Parents/guardians of a student zoned to attend a District school may apply for a School Choice transfer under Georgia law (HB 251) and the District Administrative Rule JBCD-R to request placement at a school other than the one to which the student is zoned. Available space at a school is based on permanent classroom space. If the number of transfer requests exceeds available capacity, the District will conduct a random lottery.
Important 2026–2027 Application Windows
HB 251 School Choice Transfer Applications
Application Window: January 22 – February 13, 2026
The application window for HB 251 School Choice Transfers for the 2026–2027 school year is scheduled from January 22 to February 13, 2026. No late applications will be accepted after these established dates.
For more information about this program, including instructions on how to apply, please visit our School Choice Transfers page.
Sibling Transfer Applications
Application Window: January 5 – January 16, 2026
Parents/guardians of a student who has a sibling already enrolled in a District school through an approved transfer may apply for the younger sibling to attend the same school in accordance with District Administrative Rule JBCD-R. This provision attempts to address siblings enrolled in different schools at the same time due to an approved transfer. The application window for siblings of currently enrolled transfer students for the 2026–2027 school year is scheduled from January 5 to January 16, 2026.
Children of Employees Transfer
Application Window: December 1, 2025 – January 16, 2026
Cobb County School District employees may apply for a Children of Employees Transfer for the 2026–2027 school year in accordance with District Administrative Rule JBCD-R. The application window is scheduled from December 1, 2025, to January 16, 2026. Students currently attending their school of choice through this option are not required to reapply unless they are changing school levels (elementary to middle or middle to high). Applications submitted after January 16, 2026, will only be accepted for qualifying events, such as new employment or a job location change, and available school options may be limited based on space.
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The principal of Addison Elementary School in East Cobb has been charged with driving under the influence and other traffic violations.
According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Jill Spiva was charged with one misdemeanor count of DUI and separate counts of an open container violation and failure to maintain a lane, also misdemeanors.
The arrest took place on Thursday afternoon at Ebenezer Road and Sandy Plains Road, close to the school, according to the booking report.
She was booked into the Cobb Adult Detention Center around 5 p.m. Thursday, and was released the following day after posting a $1,980 bond, the booking report states.
A report from WSB-TV states that Spiva caused a crash near the school, and that officers discovered a plastic bag with vodka near a console when they approached her vehicle. When she refused a blood test, according to the report, a judge signed a search warrant ordering her to give blood.
Her status as principal is unclear; a Cobb County School District spokesperson told East Cobb News the following:
“The district recently became aware of an incident which we have verified happened off-campus and after school hours. Because the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further. We are happy to hear everyone involved is safe.”
Spiva, who lives in Milton, has been with the district for more than 20 years, and is in her fourth year at Addison. She is a Lassiter High School graduate and has been an assistant principal at Shallowford Falls Elementary School and Davis Elementary School.
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The Cobb Judicial Circuit continued its commitment to community outreach this Friday, turning the courthouse into a classroom for 230 fifth-grade students from East Side Elementary School. As part of the ongoing “Courtroom to Classroom” initiative, students traded their textbooks for a real-life legal experience.
Friday’s session was a collaborative effort from the bench, featuring Superior Court Judges Jason D. Marbutt and Sonja N. Brown and Probate Court Chief Judge Kelli L. Wolk and Judge Tara C. Riddle. The program bridges the gap between the community and the judiciary by allowing students to participate directly in the legal process. Guided by court staff and local attorneys, the East Side students took on the responsibilities of the justice system — serving as prosecutors, defense counsel, witnesses, and jurors — during a mock trial centered on a bicycle theft case.
Judge Marbutt, a former educator, emphasized the impact of seeing the justice system up close. “As a former teacher, I enjoy the opportunity to educate students about the courts,” Judge Marbutt said. “The Courtroom to Classroom program is a great and fun way to get kids experience with the justice system.”
Judge Sonja Brown noted how the experience transforms abstract lessons into reality. “It is wonderful to see the law come to life for these students,” Judge Sonja Brown said. “They aren’t just reading about a trial; they are living it, and that experience fosters a deeper understanding of fairness that textbooks alone cannot provide.”
Beyond the verdict, the field trip offered students a comprehensive look at courthouse operations. The group explored the infrastructure of the judicial complex, including a visit to the secure holding areas, providing a stark and memorable reality of the justice system.
Judge Wolk highlighted the importance of transparency and judicial interaction with the community. “Hosting East Side Elementary was a reminder of why we serve,” Judge Wolk added. “By inviting the community in, especially our students, we build trust in our institutions and show them that the courtroom is a place for justice.”
For Judge Riddle, the event was an opportunity to foster early respect for civic duty. “These fifth graders asked insightful questions and took their roles seriously,” said Judge Riddle. “Programs like this are essential because they plant the seeds of good citizenship and show our youth that the justice system is accessible to them.”
