District leaders presented schools today with banners celebrating outstanding performance ratings on the Georgia 2025 College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). Congratulations to W. L. Swain Elementary for their district-level achievements in Content Mastery: Science and ELL Proficiency!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryWLS
CCRPI scores are calculated using multiple indicators that measure student achievement, progress, readiness, and closing gaps. A key component of the CCRPI is student performance and growth on state assessments, including the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) tests. Additional factors include graduation rates, progress of English Learners, and indicators of college and career readiness.
Content Mastery: Looks at how well students are performing on Georgia Milestones tests in core subject areas, representing their level of academic proficiency.
English Learner (ELL) Proficiency: Evaluates the progress of English learners in developing English language skills, using the ACCESS for ELLs assessment.
Check out the December 2025 Superintendent's Report presented at Monday evening's BOE meeting! To view this and previous reports, please visit our district website at: https://www.gcbe.org/page/superintendents-reports
The Superintendent’s Report provides a comprehensive monthly update on the progress, achievements, and ongoing work within Gordon County Schools. Presented at each Board of Education meeting by Superintendent Alice Mashburn, this report highlights key areas such as student achievement, district operations, school events, and strategic initiatives that support our mission of ensuring success for every learner.
The Superintendent’s Report provides a comprehensive monthly update on the progress, achievements, and ongoing work within Gordon County Schools. Presented at each Board of Education meeting by Superintendent Alice Mashburn, this report highlights key areas such as student achievement, district operations, school events, and strategic initiatives that support our mission of ensuring success for every learner.
Gordon County Schools is providing Winter Holiday Meal Boxes to support families during the Winter Holidays/Christmas Break! Each box includes 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches per child and is available to all children ages 0–18 (and 0–21 for students with special needs). Even if you did not register, you are still encouraged to come pick up a box. Please remember: one meal box per child.
Pickup Date & Time:
Friday, December 19th — 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Pickup Locations:
Belwood Elementary — Student Drop-Off (Back of School)
Fairmount Elementary — Bus Loading Area (Near Cafeteria)
Gordon Central High School — Student Drop-Off (Front of School)
Red Bud Elementary — Bus Loop
Sonoraville High School — Bus Loop
Tolbert Elementary — Student Drop-Off (Front of School)
W.L. Swain Elementary — Bus Loop
We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve our Gordon County families this holiday season! This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Pickup Date & Time:
Friday, December 19th — 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Pickup Locations:
Belwood Elementary — Student Drop-Off (Back of School)
Fairmount Elementary — Bus Loading Area (Near Cafeteria)
Gordon Central High School — Student Drop-Off (Front of School)
Red Bud Elementary — Bus Loop
Sonoraville High School — Bus Loop
Tolbert Elementary — Student Drop-Off (Front of School)
W.L. Swain Elementary — Bus Loop
We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve our Gordon County families this holiday season! This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Great vocabulary learning happening in Riley Hooker’s 2nd grade class as students explored a fun reading lesson all about “gross” jobs! #ExtraordinarySES #ExtraordinaryGCS
Fairmount Elementary REACH students had a great opportunity to strengthen their critical thinking skills as Kelly DeFrench led a holiday-themed challenge where students worked through clues and raced to find the answer! #ExtraordinaryFES #ExtraordinaryGCS
Great hands-on learning happening in Julie Graves’ Pre-K class as students explore station activities and create candy cane patterns with blocks! It’s wonderful to see early learners building foundational skills through play and creativity. #ExtraordinaryRBES #ExtraordinaryGCS
Gordon County Schools proudly celebrated several outstanding achievements at the December 8th Board of Education meeting, highlighting excellence across multiple schools and departments. State Superintendent Richard Woods recently announced Georgia’s Math and Literacy Leaders, and two Gordon County schools earned distinguished recognition for exceptional student growth and performance. For the second consecutive year, Red Bud Middle School was named a Georgia Math Leader in High School Outstanding Achievement for its 8th graders’ remarkable scores on the 9th Grade Algebra End-of-Course Milestones exam. Principal Chad Moore accepted recognition on behalf of the administration team and school.
