Armuchee High School Teacher of the Year 2026-2027: Kayla Timberlake

Mrs. Kayla Timberlake was recently named Armuchee High School’s Teacher of the year for the 2026-2027 school year. Mrs. Timberlake teaches biology, honors biology, and AP biology to students in grades 9-12. Timberlake said, “I was very shocked when I received the award.” The annual award, which is chosen by his or her peers, honors a teacher who is dedicated and whose work has made an impact on their students and Armuchee High School’s community.

Whitefield romps past Eagle's Landing Christian

McDONOUGH — Eagle’s Landing Christian's five-game win streak ended on a soggy field Friday night as visiting Whitefield Academy put together some clock-eating drives, en route to a 42-6 victory in the Region 5AA contest. Whitefield (4-3, 2-0) built a 28-6 lead at the half and closed out the game with a running clock in the fourth quarter. With the victory, the WolfPack improved to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in region action. The Chargers dropped to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in Region 5-AA. Eagle's Landing Christian (5-2, 1-1) returns to action Sept. 23 against Washington. Whitefield is also off until then, when it plays Utopian Academy. Despite the wet conditions, the Wolfpack kept the chains moving throughout the night. Whitefield put the ball in the hands of running back Amos Robinson, who helped the Wolfpack control the football through the first three quarters, before exiting the game with more than 100 yards. Whitefield also came up with some big plays on defense with Connor Boothe and Jake O’Connor stopping Eagle's Landing Christian drives with interceptions after the Chargers moved the ball into Wolfpack territory. On the first series of the game, the Wolfpack set the tone with a 70-yard touchdown

Rome High’s Chicago: Teen Edition Transports Audiences to the Roaring ’20s

The Rome High Theatre Department invites all you babes of jazz to CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION, October 21 & 22 and again November 20-22. This satirical romp through a 1920s court case in which Roxie Hart is put on trial for murder will have you singing and dancing in your seats! The cast of 20 Rome High students has spent months studying the Fosse style of dance with choreographer Hannah Camacho to bring this award-winning musical to life here in Rome! Along the way, you’ll meet the infamous Vaudeville star Velma Kelley, the smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn, and a host of murderesses awaiting trial in the Cook County Jail.

Sideline Spotlight: Week 8 of high school football kicks off

Getting to know Mrs. Blackburn

Mrs. Tiffany Blackburn is a new face at Armuchee High School this year after transferring from Armuchee Elementary School, where she taught third grade English language arts. She now teaches Food for Life, Food Nutrition and Wellness, and Food Science. Through these courses, students learn about nutrition, cooking, table manners and other life skills they can use beyond the classroom.

Hamilton County parent questions special education model, urges more support for teachers

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — A Hamilton County parent is raising concerns about the district’s exceptional education program, saying the school system should prioritize support for students and staff. During Thursday’s Hamilton County School Board meeting, parent Lindsey Lind said... “Instead of providing teachers with training, resources and...

Powder Puff Ends in Sophomore Victory

After losing last year’s Powder Puff event, the sophomore class returned with a victory this year, turning last year’s loss into a comeback. This year’s Powder Puff brought together girls from all four grade levels for a tournament-style flag football competition. Football players coached teams representing the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes. Coach Burkett, who helped plan the event, said most teams recruited players in the weeks leading up to Powder Puff, while coaches came up with plays to go over with their teams before the game. For Burkett, one of the highlights was, “watching all the kids get excited on different plays, and then watching the sophomores win it all in overtime.” The victory carried extra meaning for the sophomores after their loss in last year’s Powder Puff game. Ava Murdock, a sophomore who participated in the event, said, “We needed it because last year we lost and it was very disappointing, but this year after the win, I think it was enjoyable for everybody.” Communication also played a role in the team’s performance. “We communicated a lot and we had, like, a huddle after every play,” sophomore Zoe Case said.

Southern celebrates grand opening of donor-funded Ruth McKee School of Business

Southern Adventist University officially celebrated the grand opening of the Ruth McKee School. of Business on Friday, Oct. 2, marking the completion of a fully donor-funded facility designed. to give the School of Business a dedicated academic home and expand learning opportunities for. students across disciplines. Although the grand opening...