The “Courtroom to Classroom” mock trial program is available for fourth- and fifth-grade classes, subject to docket availability. Schools and educators interested in participating in future sessions during the 2025-2026 school year should contact Erin Mendez at [email protected].
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As teachers in Cobb Schools continue to go above and beyond to provide students the best learning environment possible, one educator in particular stands out.
Heather Mullins of Mount Bethel Elementary recently earned the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics award from the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Every year, one teacher from the elementary, middle, and high school levels is selected, and this year, Cobb Schools was proudly represented thanks to Mullins’s hard work.
“One of Heather’s strengths is her ability to create a safe classroom environment where all students feel important and loved. She encourages active participation, critical thinking, and collaboration. Her passion for mathematics is infectious and has led other teachers across the county to have a joy for math when they visit her classroom, said the Georgia Council of Teachers in Mathematics.
To be eligible for this award, educators must have taught math for at least three years in Georgia, show evidence of growth in the teaching of mathematics, have a strong content foundation in mathematics appropriate for the teaching level, and be a member of the GCTM.
Due to her state achievement, Mullins was recognized by Cobb’s Board of Education during the December meeting.
With 13 awardees, Cobb Schools has the most recipients in the history of this award across elementary, middle, and high school, dating back to 2006 when the award first began.
To learn more about the award and how to nominate a teacher for next year, click HERE for more information.
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In predictable 4-3 partisan votes Tuesday, the Cobb Board of Education will once again have two Republican members in leadership roles in 2026.
During an organizational meeting that took less than 10 minues, the four GOP members voted for Randy Scamihorn to serve as chair and outgoing chair David Chastain to serve as vice chair.
The elections are required at the start of every calendar year and any board member can be nominated for either role. But the chair cannot serve successive terms.
Democratic board member Tre’ Hutchins was nominated for both posts by fellow Democratic member Becky Sayler, but he received only three votes each.
Hutchins nominated Republican Brad Wheeler to serve as chair, but Wheeler declined.
There was no discussion before the votes were cast. The board also approved the 2026 meeting calendar (click here).
Scamihorn, a Republican from Post 1 in Northwest Cobb, is a retired Cobb school teacher and administrator, and will be serving as chairman for the fifth time since he was first elected in 2012.
Republican John Cristadoro of Post 5 in East Cobb, who served as vice chair last year in his first year on the board, nominated Scamihorn to serve as chair but was not nominated for a leadership post.
In October, Cristadoro and his marketing company settled a lawsuit in Fulton County with a former client who alleged he misused $250,000 meant and advertising campaign.
Sayler had asked for a hearing to determine to determine if Cristadoro violated the school board’s code of ethics. But as chairman, Chastain said the board had no authority to take any action.
Scamihorn was last chairman in 2024, and has been a vocal and at times combative supporter of decisions made by the Republican majority and the leadership of Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.
Two years ago, as he faced re-election, Scamihorn pushed back against critics who claimed the district wasn’t doing enough to tighten security in wake of the deadly shootings at Apalachee High School in Winder.
The chair controls the meetings and has the power, along with the superintendent, to unilaterally place items on the meeting agendas. Other board members must get a majority of their colleagues to approve agenda items.
That’s been a flashpoint of partisan contention on the school board in recent years. Republicans held a 6-1 majority until 2018, when their margins were reduced to 4-3.
Since then, the GOP members have voted to change board policies to prohibit board members from offering comment at meetings. Board members also have squabbled over school board redistricting and accreditation along the same partisan lines.
Last July, the board voted to discontinue airing public comment from citizens in a measure proposed by Ragsdale, who did not consult board members beforehand, and that prompted critics to complain was an attempt to quash dissenting views.
Chastain, from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, is one of three board members—and the only Republican—whose terms expire at the end of this year.
He has indicated he will be seeking a fourth term. Michael Garza, a frequent critic of the board’s leadership, is the only Democrat thus far who has announced he will be running for that seat.
The school board will hold its first regular meetings of 2026 on Jan. 22.
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The Cobb Board of Education has announced a special-called meeting for Tuesday to elect officers and set its meeting schedule for 2026.
The meeting takes place Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the board room of the Cobb County School District central office 514 Glover St., Marietta.
The meeting is open to the public but there is not a public comment session.
The board is required to vote on a chairman and vice chairman at the start of every calendar year; the chairman cannot serve in successive terms.
Board members nominate candidates to become officers; they must receive at least four votes.
In 2025 the chairman was David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb and the vice chairman was John Cristadoro of Post 5 in East Cobb.