Tolbert Elementary was honored as a Georgia Literacy Leader for demonstrating exceptional growth in 3rd Grade Gateway Reading, with a notable increase in students reading at or above grade level. Those present for recognition included Principal Dr. Rebecca Owen, Assistant Principal Melissa Vincent, and some of the dedicated third-grade team and support staff: GCS Teacher of the Year Emily Rossberg, Kelly Macks, Amy Padgett, Theresa Spence, and Belinda Smith.
The district’s School Nutrition program received the prestigious Georgia Farm to School Award for its efforts to incorporate locally grown foods into school meals, promote farm-to-school initiatives, and provide meaningful educational experiences through edible gardens. Representing the program was School Nutrition Director Nicole Head.
Finally, Gordon County Schools proudly acknowledged Beth Herod, Director of Early Learning and Elementary Education, for being selected as President of the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS). With prior service as Regional Director and Treasurer, Herod was chosen by her peers for her extensive experience and her dedication to supporting instructional leaders and strengthening curriculum and instructional support statewide.
Congratulations to all of these remarkable leaders and teams for their commitment to excellence within Gordon County Schools! #ExtraordinaryGCS
Tolbert Elementary was honored as a Georgia Literacy Leader for demonstrating exceptional growth in 3rd Grade Gateway Reading, with a notable increase in students reading at or above grade level. Those present for recognition included Principal Dr. Rebecca Owen, Assistant Principal Melissa Vincent, and some of the dedicated third-grade team and support staff: GCS Teacher of the Year Emily Rossberg, Kelly Macks, Amy Padgett, Theresa Spence, and Belinda Smith.
The district’s School Nutrition program received the prestigious Georgia Farm to School Award for its efforts to incorporate locally grown foods into school meals, promote farm-to-school initiatives, and provide meaningful educational experiences through edible gardens. Representing the program was School Nutrition Director Nicole Head.
Finally, Gordon County Schools proudly acknowledged Beth Herod, Director of Early Learning and Elementary Education, for being selected as President of the Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS). With prior service as Regional Director and Treasurer, Herod was chosen by her peers for her extensive experience and her dedication to supporting instructional leaders and strengthening curriculum and instructional support statewide.
Congratulations to all of these remarkable leaders and teams for their commitment to excellence within Gordon County Schools! #ExtraordinaryGCS
Gordon County Schools is excited to celebrate Computer Science Education Week, a time dedicated to recognizing the importance of digital literacy, problem solving, and computational thinking!
We appreciate our STEAM, CTAE, and computer science teachers for inspiring students and creating meaningful opportunities to learn about the role of technology in everyday life.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
We appreciate our STEAM, CTAE, and computer science teachers for inspiring students and creating meaningful opportunities to learn about the role of technology in everyday life.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Gordon County Schools was proud to participate in the 29th Annual Sing for Toys event this morning at Walmart, where all of our elementary school choruses came together to sing Christmas songs and spread holiday cheer. This longstanding Gordon County tradition brings our community together in a powerful way, and we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate once again.
A special thank-you goes to Cynthia McGuire of Walmart, who has supported and strengthened this event every single year through her commitment to building community in Gordon County. We also extend our appreciation to Miranda Bentley, Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center, for her leadership and partnership in making this event meaningful for so many families.
Sing for Toys is a collaborative effort between the Voluntary Action Center, United Way of Gordon County, AdventHealth EMS, Walmart, and student chorus groups from both Calhoun City Schools and Gordon County Schools. Toys and funds collected from this event support the VAC and Walmart’s Annual Christmas Programs. Established in 1997, this tradition now includes second-generation singers whose parents fondly remember performing in the same event years ago.
We can't do this without our choir directors from the elementary schools. Let's give a big shoutout to Bailie Greeson (Belwood Elementary), Katie Hartel (Tolbert Elementary), Jayme Crowley (Fairmount Elementary), Joy Dodd (Sonoraville Elementary), Jeri Dunn (Red Bud Elementary), and Andy McLeod (W.L. Swain Elementary)!
Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped continue this beloved tradition.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
A special thank-you goes to Cynthia McGuire of Walmart, who has supported and strengthened this event every single year through her commitment to building community in Gordon County. We also extend our appreciation to Miranda Bentley, Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center, for her leadership and partnership in making this event meaningful for so many families.
