Teachers Return Today in Stephens Co.

It is a big week in the Stephens County school system.

Teachers in Stephens County head back today (Monday) in preparation of the first day of classes for students on Friday.

This year marks a big change for Stephens County Schools after the re-structuring of Grades Pre-K through 5 and the closing of Eastanollee Elementary School.

Starting this year, Pre-K and Kindergarten students are going to Big A Elementary School, 1st and 2nd grade students are going to Liberty Elementary School, 3rd and 4th grade students are going to Toccoa Elementary School, and 5th grade students are going to a new “5th Grade Academy” at Stephens County Middle School.

The re-structuring led to a busy summer with a lot of moving and planning.

Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said he thanks the entire school system staff for its efforts all summer long.

“One, we have had an incredible amount of work done by our custodial staff, some help from our maintenance department,” said Dorsey. “Teachers, we have had so many of them back in their classrooms through the summer to get ready since we did have this big transition. Food services has spent a lot of time, and then a big one, transportation.”

Dorsey said that planning has extended to the curriculum, where teachers and administrators have had to come together and get everything ready.

“Teachers have been working with principals getting ready for new curriculum adjustments, unifying the type of strategies that they use for the curriculum,” said Dorsey. “They have put a lot of work in.”

The school system has four days of pre-planning before students hit the books.

Dorsey said he thinks everything will be ready to go.

“We always would like to have one more day, but I do think our staff has done an incredible job getting ready for this transition,” said Dorsey.

Once again, students head back in Stephens County Schools on Friday.