Both are Republicans, and as the party has held a 4-3 majority in recent years, the officers have been from the GOP
Democratic candidates have not been able to get any Republican member to cross parties to vote for officers in that period.
The 2026 elections include three board seats: Post 4, where Chastain is entering the last year of his third term; Post 2 in South Cobb, held by first-term Democrat Becky Sayler; and Post 6, in Smyrna-Vinings-Cumberland, held by first-term Democrat Nichelle Davis.
The first regularly scheduled Cobb school board meeting is Jan. 22.
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Across Cobb Schools, high school students have partnered with feeder middle and elementary school students to help spread Christmas cheer.
With the help of school counselors and social workers, students were selected to receive gifts based on need.
Pope’s 18th annual Shop with a Greyhound took center stage at Target, where an eager group of students rushed down the aisles searching for their favorite toys and essential items, such as clothes for the colder months.
More than 200 students from Brumby Elementary School were paired with a Pope student, allowing them to spend $115 on an early Christmas gift.
Over at Kell’s Shop with a Longhorn, students returned from a morning of shopping to help younger students wrap their gifts.
The school also had stations set up for face painting, ornament decorating, and photos with Santa.
With support from school counselors and social workers, students were selected to participate based on need. High school volunteers helped younger students shop for toys and essential items, including winter clothing, providing meaningful support to families during the holidays.,
Kell High School’s Shop with a Longhorn featured a full day of holiday activities. After returning from a morning of shopping, Kell students helped younger participants wrap their gifts and enjoy festive stations such as face painting, ornament decorating, and photos with Santa.
“The coolest part is that some of our high schoolers were once littles, and now they’re the ones helping — it’s come full circle,” said Ryan Hill, Shop with a Longhorn coordinator.
Additional events included Walton’s Shop with a Raider, Lassiter’s Shop with a Trojan, and Allatoona’s Shop with a Buc, among others held in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
These student-led initiatives often raise thousands of dollars to support fellow Cobb students in need. Beyond the gifts, the events create lasting connections, offering younger students positive role models while giving high schoolers the opportunity to give back and lead by example.
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A Wheeler High School graduate safely evacuated the Brown University campus last weekend during a mass shooting that killed two people, both of whom he knew.
Edward Kim, a freshman engineering major at Brown, said in a cable television interview that he got a message from his mother on Saturday afternoon after the shooting on the Ivy League campus in Providence, R.I.
“We felt that the right decision was to leave immediately,” Kim said in an interview with Katy Tur on MS NOW (formerly MSNBC;you can watch the full interview here.)
He was speaking from his home in Marietta, after Brown officials cancelled the rest of the semester and final exams.
Five days later, law enforcement across New England continues searching for the suspect, who is wanted for shooting to death Ella Cook, 19, of Mountain Brook, Ala., and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an Uzbeki national who attended high school in Midlothian, Va.
Nine other people were shot, with one having been released, one in critical condition and seven others in stable condition.
One of the victims is another Georgia student, Jacob Spears, 18, from Columbia County, who is recoverimg in a hospital.
Authorities in Providence have released footage of the man they say is the suspect, but he has not been identified, and they’re asking for the public’s help in locating him.
Kim attended the Wheeler STEM Magnet school and graduated in May. As a junior, he took part in a student walkout at Wheeler following a deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.
Tur asked Kim if he would be reluctant to return to campus if the shooter was still at-large after the holidays: “Absolutely.”
He said a few days before the shooting there was a false alarm that he said students took seriously.
“The fact that we don’t have anybody in custody has brought a lot of fear into Brown students,” Kim said.
Kim said that he thought Umurzokov was from the Atlanta area because he mentioned to him specific MARTA stations, and that he helped him deal with some homesickness by talking about the Georgia Bulldogs.
“I still can’t believe he’s not going to be with us in January when we come back,” Kim said of Umurzokov.
Kim said in the MS NOW interview that he also had an interaction with Cook in August regarding joining a political e-mail list (she was involved with the Brown College Republican group), although he didn’t know her name at the time.
Kim, who supported Democrat Laura Judge in a Cobb Board of Education election in 2024 in Post 5 in East Cobb, also was a youth advisor for U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, a Georgia Republican, in 2023.
During the Wheeler walkout in September 2024, Kim spoke to the assembled students, saying that “in major moments of national social change, students coming together and speaking about their challenges pushed the needle. Could you imagine how behind Civil Rights would be without the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee or the Southern Christian Leadership Conference? What about the Vietnam War? The movements were fought on college campuses, not the halls of Congress, not the Oval Office.”
On a social media posting, Judge—who’s involved with the gun-control group Moms Demand Action—said Wednesday morning that she had kept in touch with Kim as he started college, and that the tragedy at Brown “just galvanizes me to continue to enact change.
