HEARTBEAT

May hearts come together during February 2025 to seek MORE: faith, family time, professional friendships, love, kindness, patience, empathy, joy, helpfulness, understanding, compassion, safety, health, flexibility, forgiveness, goal-setting, and enjoyment. As educators, may we strive to help students become independent learners and thinkers. May we lead with faith, data, effective practices, and HEART! Happy Heart Month 2025!

Congratulations to Dr. Otha Hall, Assistant Superintendent in Laurens County, and Mr. Philip Parker, U.S. History Teacher at Wheeler County Middle/High School for being selected to serve on the expert panel at the GDOE, First District RESA, Okefenokee RESA, and Heart of Georgia RESA Collaborative Teaching and Learning Summit held on February 4th at HGRESA.

Heart of Georgia RESA hosts an annual job fair for teachers seeking jobs. The event will occur on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM at the HGRESA building located at 717 Smith Street, Dublin, GA 31021. For those district/school leaders who register to host a Job Fair table, lunch will be provided.

To register as a Teacher Job Seeker, please use this site.

6205, F-F, Onsite, HGRESA Prospective Teacher Job Fair

To register as a district hosting a booth, please use this site.

6204, F-F, Onsite HGRESA, HGRESA School/District Participants in HGRESA Job Fair

HGRESA will receive a grant to promote student engagement, deeper learning, and student motivation. The grant will work with nominated educators after hours to conduct research, present to peers, and share with district/school staff. The first meeting for participants will be on Monday, February 24 from 4:00 - 5:00. A nomination spreadsheet will be sent to curriculum directors.

Cohort 1: February 26 for Unit 7 and April 16 for Unit 8 (9:00 - 4:00)

Cohort 2: February 12 for Unit 3 and April 18 for Unit 4 (9:00 - 4:00)

Administrators: March 5 (9:00 - 4:00)

We have kits available for REI districts that have teachers who need to be trained. Please contact June Lewis to get registered. Please contact Connie Howell for the required training kits. The training consists of completing 3 consecutive days of online training. This is non-negotiable - consecutive dates.

An informational session has been requested from GDOE for Mrs. Stephanie Milner to conduct a session on the new GDOE website and the inner connections. The date will be shared soon.

We have two schools (Montgomery Middle and Dublin High) participating in the Georgia Movie Academy project. Their finished videos are due on Friday, February 14. Please join us in wishing them success at the state level. These teams will be recognized at the HGRESA Awards Banquet on April 17.

According to the GSBA website, "The Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy​ (VILLA), tailored exclusively for Georgia’s school boards and districts, aims to empower school districts in educating their communities about the operation and significance of school systems. This initiative fosters a well-informed community that actively supports and understands the goals and functioning of public schools."

VILLA LINK

Seize this unique opportunity to shape the future of education in Georgia by applying to the GSBA Youth Advisory Council – your voice matters!

Student applications are currently closed but will reopen in March of 2025. Please read and review the YAC information packet for more information about the application process.

Mrs. Rontra Brown, GDOE, conducted a great STEM session on Wednesday, February 5 at HGRESA. Thanks, Pulaski County, for supporting this session. The teachers were extremely excited. A STEM AG day is planned for a day in March. A confirmed date will be posted soon.

STEM and STEAM Certification Information

GDOE Link to STEM-STEAM

The Young Georgia Authors' Event is not sponsored by the Heart of Georgia RESA. It is a Georgia Language Arts' Supervisors event. However, HGRESA is responsible for getting the papers judged and sent to the state level. Papers must be uploaded electronically and be received by February 20. Only one paper per grade level per district. Check the guidelines. Winners will be recognized at the HGRESA Awards Banquet on April 17.

The next scheduled ART is in the heART contest is centered on the topic Self Portrait. Papers must be uploaded as a JPEG or PDF file in large format, NOT thumbnail. Papers should be uploaded by January 21. The last art contest for this year will be for seniors only. An image work of the senior's choice should be uploaded by March 14.

How many art pieces may be submitted?

For the K-12 Contests #1 - #5, there will be a maximum of 5 art pieces per school per grade level - one piece per student. Reminder: A piece of artwork should only be submitted one time during the FY25 Art Contests.

For the Seniors ONLY Contest #6, each school can submit 10 entries. More than one entry can be received from a student if the art teacher chooses to do this. Reminder: A piece of artwork should only be submitted one time during the FY25 Art Contests.