Sing for Toys is a collaborative effort between the Voluntary Action Center, United Way of Gordon County, AdventHealth EMS, Walmart, and student chorus groups from both Calhoun City Schools and Gordon County Schools. Toys and funds collected from this event support the VAC and Walmart’s Annual Christmas Programs. Established in 1997, this tradition now includes second-generation singers whose parents fondly remember performing in the same event years ago.
We can't do this without our choir directors from the elementary schools. Let's give a big shoutout to Bailie Greeson (Belwood Elementary), Katie Hartel (Tolbert Elementary), Jayme Crowley (Fairmount Elementary), Joy Dodd (Sonoraville Elementary), Jeri Dunn (Red Bud Elementary), and Andy McLeod (W.L. Swain Elementary)!
Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and helped continue this beloved tradition.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
You know you’re in for a good time at Gordon Central High School when you hear Honors Pre-Calculus teacher Elizabeth Parrott diving into sine, cosine, and tangent with her senior class! Students were fully engaged and tackling some challenging questions as they worked through today’s lesson.
It was a great example of rigorous learning and enthusiastic teaching in action.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryGCHS
It was a great example of rigorous learning and enthusiastic teaching in action.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryGCHS
Red Bud Elementary 4th grade teacher Courtney Hyde’s class was hard at work today on their Young Georgia Authors stories. One student was especially excited to share his imaginative fictional tale about his family getting stuck in a dark forest and having to escape dangerous creatures.
The creativity and enthusiasm in the room made it clear that these young authors are off to a great start!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBES
The creativity and enthusiasm in the room made it clear that these young authors are off to a great start!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBES
Ashworth Middle School 6th grade math teacher Coach Chaney Jones worked with students today on solving mathematical word problems and understanding how to evaluate and solve expressions. Students were focused and actively participating as they strengthened their problem-solving skills.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryAMS
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryAMS
Red Bud Middle School’s 8th grade social studies classes enjoyed an extraordinary lesson today from Georgia Studies teacher Ian Robbins. Mr. Robbins taught students about the events leading up to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, bringing history to life in a powerful and engaging way.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Mr. Robbins previously served as a UGA Public History Summer Education Intern at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He used his firsthand experiences and knowledge from the historic site to help students explore the historical context, understand the network of conspirators involved, and examine the impact Lincoln’s death had on post–Civil War America.
Students were fully engaged as they connected classroom learning with real-world historical insight.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBMS
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Mr. Robbins previously served as a UGA Public History Summer Education Intern at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. He used his firsthand experiences and knowledge from the historic site to help students explore the historical context, understand the network of conspirators involved, and examine the impact Lincoln’s death had on post–Civil War America.
Students were fully engaged as they connected classroom learning with real-world historical insight.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryRBMS
Thank you to Lieutenant Brian Brannon of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department, along with Sheriff Mitch Ralston and the entire GCSD team, for their dedication to serving our schools through the C.H.A.M.P.S. Program. Lt. Brannon worked at Gordon Central High School today and shared exciting updates about this year’s progress.
There are currently 443 fifth-grade students participating in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program across all six county elementary schools. This year, the program also welcomed Deputy Erik Ochoa as a new C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor. His experience and commitment have already made a positive impact on the program’s success.
Students are now halfway through the 12-lesson module, learning about important topics that affect them daily, including internet safety, social media, prescription drugs and opioids, vaping, alcohol, and illegal drug use. These lessons equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make safe, healthy choices.
We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department and appreciate their commitment to educating and supporting our students through the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety program.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
There are currently 443 fifth-grade students participating in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program across all six county elementary schools. This year, the program also welcomed Deputy Erik Ochoa as a new C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor. His experience and commitment have already made a positive impact on the program’s success.
Students are now halfway through the 12-lesson module, learning about important topics that affect them daily, including internet safety, social media, prescription drugs and opioids, vaping, alcohol, and illegal drug use. These lessons equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make safe, healthy choices.
We are grateful for our continued partnership with the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department and appreciate their commitment to educating and supporting our students through the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety program.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
Sonoraville Elementary Pre-K teacher Sarah Sheriff’s class had a lot of fun during center time today as students played, created, and practiced cooperation skills. Paraprofessional Sharon Patureau (pictured) helped Victoria assemble her Rudolph reindeer!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinarySES
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinarySES
Fairmount Elementary kindergarten teacher Stacy Grantham had her students engaged in a phonics lesson today, focusing on how to sound out and spell words as they write. These foundational skills help students understand sound patterns, which play a key role in learning to spell correctly. It was a great example of early literacy instruction in action.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryFES
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryFES
Belwood Elementary REACH teacher Tim Gilreath brought STEM learning to life today as students coded Sphero robots for a festive reindeer game. Students attached reindeer images to their robots and used their coding skills to knock over bowling pins decorated with “grandmas,” creating a fun and engaging blend of creativity, problem solving, and holiday cheer.