“It feels weird to say that I’m proud of the interview Edward gave, but I also know these stories must be told, so that the memories of Mukhammad Aziz and Ella live on.
“As always, hug your loved ones and continue to fight on. We do not have to live like this.”
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The East Cobb County Council of PTA has announced its school-level winners in the 2025-26 school year Reflections program.
The program encourages creative responses to a set theme, through the visual arts, literature, music composition, dance choreography, photography and film production.
This year’s theme was “I Belong!” and included 428 entries from students at 27 schools in East Cobb.
“This is an incredibly powerful, creative, and empathetic generation which brings us great hope for our future. All entries were thoroughly reviewed by professionals who donated their time and the feedback we heard from them was phenomenal!” the ECCC PTA said in a social media posting.
There will be an awards reception for all recipients on Jan. 26, 2026. The following were the winning individuals, as selected by an ECCC panel of judges. The students listed here will advance to the Georgia PTA competition:
Lassiter HS: Tia Douglas; Alex Hood; Riley Hood; Anna Hoover; Sangyethia Joseph; Hanae Miyazawa; Peter Seguin; Zoya Syed; Kaimi Trevison; Chris Wiggins
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The Cobb Board of Education will be asked to approve contracts on Thursday for renovation projects at two schools in East Cobb.
According to agenda items, the projects include replacing the annex at Tritt Elementary School at a cost of $7.9 million and making renovations at Daniell Middle School for $1.64 million
They’re among a number of construction projects on Thursday’s meeting agendas.
The board will hold a work session Thursday at 1 p.m., followed by a voting session Thursday at 7 p.m.
All meetings take place in the board room of the Cobb County School District Central Office, at 514 Glover St. in Marietta. An executive session will follow the work session.
The public meetings will be streamed live and you can watch on Comcast Cable or on a livestream on the district’s Boxcast Channel.
The Tritt project includes demolishing the current 12-classroom annex building and replacing it with an eight-classroom structure. Other work would include a new secure entrance vestibule, roof replacements, mechanical, electrical and fire protection upgrades, restroom renovations and additional parking and a paved fire lane, according to the agenda item.
The recommended bidder is R.K. Redding Construction, Inc. of Bremen and the estimated completion time is July 2027.
The Daniell project includes restroom renovations, roof replacement (annex building only), select door and door hardware replacement, electrical subpanel upgrade, and carpet replacement.
The recommended bidder is FS360, LLC of Atlanta and the project is expected to be completd in July 2026.
Funding for both projects would come from the Cobb Education VI SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax).
The board also will be asked to approve a measure for the CCSD to take out $100 million in construction notes to begin 2026 projects. It’s a short-term loan that’s paid back at the end of the year.
School district officials also will present to the board a number of proposed changes to administrative rules, including a policy to formalize a ban on K-8 student use of personal devices during school hours.
The policy must be in place by January to comply with a new state law, the Distraction-Free Education Act. This summer the district said it would not be providing secure pouches for students to store their devices during the school day, as is done at Marietta City Schools.
The rule change to be presented to the board Thursday states that:
“Students in grades K-8 are not permitted to access personal electronic devices while on school grounds during school hours, including but not limited to cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, headphones, earbuds, and other devices with functionalities, such as wireless communication, internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media access, or data transmission during school hours. Any student found in violation of this policy and/or district rules/procedures during the school day shall be subject to progressive 9 discipline consequences as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.”
The proposal further states that:
“A student whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Section 504 Plan, or medical plan explicitly mandates the use of a personal electronic device shall be permitted access to the device as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the respective plan. Parents wishing to reach their child during school hours should contact their child’s school directly.”
Prior to the board’s Thursday night meeting recognitions will include the Walton High School girls volleyball team, which recently won the Georgia High School Association Class 6A state championship.
Heather Mullins, a teacher at Mt. Bethel Elementary School, also will be recognized for earning the 2025-2026 Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics Excellence in Teaching Award.
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Jorden Edmonds (left) and Kaelan Jones starred for Sprayberry as defensive backs, and will be headed to big-time college programs. CCSD photo.
High school athletes from East Cobb and around the country officially made their college choices on Wednesday on what’s known as National Signing Day.
That’s when they officially signed letters-of-intent to receive scholarship aid to the college or university of their choice.
Some athletes will be receiving full-ride scholarships—all expenses paid—and others partial scholarships. That depends on the sport and the number of scholarships available.
In football, most scholarships are full-ride. For two football players at Sprayberry, they will be heading to two of the top college programs in the country.
The Yellow Jackets had another outstanding season finishing 9-2, and reaching the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A playoffs.
Defensive back Jorden Edmonds committed to the University of Alabama, and made it official in a signing ceremony Wednesday at Sprayberry.