McClellan: High school predictions for Oct. 9

The Model Blue Devils held onto third place in Region 6-2A with Coosa also posting a big win last week. Meanwhile, Unity Christian remained unbeaten with a big game coming this Friday night. Rome (0-6, 0-3) at Woodstock (1-5, 0-3) Series history: Rome leads 2-0 Last meeting: Rome defeated Woodstock 59-7 Sept. 29, 2023. The Rome Wolves came back from a 28-0 deficit only to fall short in a 28-23 loss to Kell. The Woodstock Wolverines fell to 1-5 in 2026 following a 13-10 loss to Creekview. Rome wins by 27. Armuchee (0-6, 0-3) at Model (5-1, 2-1) Series history: Model leads 30-11-1 Last meeting: Model defeated Armuchee 44-6 on Sept. 27, 2019. The Armuchee Indians remained winless following a 34-0 loss to Coosa. The Model Blue Devils held onto third place in Region 6-2A after a 42-0 shutout of Mt. Zion. Model wins by more than 30. Coosa (3-3, 1-2) at Darlington (3-3, 1-2) Series history: Darlington leads 19-5 Last meeting: Darlington defeated Coosa 49-7 on Sept. 29, 2023. The Coosa Eagles scored a shutout of Armuchee 34-0 to even their record at 3-3. The Darlington Tigers fell to 3-3 after losing to No. 1 ranked Heard County 51-13.

Successful CCSD Teacher Leader Program Continues

We’re growing teacher leaders! More than 350 CCSD teacher leaders are participating in this school year’s Cherokee Instructional Leadership Collaborative program. The successful program began last school year with its inaugural class and recently kicked off learning for a second school year. Participants strengthen their understanding of our Cohesive System of Teaching and Learning by exploring how learning standards, instructional resources, and tools for monitoring and assessing student learning align to support high-quality, grade-level instruction. The program builds teacher leadership skills to bring their learning back to their schools, support collaborative teams, and strengthen instructional practices across classrooms.

Students Named to State Student Advisory Council

Three of our students have been named to the State School Superintendent’s 2026-27 Student Advisory Council!. Cherokee High School senior Dexter Roudoi, River Ridge High School junior Kentoro Mfon-Okon, and Woodstock High School junior Stella Bustelo are among the 84 high school students from across the state selected for the prestigious role. State School Superintendent Richard Woods chooses student advisors based on their applications and answers to essay questions about improving public education. The group will meet with Superintendent Woods throughout the school year to talk about how state policies affect their schools. We’re on a mission to be the highest-performing school district in Georgia where our students are learning more, growing more, and achieving more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else!

2026 HOCO theme released; preparations being made

With the 2026 Homecoming coming soon, students have already begun preparations. The Student Activities Committee, or SAC for short, has already been getting ready for the dance and they also released the theme: ‘When in Rome, Do as the Tigers Do!’. This year, homecoming will be held on Oct....

Elementary Early Dismissal and Conference Week

SCHEDULE (OCT. 13–16) Elementary Schools: Dismiss early at 11:30 a.m. Middle and High Schools, Tippens EC and Special Education Half-Day Preschool: Dismiss at their regular times. BUS TRANSPORTATION. Early Drop-Off: Elementary buses will run their usual routes but will arrive at stops approximately 2.5 hours earlier than usual. Please...

Local High School Football Teams Enter Week Eight of 2026 Regular Season

Week eight of the 2026 regular season has arrived for area high school football teams!. WLAQ 1410 AM and 96.9 FM will have coverage of Darlington football this Friday night as the Tigers host the Coosa Eagles. In other match-ups on tap for this week:. Armuchee Indians @ Model Blue...

Dade County High School Crowns 2026 Homecoming Queen and King

Dade County High School celebrated a pair of students during its 2026 Homecoming festivities, crowning Gracyn Wells as Homecoming Queen and Cash Christiansen as Homecoming King. Wells and Christiansen received their crowns during the school’s Homecoming celebration, representing DCHS and the Wolverine community. Dade County Schools congratulated the two...

Dr. Norman C. Sauce III on DeKalb schools

Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, DeKalb Superintendent, discusses his priorities for DeKalb County schools after his appointment to lead the district.

Cleveland State opens Mobile Training Lab to expand workforce training

What training programs are available in the Mobile Training Lab?. Cleveland State Community College has launched a new Mobile Training Lab designed to bring hands-on workforce education directly to communities across Southeast Tennessee. The mobile facility will expand access to training in fields including HVAC, electrical work, plumbing, construction and...

Congratulations CCSD Pacesetter Award Winners!

“What’s happening in Cherokee County schools is special, and it’s happening because our principals are leading it,” Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis said as she kicked off a National Principals Month celebration today during our monthly leadership and professional development meeting for principals and district leaders.

UNG Students Share Their Favorite Fall Festivities

The start of fall means a wave of trunk-or-treats and carnivals coming to town, giving students multiple ways to celebrate the season. Costume parties, festivals and fairs through October, leading up to Halloween, are staples. It is also the start of color-changing leaves and cooler weather. There are lots of reasons students are looking forward to the spooky season and have a list of must-do events this fall.

Rome City Schools mourning death of 13-year-old student

Rome City Schools says it is deeply saddened by the death of Rome Middle School student Daelyn Godfrey, calling his passing a "tragic loss."