.

Founded in 2006 by E. Roe Stamps and his late wife, Penny, the Stamps Scholars Program partners with leading universities to support students with extraordinary academic talent, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. In addition to scholarship support, Stamps Scholars gain access to a national network of peers, mentors, leadership experiences, research opportunities, and enrichment programs designed to help them reach their biggest goals.

Learn more about the Stamps Scholars Program at stampsscholars.org.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Popefest celebration to start school’s 40th anniversary year

by

When the 2026-27 school year begins, Pope High School will be having a special event to greet more than a new academic year.

Popefest celebration to start school's 40th anniversary yearThe 40th anniversary year of Pope High School also will be recognized during the coming months, starting with a “Popefest” celebration on Aug. 14.

Tickets have been on sale since late May for the event at the school’s Matt Hobby Field (30o1 Hembree Road), and they start at $10 for general admission and $75 for what’s called the “VIP experience.” That’s for adults ages 19 and older.

Students and staff will have free admission, and parking costs $10 per vehicle.

The evening will feature, food, music, VIP hospitality, an artisan market and fireworks at the end of it all.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Pope staff is seeking nominations for “40 Distinguished Greyhounds” who will also be introduced and honored. You can nominate someone by clicking here; the deadline is July 10.

Alan C. Pope High School opened in 1987, as East Cobb was continuing rapid suburban growth. In 1981, Lassiter High School opened, following Walton in 1975.

Pope is named after a former Walton High School teacher who grew up in what is now East Cobb, attending Sprayberry High School, where he was a star athlete and student.

He was killed in a car accident four years after returning to Cobb County to become a teacher.

Pope currently has 1,800 students (school profile here).

For more Popefest information (and a cool video promo featuring 70s-80s band “Journey”) click here.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Race car driver from Walton HS honored as ‘positive athlete’

by
Race car driver from Walton HS honored as 'positive athlete'
Photos courtesy of Cobb County School District.

Javier Soto, a student at Walton High School who competes in the Legends Auto Racing tour, is a recipient of a 2026 Georgia Positive Athlete Award.

Soto was among the 31 honorees recently at the Georgia state capitol, and was named the winner of the boys alternative category.

The awards are given to high school student-athletes for their “leadership, resilience, and community impact.”

Recipients are nominated by coaches and school administrators who demonstrate positive values, including optimism, encouragement, respect and who are committed to service.

More than 5,000 students were nominated from more than 400 high schools in Georgia. Allatoona High School received the Most Positive High School award. Allatoona’s Avery Shoplock was honored in the girls’ soccer category.

Soto, who is a rising junior at Walton, has been successful on the track, earning several wins and podium appearances,” according to a release from the Cobb County School District, “but it may have been his willingness to mentor younger drivers that put him in the spotlight for Positive Athlete.

“Javi always has such a positive and optimistic approach and outlook toward each event,” said his coach, mentor, and crew chief, Andy James, who nominated Javier.

“He doesn’t have the best equipment, but he doesn’t let that change his mindset on the outcome of the race. Many times, he has outperformed his competitors that have bigger budgets and better equipment, but even when he doesn’t, he maintains a positive attitude.”

The Legends Auto Racing tour features vehicles modeled on the vintage American styles of the 1930s and 1940s. Soto also competes in the INEX Racing Series.

Soto also races for Podium Motorsports, which James owns.

He has competed in over 150 races and currently has 10 wins and more in the Top 5 and Top 10 of races he’s entered.

“This recognition speaks volumes about the culture that exists throughout Cobb County School District athletics,” Don Baker, the district’s athletics director, said in the release.

Javier Soto and former UGA football star Champ Bailey at the Georgia Positive Athlete awards.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Walton student wins award at pre-college STEM competition

by

Walton student wins award at pre-college STEM competition

Walton High School student Rachel Lee recently earned the Third Grand Award at the the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

That’s the world’s largest international pre-college STEM competition, and Lee qualified from the Cobb/Paulding County Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Lee titled her project “Glucotoxicity in Regeneration: Modeling Hyperglycemia-Induced Repair Failure in Schmidtea mediterranea,” and it “investigated how elevated glucose levels affect tissue regeneration using planaria as a model organism to better understand impaired wound healing. The project was conducted through research at Kennesaw State University under the mentorship of Dr. Varholick.”