Kealan Jones, another Sprayberry defensive back, had committed to the University of Georgia, but at the last minute decided to sign a scholarship offer from Georgia Tech.
“This is a summation of 18 years of really hard work for these young men,” said Dr. Pete Fominaya, Sprayberry’s head football coach, in a release issued by the Cobb County School District.
“Not only do you have to be great on the field, but you have to be great in the classroom and be a great leader to have an opportunity to sign in December. This is a really special group of young men. They’re high-character kids. They do the right thing, and I am proud to have been able to coach them.”
Five other Yellow Jackets signed their letters on Wednesday as well:
Lineman Taylen Swinney (Georgia Military College)
Defensive end Gabe Clarke (University of West Georgia)
Defensive back Noah Voltaire (Austin Peay University),
Offensive lineman Cash Barowsky (Berry College)
Quarterback Jaden Duckett (The Citadel)
The Kell football team was eliminated in the GHSA Class 5A semifinals on Friday at Creekside of Fairburn, the last Cobb football team standing. But before that on Wednesday, eight Longhorns signed their college letters:
Tight end Nathan Agyemang (Georgia Tech)
Defensive back Jowell Combay (Tennessee)
Linebacker Michael Domanik (Charlotte)
Defensive back Tony Forney (Pittsburgh)
Quarterback Kaleb Narcisse (East Tennessee State)
Linebacker Brayden Rouse (Tennessee)
Athlete Bryce Shelton (William & Mary)
Defensive back Jalen Williams (Arizona State)
The Cobb school district compiled the following college signees from other high schools:
Pope High School
Baseball: Drew Abney (Jacksonville State), Nick Bobrowski (Georgia Southern), Kayden Campbell (Ohio State), Ben Hill (LaGrange)
Lacrosse: Ashley Anne Braun (Delaware), Colby Brennan (Mars Hill), Lauren Ebersole (Pittsburgh), Cooper Heintzelman (Lincoln Memorial), Talia Olshansky (St. Bonaventure), Daniel Wahn (New Jersey Institute of Technology)
Swimming: Addison Clark (Florida Atlantic)
Volleyball: Jahan Lalli (Rhode Island)
Fencing: Joshua Riggins (Ohio State)
Softball: Emma Santamaria (Georgia State College and University)
Walton High School
Football: tight end Jude Cascone (Alabama) and linebacker Noah LaVallee (Florida State)
Wheeler High School
Football: Defensive back Brock Adams (Austin Peay), defensive back Landon Harper (Point University)
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At Hightower Trail Middle School, one family is finding an extra reason to be thankful this holiday season.
Three generations of the same family have found common ground through a shared experience— they’ve all taught and worked at Hightower Trail.
It started with Shari Tarter, a history teacher at Hightower Trail for 12 years until she retired in 2005. Although not currently a staff member, she is still well-known around the school. Her daughter, Amy Pease, is currently the Media Specialist at the school and has served there for more than 25 years.
The mother-daughter duo of Tarter and Pease worked together for six years.
Amy’s daughter, Mackenzie Pease, has continued the family tradition this year by starting to teach sixth-grade history at Hightower Trail. It’s the same subject her grandmother taught more than 20 years ago, as she now works alongside her mom every day.
“My mom is my best friend and role model, so it was a no-brainer that I would want to work alongside her. Having her here with me is so special, and it has made this school feel like a home…again,” said Mackenzie Pease.
“I think I am the most fortunate of the three of us in the fact that I had the opportunity to work with both my mom and my daughter at some point here at the Trail. I was raised by one of my favorite social studies teachers, and I think it is so cool that I raised my other favorite,” said Amy Pease.
As we approach the holidays, many will have the opportunity to take extra time away from work to spend with family.
For this family, the setting may be different, but they’ll continue to do what they’ve done for more than 25 years—spend time together.
The sense of community, quality of life, and principles that Cobb Schools stands for have been a big part of why this family has continued to stay loyal to Hightower Trail and Cobb.
“When we moved to Georgia, we chose Cobb because of the schools. I went back to teaching when our kids were in high school because of the quality of their education. Working alongside them has been such a blessing,” said Tarter.
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Powers Ferry ES students take part in a Turkey Bingo game to celebrate Thanksgiving. CCSD photo.
Submitted information and photo:
As Cobb Schools headed into Thanksgiving break, schools across the District embraced the holiday with unique celebrations that brought together students, staff, and families.
Dozens of schools, including Pine Mountain Middle, Addison Elementary, and King Springs Elementary, hosted Thanksgiving lunches featuring meals prepared by the Cobb Schools Food and Nutrition Services team. Families filled cafeterias to share special moments together.
