James September-October 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 22
shouldn’t be the first priority. Not
really, because if you have the best
teachers then learning is the best
result from having great teachers.”
In this context, he points out that
“we have also been ranked for the
last five years by Forbes magazine as
one of the best places to work.”
It should be noted, too, that
Cobb has led the state by introducing BEST (Building Educator Success
Together). It’s a unique recruitment
and retention program enabling
Cobb educators to pursue an advanced degree in high-need areas at
no tuition cost to them.
Classroom Discipline & School Safety
Our conversation turned to classroom discipline, and I asked what
happens when students act up and
disrespect a teacher. The superinten-
dent said he addressed that issue at
a teacher school kickoff, where some
500 were new and the predominant
majority were teachers from other
places before coming to Cobb. “I told
the teachers you need to know we
have your back. Our code of conduct
says schools have autonomy in that
they have a range of discipline depending on the situation.” But Ragsdale stressed that “the teacher has to
know the administration of the school
and the superintendent are backed
up when they must have a student
removed from their classroom.”
He also addressed the cell phone
issue regarding whether to have or
remove them. “I said this to the new
teachers: I have confidence in you to
manage your classroom. Cell phones
can be a classroom distraction and
take away from the learning process,
but they can be a tool teachers can
use. We’ve had technology in the
classroom for a long time, whether
it be a cell phone, tablet or laptop. If
Here in the great Peach state, we approach all things with a sense of pride
and hands-on care, and our locally grown products are no exception.
Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper bottle
feeds a calf on his farm in Irwin County.
22
JAMES
SEPTE M B E R/O C TO BE R 2 0 2 4
GeorgiaGrown.com
