BOARD NOTES MARCH 2025

Dear MCS Family,

We had a packed house at this month’s Board of Education meeting, celebrating more than 50 incredible scholars and leaders, making us proud in every corner of our district.

I often talk about how remarkable our community is, but last night, the proof wasn’t in my words—it was in the excellence and commitment of our students and staff. Seeing the support behind every student—the teachers who guide them, the families who believe in them, and the community partners who continue to invest in their success made the night even more special.

Let’s keep this momentum going as we head into the final stretch of the school year. Schools will be closed for Spring Break from April 7–11. We’ll return recharged and ready to finish the year strong together.

Sincerely,

Grant

Employee of the Month

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education recognized Marietta Sixth Grade Academy social studies teacher Karen Brogan as the March Employee of the Month.

Mrs. Brogan brings more than 20 years of experience and a continued enthusiasm for learning and growth to Marietta City Schools. For over a decade, she has led the MSGA Social Studies Professional Learning Community, sharing innovative strategies and modeling best practices to support student achievement. She earned her Coaching Endorsement and consistently takes on leadership roles to help others thrive. She loves traveling, especially to Cape Cod and Europe, but finds her greatest joy in spending time with her husband, Shawn, and son, Conner.

The Board of Education congratulates Mrs. Brogan for being a Marietta City Schools Employee of the Month for March.

Special Recognition

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education recognized the MCS School Nutrition Department for earning the Georgia Department of Education’s Georgia Farm to School Award. This statewide honor celebrates programs that connect students with fresh, locally grown foods.

The department was recognized for its outstanding efforts in serving locally sourced ingredients, promoting farm-to-school practices across the district, and supporting school gardens that enrich student learning. To further expand these efforts, the department received a grant of more than $40,000 from The ACRE Collective. This funding helped introduce 1,400 pounds of locally sourced chicken and 500 pounds of grass-fed beef into school cafeterias, offering students nutritious meals while supporting Georgia farmers.

Congratulations to the MCS School Nutrition Department, and thank you, Brittany Rowe, Cindy Culver, Daphne Parker, and Lisa Lewis for accepting this recognition.

Special Recognition

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education recognized Marietta Sixth Grade Academy’s Advanced Drama program for winning the "Full Ensemble Excellence in Dance Award" at the 2025 Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. Under the leadership of Josh Waters, Juliana Bolano, and Katie Pilson, the ensemble wowed audiences with their performance of Disney’s Descendants: The Musical.

With this award, MSGA’s Advanced Drama program has earned recognition in every possible ensemble category since competing at the Junior Theater Festival. The Board also celebrated All-Star performers Bradford Bagwell and Simeon Brown for their individual excellence at the festival.

Congratulations to the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy’s Advanced Drama program, and thank you for accepting this recognition.

Special Recognition

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education recognized three outstanding students for being selected to participate in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Band and Chorus, one of the highest honors a music student can achieve in Georgia.

Katherine Gardley, a seventh-grader at Marietta Middle School, and Cora Picken, an eighth-grader at Marietta Middle School, were selected for the All-State Chorus. Elden Towler, a twelfth-grader at Marietta High School, was selected for the All-State Band. These students will join top-tier musicians from across Georgia to rehearse and perform under the direction of nationally renowned conductors. Their selection reflects not only their talent and hard work, but also the strength of the music programs within Marietta City Schools.

Congratulations, Katherine, Cora, and Elden, and thank you for accepting this recognition.

Special Recognition

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education recognized three Marietta High School seniors for being selected as recipients of the highly competitive Posse Foundation Scholarship, a full-tuition award given to students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, communication, and team-building skills.

Andrew Lewis will attend George Washington University, Janyssa Kerr will attend Texas A&M University, and Yasir Martin will attend The College of Wooster. These scholarships represent a combined value of more than $500,000 over four years. Each year, only 60 students in the entire state of Georgia are awarded this prestigious scholarship. The Posse Foundation’s unique model connects talented scholars with partner colleges and universities, building cohorts, or “posses,” of students who support one another through college and beyond. These three students exemplify the excellence and promise found across Marietta City Schools.

Congratulations to these outstanding scholars, and thank you to Andrew, Janyssa, Yasir, and Posse Atlanta Director Jamaal Greer for accepting this recognition.