“It brings in the community, our hearts are all in the same place, and we’re all thankful,” said Cobb Schools Board Chair David Chastain, who joined families at Addison Elementary.
Other schools celebrated in their own distinctive ways. Powers Ferry and Nickajack Elementary Schools hosted lively Turkey Bingo events, drawing family’s eager for a chance to take home turkeys, pies, gift cards, and more.
At Smitha Middle School, students helped assemble food baskets to ensure families in need had the supplies to prepare a Thanksgiving meal at home this holiday season.
These celebrations serve as reminders of the gratitude felt throughout the district. “When I walk down the halls, I feel empowered every minute I’m there,” said Pine Mountain Principal Dr. David Nelson. “Seeing how excited the kids are about something happening or something they’re learning is truly a blessing.”
As students depart for the break, Cobb Schools leadership expressed appreciation for the educators who make these moments possible. “We have so much to be thankful for at the district level and the board level, but it all boils down to being thankful for our teachers for creating an environment where students can learn, thrive, grow, and succeed,” said Chastain.
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This Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, the Garrison Mill Education Foundation (GMEF) calls on parents, neighbors and local businesses to rally behind a bold vision: enriching every student’s experience through STEAM, an integrated way to experience the world through science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
As a parent-led nonprofit, GMEF is dedicated to creating joyful, hands-on STEAM opportunities that spark curiosity and confidence in Greyhound students. From robots in the school lab to new instruments in music class, every donation helps shape youthful imaginations that are more vibrant, inquisitive and future-ready.
“Giving Tuesday is about radical generosity,” said parent Amy Starr, co-president of the Garrison Mill Education Foundation. “At Garrison Mill, that means empowering our kids with the tools, experiences, and mentorship they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. When our kids are exposed to STEAM, you can wonder what new devices will they imagine and build? What new treatments will they create? What virtuoso performances will pour from their soul? What new ideas will they give a delighted world?”
This year’s Giving Tuesday campaign #GiveGMEF aims to raise $5,000 to support items like:
Robotics and STEM lab equipment
Teacher training and science salary supplements
After-school enrichment clubs (Foundation After School Enrichment Time, or FEAST)
Signature community events like Publix Math Night and Fine Arts Night
Support for the school garden, nature trail and Science Olympiad team
Grade-level field trips that connect STEAM learning to the real world
Microgrants for art and music programs
Every contribution matters to help GMEF deliver high-impact programs that make STEAM come alive for every learner. Donors are encouraged to check with their employers about “matching gift programs,” which can double or even triple the impact of their generosity.
“We support our kids throughout the year. That’s why we fundraise multiple times, including Giving Tuesday,” said parent Christine Killinger, GMEF’s other co-president. “We can reach maximum impact when more people join the movement, fuel the future and give to GMEF.”
To donate or learn more, visit GMEF’s Giving Tuesday page at GMEFoundation.org.
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Graduation honors years of dedication and achievement, celebrating our students’ successes and bright futures ahead. The Cobb County School District is pleased to announce the 2026 commencement schedule so students and their families can celebrate the milestone together.
Commencement ceremonies for Cobb’s Class of 2026 begin Monday, May 18 and continue through the evening of Sunday, May 24.
All district-hosted ceremonies will take place at the KSU Convocation Center.
Pope High School will take the stage for the first commencement ceremony on May 18. The commencement ceremonies will wrap up on May 24 with Walton and Sprayberry High Schools.
Additional information about each school’s ceremony, venue information including directions and parking information, access to live streaming broadcasts of the ceremonies, and video recordings ordering information will be available on the district’s commencement page.
Here’s the schedule for the six high schools in East Cobb, all at KSU’s Convocation Center:
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After a 12-year-old boy was seriously injured this past summer crossing Jamerson Road near Davis Elementary School, a new crosswalk has been installed in that area.
Cobb government and transportation officials were on hand earlier this week as students and their parents traversed Jamerson in a newly constructed crosswalk, along with flashing lights and warning signs for pedestrians and motorists alike.
Cobb commissioners approved spending $146,000 in SPLOST revenues for the safety enhancements, and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell was among those on hand for the debut (see Cobb TV video below).
Preston Veal, a student at Mabry Middle School, has undergone a long recovery after being hit by a van while crossing Jamerson Road near the school in late June. He was hospitalized with numerous broken bones and internal injuries, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his medical expenses.
Veal, a member of the Lassiter Junior Trojan youth football program, was walking home from Davis on June 28 after shooting basketball at the school. Cobb Police said he was crossing from a sidewalk on Jamerson, east of Turtle Rock Drive, when he was hit by a van.
That’s near the only crosswalk across Jamerson serving the school.