Lee’s project also received the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award and was recognized as a runner-up in the Georgia BioGENEius Challenge.

“I was honored to represent our community and compete alongside students from around the world,” Lee tells us, and if you’re interested to learn more about the project, here’s a link with all that information.

Send Us Your News!

Let East Cobb News know what’s going on with your organization, or about any recognitions, to share with the community. We love to get photos and stories like the above, as well as calendar event listings and more.

We want to be the go-to source for all the many ways people in East Cobb are involved in the community.

It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!

Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: [email protected], and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.

Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.

We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.

Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.

Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

8 East Cobb students receive National Merit Scholarships

by

Eight recently graduated high school students from East Cobb are the latest recipients of college aid from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.East Cobb National Merit Scholarship Program

The NMSC students announced on Wednesday more than 2,500 nationwide recipients of scholarships from the college or university of the student’s choice.

According to a release, “these awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

“This year, 138 higher education institutions are underwriting Merit Scholarship awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sponsor colleges and universities include 69 private and 69 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia.”

The students were chosen based on a variety of factors, including SAT and other test scores, a writing essay, and extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership positions.

“Semifinalists also had to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirmed the qualifying test performance,” the release said.

The NMSC, a not-for-profit organization, has conducted the National Merit Scholarship Program since 1955.

What f0llows is the name of the student and high school, college choice, and intended field of study.

  • Nathan Cole Lawson, Wheeler: University of Alabama, mechanical engineering
  • Carter Kopp, Lassiter: Vanderbilt Univerity, orthopedics
  • John Mackay Leith, Wheeler: University of Georgia, software engineering
  • Ameen H. Sayeed, Walton: University of Georgia, business
  • Aubrey Seay, Walton: Texas A & M University, industrial engineering
  • Riley J. Sullivan, Lassiter: Vanderbilt University, engineering
  • Vishruthi Thiyagarajan, Walton: University of Texas at Dallas, materials science
  • Jacob Podolski, Campbell: University of Georgia, public policy

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb school cafeteria inspections: Straight ‘A’ scores

by
East Cobb school cafeteria inspections: Straight 'A' scores
East Cobb Middle School had perfect inspection scores, like many school cafeterias do.

The 2025-26 school year is in the books, and the Cobb County School District and local private schools have been noting their academic, athletic and other success metrics.

Some of the most impressive numbers they racked up are health inspection reports at their cafeterias, which almost always result in scores of 100.

As we noted in the below compilations, public and private school cafeterias got nothing less than scores of “A” and that’s been routine for a number of years, and not just Cobb County.

Given the struggles of some well-known East Cobb restaurants to get high or even passing scores, East Cobb News recently asked Cobb and Douglas Health about the disparities.

That’s the local inspecting agency under the Georgia Department of Health, and in addition to commercial restaurants, their inspectors visit school cafeterias, as well as food vendors at Truist Park, Whitewater, Six Flags and community pools and clubhouses that have food service.

The specific question we had for the health inspectors about the school cafeterias is if they are inspected the same way and—no pun intended—if they’re graded on a curve.

Christopher Hutcheson, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Director of Environmental Health, told us that the school cafeterias go through the same inspection process as everyone else:

“The school systems put a lot of effort into training their staff, and their cafeteria managers are focused on proper food handling and cleanliness at the individual school level. That’s not to say that there aren’t a lot of restaurants in Cobb that operate at the same level as schools, but we see more consistency with schools as a group.”

Like the commercial restaurants, the school cafeterias are inspected typically twice a year, with some exceptions. Here’s what we put together; click the links to view the inspection reports for school cafeterias in the past year.