The practice sites for the 2025 Math Contests for grades 3 through high school were shared with the contacts on the email database. We are requesting that two adults (one certified and both working in a non-math position) supervise in the testing area. Please avoid parents being the supervisor for his/her child. Rather than having a required meeting, we will send out a list of expectations for administering the math contest to those listed as contacts and supervisors. Tests are scheduled for March 3, 4, 6, and 7.

Math Tests: Grades 3-8,1st and 2nd Algebra Courses, Geometry

The company has graciously extended the availability of the The Classroom Management Course for another year. December 31, 2025 will be the new end date. We encourage you to take advantage of these powerful resources.

Online CODE Resources

• Dr. Laura Riffel
• Mrs. Amie Dean
• GDOE CODE and GDOE Resources

HGRESA PL Resources for Paraprofessionals: LINK

INFORMATION about the GACE for Paraprofessionals: LINK

Locations for GACE Paraprofessional Test: LINK

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): LINK

GACE Study Companion: LINK

GACE Assessment Information: LINK

Generation Genius is available to all math and science teachers in Grades 3 through 8 in the Heart of Georgia RESA area. If you are not using this tool, please check it out. The Science videos are AWESOME! To gain access, register on the www.hgresa.org website for 5058.Resource. Information will be sent via email confirmation.

5058. Resource, Generation Genius Subscription for Grades 3-8 Math and Science

5062.1, F-F, Onsite Dodge High, GSBA, Whole Board Training (Dodge County High School)

5062.2, F-F, Onsite Dodge BOE, GSBA, Individual Board Member Training (Dodge County Board)

STATE BOARD RULES

EDUCATION-RELATED LAWS

DISTRICT FLEXIBILITY

GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

GEORGIA OPEN RECORDS LAW

FERPA

The HGRESA compiles a monthly IMPACT report that reflects services that are provided and the number of participants that use the services per school. This report is provided to BOC members each month. GDOE requires that a quarterly report be submitted that reflects numbers attached to grant funds received inclusive of School Improvement Wrap-Around, School Improvement ELA, Math, Ga Connects, ELA, and School Climate. Funds for a School Improvement Specialist nor for Academic Recovery are no longer received. All face-to-face, onsite, or online events are posted on the Professional Learning calendar. Since HGRESA has received School Improvement funds over the last years, the organization is required to go through Cross-Functional Monitoring. HGRESA will be going through this process during FY 26. Monthly BOC members review monthly financial reports. The Financial Division undergoes annual audits and completes an annual Risk Assessment. HGRESA serves as the Fiscal Agent for GNETS and GLRS.

HGRESA staff members strive daily to communicate in more effective ways. Emails are sent often using the EMAIL DATABASE. District and school staff members are asked to review this email database and keep it updated to receive current information. If the email is incorrect, staff members are asked to correct.

Each year, an electronic planner is created which includes relevant and current leader roles in each district. When edits are needed, please contact jbeck@hgresa.org, jlewis@hgresa.org, or connie@hgresa.org. PLANNER

Professional learning and registration information can be accessed in various ways.

A) Professional Learning Calendar: This calendar includes all face to face or online sessions that are occurring. If you click on agenda on the right, you can view more details.

B) Quick View: This is a list of everything that is available at HGRESA. This takes a few minutes to upload because of the quantity. This database is searchable with a search box or can be searched via Control F.

C) CODE PL: This is a database of Classes on Demand for Educators at all times and Resources. Please review the two tabs at the bottom that are named: Latest, Categories.

D) FF/Live PL: This is a database of all face to face sessions and online, live sessions that are being offered daily. The list is posted by calendar dates.

E) Job Alike Collaboratives: These sessions are used to communicate information. It is important that those with these job titles try to attend as often as possible to stay abreast of information, but more importantly to develop a network of support in specific areas.

F) HGRESA Heartbeat: A few months ago, the first edition of the Heartbeat was released. This is another attempt to keep district and school leaders informed.

The HEART network helps us establish wonderful, long-lasting, professional friendships; educational support systems; and friendly academic, extracurricular, and athletic competitions. This 10 district area inclusive of Bleckley, Dodge, Dublin City, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, and Wilcox is very, very blessed! Have a wonderful Heart Month 2025!

Please click on this link to see if you recognize anyone:

Priceless, Heartfelt Memories