Among those walking her child across the crosswalk was mom Courtney Chiang DiStefano, who told East Cobb News last summer that had begun a petition for a solar flashing light alert, along with crosswalk detectors, a chirping alert for pedestrians and for another crosswalk to be built to cover both sides of the school.
She didn’t get everything she initially asked for, but was pleased with the new safety measures this week.
DiStefano previously said she and her family use the crosswalk often to visit grandparents and to go to classes as Davis, but told us “the lack of a protected crosswalk with sufficient signage and protection puts our children and neighbors at significant risk.”
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Dodgen Middle School families were notified Monday that the school was briefly evacuated after what turned out to be a false fire alarm was triggered during the school day.
A message that went out from Principal Dr. Patricia Alford didn’t say when the incident happened, she but said that everyone was safety evacuated as Cobb Fire crews came to the scene to investigate.
“They discovered that a faulty smoke sensor was the cause, and it was replaced on the spot,” she said. “Once the repair was made, the system worked again and kids were brought back inside. We were able to continue our day with some minor adjustments.”
Alford didn’t give a time frame, but in her message thanked first responders.
East Cobb News has left a message with the Cobb County School District seeking more information.
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The chairman of the Cobb Board of Education said Thursday the body has no authority to act on a court settlement involving vice chairman John Cristadoro of East Cobb related to his private business affairs.
Cristadoro and his marketing company last month settled a lawsuit with a former client in Fulton County in which he was alleged to have misused $250,000 meant for the client’s advertising campaign.
The civil lawsuit alleged fraud, breach of contract and fiduciary duty, civil racketeering and gross negligence. There was no admission of guilt in the final consent judgment, but Cristadoro was ordered by a judge to repay all but $25,000 of that amount.
Reading from a prepared statement during a school board work session Thursday, Chastain said that state law prohibits any actions by school boards into members’ behavior outside of their official duties in elected office.
“This board of education does not exceed the authority that it has been given by exploring the personal lives of our board members in the same way we do not involve ourselves in the personal lives of our students, staff and parents,” said Chastain, a Republican from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb.
Becky Sayler
“If we extend our authority into the past and into board members’ personal lives, where does it stop?” he continued.
“Criminal charges filed years before a member ran for the board? Allegations made at divorces, adoption hearings? Comments on Facebook that a member is not fit or was a bad teacher? Defaulting on student loans or filing bankruptcy? Failing to make credit card payments on time?”
Board member Becky Sayler, a Democrat from Post 2 in Smyrna, had asked for a hearing to determine to determine if Cristadoro could have violated the school board’s code of ethics.
But Chastain—who never referenced Cristadoro by name in his statement—said that “I asked for input from my fellow board members. I was reminded the board had no authority on this, or any other personal matter, particularly personal matters occurring before the member was elected to the board.
“I will repeat this again: No board member has the authority to make any decisions. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply wrong.”
During Chastain’s remarks, the three Democratic members tried to ask for points of order or clarification to see if the statement was being made on behalf of the whole board.
It was only after he had finished that Chastain allowed Democratic member Nichelle Davis of Post 6 in Smyrna to ask a question.
Laura Judge
When she wanted to know if his remarks spoke for all seven board members, some applause broke out. “The statement stands,” Chastain said, and he immediately continued with the work session agenda.
He said the statement would be the board’s only word on the subject. The board’s three other Republican members, including Cristadoro, said nothing.
Chastain’s statement appears to be the first in an open meeting by a Cobb school board member since 2019, when he and the board’s Republican members voted to ban board member comments during public meetings. Two of their then-Democratic colleagues claimed the move was an act of censorship to silence them.
Chastain, who also was board chairman at that time, did not reference the ban in making his remarks Thursday.
On Friday morning, Sayler said on her board member’s Facebook page that her attempt to pursue a possible ethics violation inquiry “did not have the support of enough board members to move forward. You, the community, deserve board members who are informed, thoughtful, and guided by doing what is best for students. I’m sorry that not enough of my fellow board members saw this situation with the same urgency and morals that so many of us did.”
Democrat Laura Judge of East Cobb, who lost to Cristadoro in the 2024 general election, said during a public comment session at the work session Thursday that Cristadoro’s legal issues are “a blemish on this district’s reputation. This was not a minor error or personal dispute. It involved the admitted misuse of $250,000. And yet, some of our long-standing board members and leaders seem willing to look the other way. That should alarm all of us.”
She also objected to Chastain’s handling of the statement “before even discussing it in executive session with fellow board members” but that “it shows exactly how decisions are being made in this district—without all voices at the table.”
John Cristadoro
Judge added that the matter shouldn’t be a partisan issue (Republicans have a 4-3 school board majority). But Chastain, in his remarks, alleged that’s exactly what was happening with Cristadoro, a Republican in his first year on the board.
