HGRESA...Striving to Help, Guide, Reach, Extend, and Serve ALL!
HAPPY OCTOBER!
2023-2024 Superintendent's Advisory Council Members
9-26-2023 "State School Superintendent Richard Woods has selected 69 Georgia students to serve on his 2023-2024 Student Advisory Council. Throughout the year, these students will meet with Superintendent Woods to provide feedback on the impact of state policies in the classroom."
Congratulations to the following students who were chosen to represent the Heart of Georgia RESA districts. Sedarian Nelson (11th Grade) Bleckley High, Emma Douglas (10th Grade) Dodge High, Derick McRae (12th Grade) Dublin High, and Lindsey Vinson (11th Grade) Wheeler High. These students will be recognized at our annual Service Learning/Academic Awards' Collaborative Event in April 2024.
2023 GA National Fair Bear Writing Competition (4th-6th Grade)
9-24-2023 The Heart of Georgia RESA area had two GA National Fair Bear Writing Competition winners. The contest deadline was in February 2023 so these students will be one grade beyond the one listed. Please join us in congratulating the following:
4th Grade, 1st Place, Lauren Brewer, Southwest Laurens Elementary School, Laurens County School System, Teacher: Mrs. Laura Thomas
5th Grade, 1st Place, Skylar Lester Bleckley County Elementary School, Bleckley County School System, Teacher: Mrs. Kristen Rodgers
The FY24 deadline is February 20, 2024. Contest Link
HGRESA Board of Control Information
9-20-2023 The HGRESA Board of Control has named Mr. Hugh Kight as the sole finalist for the Executive Director's position to replace Dr. Steve Smith who is retiring. The final decision on Mr. Hugh Kight will be made after the mandatory 14-day comment period.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dial 478-353-8693
For quick access and to avoid transfer time and possibly being put on hold, please press the number in parentheses. Receptionist (1), Fingerprints (2), Technology (2), Substituting (1 or 3), Retiree PLUs (3), GLRS (4), School Related Medicaid (5), Shared Services (6), Financial (7), and Executive Director (8). For curriculum and instruction, email connie@hgresa.org. For Heartland Academy, contact (912) 583-4657.
HGRESA HOURS
The building is open from 8:00 - 4:00 on Monday through Thursday and open from 8:00 - 3:30 on Friday. If all schools are off, staff members can be reached via email. Please throw and fan kindness throughout this school year. It is suggested that you always call before making a visit due to staff members being out of the office performing job duties. Thank you.
The Heart of Georgia RESA staff members would like to wish ALL stakeholders in the 10-district area a wonderful October!
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Dr. Steve J. Smith, Executive Director of HGRESA, can be reached at ssmith@hgresa.org. He has served as Director since October 1, 2022. Dr. Smith will be retiring soon. Please join us in wishing him the best that life has to offer as another chapter opens for him. He is excited about spending time with his grandson and being able to spend more time with his loving family. We've loved having him as part of the HGRESA family since last October. We will miss him!
ENDORSEMENTS:
We partner with Griffin RESA to offer HGRESA cohorts when there are 20 participants. In the past we have offered the following: Reading Endorsement, Dyslexia Endorsement, and Gifted Endorsement through this partnership. If you have a need, please let us know.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES:
Please note the job opportunities below. Teach Georgia postings for our 10-member districts can be found here, as well as openings for Heartland Academy.
Bleckley County Dodge County Dublin City Dublin City Laurens County Montgomery County Pulaski County Telfair County Treutlen County Wheeler County Wilcox County HGRESA
If you are an ESOL-endorsed retiree and looking for part-time work, please send an email to connie@hgresa.org, and she will forward the information to the district contact.
HGRESA accepts resumes for possible short-term, contracted, consultative work when grant funds are available. Resumes should be submitted to joy@hgresa.org and copied to connie@hgresa.org.
ROOM REQUESTS:
Thank you for reaching out to us. We welcome our district and school leaders using the HGRESA building. We try to keep it clean and organized so that our district and school leaders "beam" with pride upon entry! It is a team effort from staff and visitors.
Please refer to the following links to request rooms for FY24: Step 1. Room Request Process; Step 2. Room Requesters, Facilitators, and Presenters Should Read the Protocols and Guidelines; Step 3. Form to Complete: Room Request Form
CONTEST INFORMATION:
For contest and/or banquet information, please go to www.hgresa.org and explore the top navigation bar.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER TRAINING:
On-demand substitute teacher training is available daily. Search for CODE 210. Out of area should register for CODE 210.1. (In area cost is $35. Out-of-area cost is $75.) After registering, paying for the class with money order or cashier's check ONLY, listening to the training, taking notes, making 100 on the assessment, completing the evaluation form, and sending the completer form to janishsparrow@gmail.com AND to connieahowell@gmail.com, the participant will receive a certificate of completion via email. Local requirements must be completed before the participant has the opportunity to become a substitute. These requirements usually include such steps as being fingerprinted, getting board-approved, etc.
FINGERPRINTING:
To schedule a fingerprinting appointment, please contact Mr. Horace Austin at 478-353-8693, Extension 2014, or email haustin@hgresa.org and tenglish@hgresa.org. Please also sanitize your hands and practice social distancing. You must bring a signed form from the Board of Education office and photo identification.
HGRESA NETWORK:
The HGRESA staff members appreciate the support of the leaders and all other staff from the 10-member districts and from partnering organizations. The HEART network "works" because of the mutual respect of all entities working toward a shared vision of always striving to Help, Guide, Reach, Extend, and Serve All. As we reflect on the past, those who are no longer with us are remembered and cherished. Professional friendships have been established in this HEART network that will last a lifetime. As we look to the future, may we continuously seek to find MORE: Forgiveness, patience, kindness, understanding, empathy, care, helping hands, love, faith, goals, positiveness, and peace.
HGRESA has proudly served the 10 school districts of Bleckley, Dodge, Dublin City, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, and Wilcox since the mid-1960s. The agency continues to Help, Guide, Reach, Extend, and Serve ALL.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:
HGRESA staff members strive to Help, Guide, Reach, Extend, and Serve ALL. We encourage everyone to sign in when attending face-to-face events and complete the HGRESA electronic feedback form. We encourage those who attend Zoom, Teams events, or CODE events to sign the electronic sign-in form and complete the electronic feedback form. If you need verification of contact hours, a form must be completed by the attendee.
HGRESA: Please peruse the many Professional Learning classes that HGRESA offers. Many CODE (Courses/Classes on Demand for Educators) are being offered.
East Central GLRS: Please peruse the many Professional Learning classes that East Central GLRS offers. This information can be found at https://www.ecglrs.org/calendar-of-events.
HEARING OFFICER TRAINING:
If someone needs the update for Hearing Officer Training, the link is below. This is a CODE class (Class/Course on Demand for Educators) which is available at all times.2984, CODE, Hearing Officer Update May 2023
If someone needs the initial Hearing Officer Training, the dates are listed on the HGRESA PL site. Individual, online sessions can be scheduled if approved initially by Dr. Jimmy Stokes. Out of area cost for the 3 hours of HGRESA facilitation: $100.