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Private Schools

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Sprayberry graduates told: ‘Chase the dream that excites you’

by

Sprayberry graduates told: 'Chase the dream that excites you'

Having a Sunday night graduation ceremony in the middle of major storm didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Sprayberry High School’s Class of 2026.

One senior even clicked his heels in mid-air after jumping with joy upon getting his diploma.

As the rain pounded the ceiling of the KSU Convocation Center, Sprayberry seniors concluded the Cobb County School District’s commencement schedule with a considerable list of accomplishments.

More than 200 of them had grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher, and 143 took part in dual enrollment programs for college credits. Nearly 200 will be heading to four-year college programs soon.

Sprayberry also had one of the single-highest GPAs in Cobb in valedictorian Payton Pace, whose 4.813 total was third in the entire school district.

Yellow Jackets athletes also stood out in the district, with 37 signing college scholarship offiers—the most of any school in the county.

“These are representative of more than trophies and titles,” principal David Church said. “They represent commitment, discipline and the courage to pursue excellence.”

But he told Sprayberry seniors that they should get accustomed to regarding their legacy, and their lives to this point, as unfinished—in a good way.

He noted that’s the theme of this year’s Sprayberry yearbook, and for a compelling reason.

“Unfinished is a great way to describe where you are right now,” he said. “It’s just the beginning of your story.

“It’s proof that your life is not something that you ever finish. It’s something that you continuously build, revise and grow into.”

Pace’s academic journey is a prime example.

Homeschooled until the sixth grade, Pace told her classmates that she came to Sprayberry as a freshman four years ago lacking confidence and doubted she could aspire to her dreams.

“But fear has a funny way of either stopping you or pushing you,” said Pace, who will be enrolling at Emory University. “And for me, it pushed. So I worked a lot.

“Success is rarely about being naturally talented. It’s about commitment. It’s about deciding what matters to you and continuing to show up for it, even when it’s difficult.”

Church said that “the most meaningful lives are not the ones that are perfectly finished. They are the ones that are courageously unfinished.”

Pace added that the only way to pursue such a life is to embark upon it without reservation.

“You have to be willing to work for the life that you want,” she said. “Chase the thing that excites you, even if it scares you. Because fear will tell you all of the reasons why you shouldn’t do something.

“But dedication proves that you can succeed.”

Click the middle button below for more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Walton graduates implored: Invest in others, ‘pay it forward’

by

Walton graduates implored: Invest in others, 'pay it forward'

On Sunday afternoon 631 seniors at Walton High School received their diplomas, and they were reminded of the many people who helped them get there.

Almost all of those seniors are college-bound, accounting for more than $20 million in scholarship funding outside of the HOPE program. There are 24 National Merit Scholarship finalists from Walton at a school that teachers and students alike admit poses high academic challenges—and stresses.

“You’ve come out of it with a lifetime of friendships, a strong foundation of knowledge and experiences that you’ll never be able to forget,” senior class president Abhijeet Ghosh said.

“And now for the most important part—think about everything that changes in these four years, and compare yourself from then to now.

“How has Walton shaped you?”

Ghosh said that each diploma “represents a culmination of real-world skills that are guaranteed to make everything down the road easier.”

Principal Stephanie Santoro expanded on that theme in urging Walton seniors, as they continue on with college and their adult lives, to continue to “pay it forward.”

She came to Walton as a teacher and volleyball coach in 2002, when another teacher-turned-principal, Catherine Mallanda, became her mentor.

Mallanda, a Walton graduate who for the last four years has been the Cobb County School District’s chief academic officer, attended Sunday’s graduation, just as she is set to retire.

Santoro called Mallanda “a trusted friend” in explaining that “you are where you are because people invested in you.

“Now it’s your turn. The most important investment you can make is in people.”

When those investments are made, Santoro continued, not only are the lives of others changed, but “it transforms yours and elevates everyone else.

The Class of 2026 has done some of that already, having logged more than 58,000 hours of community service in their final year of high school.

Ghosh asked his classmates to “remember the community you came from, and remember the struggles as they get harder.” After all, they’ve done it before.