Mr. Gilreath consistently incorporates hands-on STEM activities into his gifted classes, and the students’ strong coding abilities were evident once again when he sponsored the Belwood Elementary Robotics Team, who won the inaugural Gordon County Schools Technology Winners' Cup. Beginning this year, the Technology Winners’ Cup is awarded to the elementary school with the highest average scores on locally submitted technology projects. The trophy will stay with the winning school for the year before being passed to the next champion at the start of the local Technology Competition. We are proud to announce that the first-ever Technology Winners' Cup has been awarded to Belwood Elementary School.
In addition to his work with students, Mr. Gilreath recently completed his FIRST LEGO League Challenge certification and was recognized for his service on the Pets in the Classroom Teacher Advisory Committee with the Pet Care Trust. Many in our community know that Mr. Gilreath has classroom guinea pigs, which he uses to support student learning and well-being through meaningful interactions with classroom pets.
Thank you for all that you do, and congratulations to Belwood Elementary!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryBES
Mr. Gilreath consistently incorporates hands-on STEM activities into his gifted classes, and the students’ strong coding abilities were evident once again when he sponsored the Belwood Elementary Robotics Team, who won the inaugural Gordon County Schools Technology Winners' Cup. Beginning this year, the Technology Winners’ Cup is awarded to the elementary school with the highest average scores on locally submitted technology projects. The trophy will stay with the winning school for the year before being passed to the next champion at the start of the local Technology Competition. We are proud to announce that the first-ever Technology Winners' Cup has been awarded to Belwood Elementary School.
In addition to his work with students, Mr. Gilreath recently completed his FIRST LEGO League Challenge certification and was recognized for his service on the Pets in the Classroom Teacher Advisory Committee with the Pet Care Trust. Many in our community know that Mr. Gilreath has classroom guinea pigs, which he uses to support student learning and well-being through meaningful interactions with classroom pets.
Thank you for all that you do, and congratulations to Belwood Elementary!
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryBES
W. L. Swain Elementary music teacher Andy McLeod had students working hard in music stations today as they explored a variety of percussion and keyboard instruments. Students practiced playing rhythms on drums and read music to perform on instruments such as bells and a miniature piano. It was great to see students engaged, active, and making music while building foundational skills in music literacy.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryWLS
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryWLS
Tolbert Elementary media specialist Katie Edwards spent time reading to 4th graders today during specials, continuing the outstanding work she does to inspire a love of reading across the school. Mrs. Edwards is dedicated to creating meaningful literacy experiences for students and fostering a vibrant reading community in the media center.
Earlier this year, she delivered a lightning talk for the University of West Georgia School Library Virtual Conference, a professional event for school library media specialists and administrators focused on innovation in literacy. Her presentation highlighted how Tolbert Elementary is using Wonderbooks to engage and motivate young readers. These interactive books were added to the library last year thanks to support from the Ratner Grant, and they have quickly become a favorite among students.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryTES
Earlier this year, she delivered a lightning talk for the University of West Georgia School Library Virtual Conference, a professional event for school library media specialists and administrators focused on innovation in literacy. Her presentation highlighted how Tolbert Elementary is using Wonderbooks to engage and motivate young readers. These interactive books were added to the library last year thanks to support from the Ratner Grant, and they have quickly become a favorite among students.
#ExtraordinaryGCS #ExtraordinaryTES
Gordon County Schools is proud to recognize National Special Education Day, a day that honors the students, families, educators, and support staff who make our special education programs strong and meaningful.
We are grateful for our dedicated special education teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and support teams who work tirelessly to meet the unique needs of every learner. Their expertise and commitment ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
We are grateful for our dedicated special education teachers, paraprofessionals, therapists, and support teams who work tirelessly to meet the unique needs of every learner. Their expertise and commitment ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow.
#ExtraordinaryGCS