“During my 11 years on the board there have been numerous requests to consider actions by board members which allegedly affected their elected positions,” Chastain said.
“Virtually of these allegations were made by members who were not part of the majority’s political party. Without exception and regardless of the board member’s political party we have declined. The board of education will continue its unbroken practice and limit itself to actions occurring within a board member’s term of office and his or her elected service.”
In his only comment on the matter, Cristadoro, right after the settlement, accused his critics of creating “fake outrage” over matters that had nothing to with his public service.
“It’s a personal case from a personal business, both of which have nothing to do with serving students, other than being a target by those who are trying to tear down Cobb schools,” he said.
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Coach Jerry Mahon is honored by Pope High School officials and his family as he marked his retirement in 2025. Photo courtesy CCSD.
Pope’s season-ending win in varsity football was the last game for a longtime coach in the Cobb County School District.
Jerry Mahon, an assistant coach for the Greyhounds the last 10 years, is retiring, bringing to a close a 50-year career in coaching and teaching that included tenures at Lassiter and Wheeler.
He’s been Pope’s offensive line coach, and his players excelled as the Greyhounds won 35–14, rushing for 385 yards against Riverwood.
“His countless hours of hard work and commitment have made Pope Football a better program,” Pope head coach Sean O’Sullivan said in a release issued by the Cobb school district.
“It has been a true pleasure having such a veteran coach on staff. We appreciate all his support and the positive impact he’s had on our team and community.”
Mahon said he had wanted to be a coach since he was in eighth grade, and started in Mississippi in 1976. After also coaching in Alabama, he moved to Georgia in 1997, and was an assistant and head coach at Lassiter.
That’s where he coached his son Jerry, Jr., an offensive lineman for the Trojans in the late 90s, and said “he’s one of the best centers I ever coached, so the opportunity to coach my son was a real thrill.”
In 2005, Mahon moved to Wheeler, where he served for 11 seasons before coming to Pope.
“Coach Mahon’s legacy in coaching will be left with the thousands of players and hundreds of coaches who have encountered his professional, faith-based approach to teaching life lessons,” Pope AD Josh Mathews said.
“I have witnessed a coach who cares for the heart of the athlete significantly more than he cared about the result of a game or match.”
Mahon said his motivational and teaching philosophy came from an adapted rhyme believed to be inspired by the fourth-century Christian priest St. Jerome.
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best. The key to all that right there is to never let it rest. You’ve got to keep working. Being average is halfway from the top, but also halfway from the bottom. You’ve got to be willing to put in the work. Hopefully, that is what I have passed on to my players and students.”
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Several months after placing specially-trained dogs in some high schools to bolster safety in schools, the Cobb County School District will be adding some more.
During a Cobb Board of Education session Thursday, the school board approved a special request by Superintendent Chris Ragsdale to use up to $2 million in the district’s general fund balance for an additional eight dogs, and costs for their handlers and equipment.
Ragsdale said the funding would enable the district to have a dog and handler at each of the district’s 16 traditional high schools.
The district began the program earlier this yearthrough a state school security grant and $80,000 in district funding to purchase canines to as part of officer-led teams that can identify “person-worn or concealed-carried explosives and firearms.”
Without providing specifics due to security concerns, Ragsdale said that what’s called the Vapor Wake program has been successful thus far, and presence of the dogs and handlers is “so accepted in the schools.”
He did not identify which schools have had the dogs, but said the next phase is for all of the high schools to have them “as soon as possible.”
The dogs are trained to “continuously sample the air for concealed firearms and explosives, tracking potential threats even while in motion. This cutting-edge detection capability provides real-time security monitoring, allowing for a swift response to potential threats,” according to Vapor Wake program literature.
The program includes a partnership with Global K9 Protection Group, a private company based in Opelika, Ala., that provides canine-focused security solutions.
Major universities, sports arenas, theaters and other entities use Vapor Wake.
“It will not be a flip of the switch, and they’ll be here tomorrow,” Ragsdale said Thursday. “But it will get us a lot further down the road than waiting for the budget cycle to come around.”
The vote was 6-1, with Becky Sayler of Post 2 in South Cobb of Smyrna opposed, saying she needed more information since “this is the first I’m hearing of it.”
She made a motion to table a vote, but that motion failed.
Ragsdale said that the cost could come to $2.6 million, with additional funding from SPLOST revenues, for equipment and training. Existing district police personnel will be trained to be handlers, as is being done now.
The district has a general fund balance of $386 million. Ragsdale said the cost of the additional dogs would have to be added permanently each year, unless additional state security grant funding becomes available.
“To have dogs at every high school is a preventative measure,” board member Randy Scamihorn said. “We want to be informed and we want to inform the public. But we want to keep our layered security, where the bad guys don’t know what we’re doing.
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