HEARTBEAT

May hearts come together during 2025 and 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 2025!

Congratulations to the following HGRESA Schools for the 2023-2024 PBIS ( Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) recognitons from the Georgia Department of Education.

Emerging: East Laurens Elementary, Northwest Laurens Elementary

Operational: East Laurens Primary, Southwest Laurens Elementary, West Laurens Middle, West Laurens High

Distinguished: Heartland Academy (Laurens Catchment)

In Spring 2024, several Boards of Education in the Heart of Georgia RESA area received GSBA recognition. Those districts earning Exemplary status included Bleckley, Dodge, Dublin City, and Wilcox. Pulaski received Distinguished status.

Dodge County received a GSBA Governance Team of the Year (GTOY) Small Category Award.

Congratulations!!!

GDOE will host a Teaching and Learning Summit at the Heart of Georgia RESA on Tuesday, February 4 from 9:00 until 2:30. Sign-in will occur from 8:30-9:00. GDOE staff members are working on finalizing the proposed schedule which includes an online presentation from Dr. John Almarode and three breakout sessions. Please go ahead and register so that we can reach the goal of 100 plus participants.

Registration Link: 3976.2, F-F, Onsite HGRESA, DOE, Teaching and Learning Summit

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.

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

Mr. Riley Davis and team members, representing RDA Systems, will conduct an informational session on January 17th from 10 to Noon. RDA Systems is a software developer which builds cloud-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Systems for K-12 School Districts. This is a tool that can be used instead of PC-Genesis. If leaders want additional information before coming to the session, please contact Mr. Riley Davis at Riley.Davis@rdasys.com; https://rdasystems.com/

Registration: 6210, F-F, Onsite HGRESA, Riley Davis, RDA Systems

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.

Two HGRESA Writing Contests have already occurred. There is one more online contest which is scheduled for January 23 and 24. K-2 should be uploaded by January 24.

K-2 Writing Contest 3 Submission Form

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.

The next scheduled ART is in the heART contest is centered on the topic Movement. Papers must be uploaded as a JPEG or PDF file in large format, NOT thumbnail. Papers should be uploaded by January 24.

The practice sites for the 2025 Math Contests for grades 3 through high school will be available on January 8th after lunch.

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)

Georgia Southern will be hosting two virtual information sessions for our initial certification Master of Arts in Teaching programs. The dates, times, and Zoom links are below.

Session 1: Thursday, Jan. 16th - 4:00 to 5:00 PM

Join - https://georgiasouthern.zoom.us/j/83251435767?pwd=cWqCHRONyqORDfR4WzOqVm5fRgU7oz.1

Session 2: Tuesday, Jan. 21st - 7:00 to 8:00 PM

Join - https://georgiasouthern.zoom.us/j/86532149918?pwd=p9n5Yiu1SmnxXg2tcZNO728GwXJpNn.1

Contact: Stacy Davis stacydavis@georgiasouthern.edu

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 2025!

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

Priceless, Heartfelt Memories