This edition of Teaching Gwinnett is all about sports! Some stellar student-athletes and coaches, from Brookwood and Mill Creek High Schools, stop by to talk about their respective softball and football seasons and: Making it to the title game Setting school records Building and maintaining a winning culture Reflecting on the end of their high school athletic career We close the show with an extended version of Pop Quiz featuring their take on who would win an epic 2 on 2 basketball game between stars of yesterday and today. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

The student hosts and teachers behind Eagle Talk! McKendree Elementary School's informative, engaging, and fun podcast "take over" Teaching Gwinnett. In this episode, we learn about the history of shoes, when, why, and where they were created, the different types, and which popular sneaker brands the hosts like the best. We also hear from the educators who started Eagle Talk! Why they created it, what it's like working with the talented hosts and the response from their school community. We close the show with another edition of "Pop Quiz." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

Community-Based Mentoring is an opportunity to pair caring adults with students in grades 4 through 12 to provide guidance, encouragement, and support to help them become successful young adults, both in and out of the classroom. Join us as we discuss the relaunch of Community Based Mentoring with James Rayford, Director of Academic Support, dedicated mentor Bill Merritt, and former mentee Bryanna James. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

They make students, staff, and parents feel unsafe and are causing panic in schools. We're talking about threats made on social media to "shoot up" a school. It is a nationwide problem that is disrupting teaching and learning and causing police to work overtime. On this episode of Teaching Gwinnett, students share their thoughts on who is making the threats, why we are seeing so many, and what can be done to stop them. We also hear from GCPS Police Chief Tony Lockhart, who explains what authorities are doing to stop the threats and what happens to those who are caught. And as always, we end the show with another edition of Pop Quiz. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

They may not be firefighters or police officers, but they are often the first responders in Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS). We are talking about school social workers. School social workers are like Swiss army knives when it comes to helping students. They have just about every tool you need to advise, guide, listen to and support each and every GCPS student, and that support often comes with a warm smile. On this episode of Teaching Gwinnett, GCPS School Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts joins the show and talks to the finalists for the 2023 GCPS School Social Worker of the Year award. We also hear from Crystal Baskerville, GCPS' Director of Health and Social Services, who talks about what school social workers do, why they are needed and how they impact learning and student lives. And we end the show with another addition of Pop Quiz. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

2020 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year Rebecca Carlisle returns to the show to guest host the "HR Takeover!- How to create teacher leaders." The fun energetic educator discusses her transition from high school teacher to Human Resources, where she is Assistant Director of Recruitment and Retention and whether she misses teaching. She goes on to interview Lin Thornton, Principal of Jones Middle and Teresa Blackman, 3rd grade teacher at Starling Elementary School. The two teacher leaders discuss their motivations, mentors and their journey to becoming leaders. They also share easy to understand strategies for becoming a teacher leader. Bernard Watson rejoins the show at the end to co-host another edition of "Pop Quiz." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

Dr. Calvin Watts, Gwinnett County Public Schools' new superintendent, and the first African-American to hold the position, drops by to discuss a variety of topics including, the district’s face mask mandate, social emotional learning, his relationship with the Gwinnett Board of Education and so much more. Episode Highlights: 11:10- Concerning things he’s heard during his Look Listen and Learn Tour 17:05- Response to children that say school feels like prison 22:41- Response to the increase in social media school threats targeting schools 31:12- His stance on the Mask Mandate 36:29- Disruptions at school board meetings and how it impacts the work of the school board 42:20- Social Emotional Learning; What it is and why it is needed in GCPS 50:07- His relationship with the Gwinnett County Board of Education 52:29- How he handles disagreements between himself and the Gwinnett County Board of Education 58:41- His thoughts on hunting and butchering his own food, or going without it --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

Two former Gwinnett County Public Schools Teachers of the Year (TOTY) stop by to discuss: 02:08: What it is like being a TOTY during COVID. 06:47: How the TOTY selection process works; what candidates & judges have to do and go through 09:08: Reaction to hearing the news that they won 12:43: What TOTY finalists go through 16:54: Funny stories from the night they were named winners/hardest thing and best thing about being TOTY 25:50: How the final selection process works for TOTY 29:37: Some 2022 TOTY candidates share some of their innovative teaching techniques 42:42: Pop Quiz. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

From the hunters to the hunted! Collins Hill High School’s varsity football coach Lenny Gregory drops by to discuss the 2021-22 season and the challenges of winning the 7A state title after coming up short in the title game last year. The district’s athletic director also makes an appearance to discuss the success of girls flag football, allowing fans to watch games in person and another edition to, Pop Quiz.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message

The new "School of the Arts" (SOTA) at Central Gwinnett High School is another example of Gwinnett County Public Schools' unwavering commitment to the fine arts. Shane Orr, the principal of Central Gwinnett High, stops by and explains why students obsessed with street dance or play an instrument, love recording or illustrate graphic novels, dream of art installations or write their own music, can pursue their artistic vision, explore their creativity, and learn from industry professionals at the SOTA. The district's director of fine arts explains how the SOTA came about and another edition of Pop Quiz. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gcps-schools/message