“When it got hard, we didn’t give up. Keep that attitude up.”

Click the middle button below for more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Kell graduates asked to remember: ‘None of us got here alone’

by

Kell graduates asked to remember: 'None of us got here alone'

Kell High School’s Class of 2026 walked across the stage Friday night to receive their diplomas, but school leaders encouraged them to think of the occasion as so much more than that.

This year’s seniors include 87 Presidential Scholars—students with GPAs of 3.5 or higher and ACT scores of 1100 or higher—and earned more than $8 million in college scholarship funding.

“You’re not just walking away with a diploma,” Principal Peter Giles said. “You’re carrying memories, lessons and relationships that have shaped you and in turn have shaped this school.”

Giles said he watched this year’s group from the time they were freshmen four years ago, and like all incoming high school students, was curious to see what they would make of their time at Kell.

“You didn’t just find your place, you created it.”

Among the students offering remarks was salutatorian Dylan Brostoff, who will be enrolling at the University of Georgia with plans to major in nursing.

He admitted to being one of those freshmen who wasn’t sure what to expect of high school. Like other seniors speaking at graduation ceremonies, he mentioned his classmates’ school years being interrupted by COVID, and said that the experience fostered a spirit of resilience.

Kell salutatorian Dylan Brostoff

“We have grown in ways we could never have imagined,” Brostoff said. “Our hard work and determination got us here, but none of us got here alone.”

He paid special tribute to “the teachers who genuinely cared about our success—they made the biggest impact on us.”

Kell’s seniors took active part in community service, logging in more than 3,000 hours and raising $100,000 as part of the Shop With a Longhorn program to help needy younger students enjoy their Christmas holidays.

Those will all be part of this class legacy, Giles said, and serves as an important component of their lives going forward.

He urged them to “find your why,” a purpose to fuel their aspirations, which he said are guaranteed to hit some rough spots.

“Your why keeps you going,” he said. “But your toughest challenges will give your journey its real purpose.

“Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of it. You’re being redirected, not defeated. You won’t always succeed, but you will always learn.”

Click the middle button below to see more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

 

Lassiter graduates told to ‘throw yourself into that dream’

by

Lassiter graduates told to 'throw yourself into that dream'

Some severe weather delayed their graduation celebration, so Lassiter High School’s Class of 2026 got to spend some extra last time together on Thursday.

The start of commencement was held up by more than an hour due to thunderstorms at the Kennesaw State University campus, pausing assembly of the 485-student senior class and movement by guests and staff outdoors and between buildings.

“Because the district does not control the venue and the facility was not designed to accommodate graduations, students and staff must stage in a separate building detached from the ceremony space due to limited capacity onsite,” the Cobb County School District told East Cobb News in a statement.

Principal Chris Richie told the graduates that “you have altered the DNA of Lassiter High School forever.”

“When weather conditions worsen, there is no protected way for students, staff, and families to move safely from one location to another, which contributed to the delay.”

Inside the KSU Convocation Center, Lassiter principal Chris Richie thanked everyone for their patience, and rattled off a long list of accomplishments for a class of which 90 percent is college-bound.

That includes four National Merit Scholarship finalists and more than $11 million in college scholarship finding, excluding the Georgia HOPE program, as well as a variety of artistic, athletic and military accomplishments.

Salutatorian Chloe Cummings said the intangibles are what makes this class special, saying their legacy will be determined not by grade-point averages and honors but “by the kind of people we’ve become.

“The world needs good people, people with compassion and discipline. . . This class is full of those kinds of people.”

Richie said as ninth graders, he “saw you as a class that was full of potential. I hoped that you’d find something to be passionate about and find the power of your voice.

“I’m proud to see that dream fulfilled.”

Taking their aspirations into the larger world was the subject of remarks by Valedictorian Evan Buchanan.

“I’ve found that the pursuit of a dream is a truly beautiful endeavor,” said Buchanan, who will be studying aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech.

Whatever you decide to do, Buchanan told his classmates, “throw yourself into that dream.”

Click the middle button below to view more photos.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.