School Board Names Warren as GSCS Superintendent
On Tuesday, January 13, the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education appointed Dr. Donald Warren as the superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS).
Dr. Warren has 33 years of experience in education and has served GSCS for almost 10 years. He has served as the interim superintendent for the last eight months and also for four months in 2020. He has served as the GSCS Deputy Superintendent since 2021, overseeing district operations. Warren began with GSCS in 2017 as the GSCS Executive Director of Secondary Education, where he supervised all middle and high school principals along with career and technical education.
Dr. Warren came to GSCS after serving as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction & Director of Learning and Leadership for Henry County Schools for five years. He spent much of his career in the Houston County School District as a high school mathematics teacher, assistant principal (elementary and middle) and principal in Warner Robins.
READ MORE: https://5il.co/3tdgc
On Tuesday, January 13, the Griffin-Spalding Board of Education appointed Dr. Donald Warren as the superintendent of the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS).
Dr. Warren has 33 years of experience in education and has served GSCS for almost 10 years. He has served as the interim superintendent for the last eight months and also for four months in 2020. He has served as the GSCS Deputy Superintendent since 2021, overseeing district operations. Warren began with GSCS in 2017 as the GSCS Executive Director of Secondary Education, where he supervised all middle and high school principals along with career and technical education.
Dr. Warren came to GSCS after serving as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction & Director of Learning and Leadership for Henry County Schools for five years. He spent much of his career in the Houston County School District as a high school mathematics teacher, assistant principal (elementary and middle) and principal in Warner Robins.
READ MORE: https://5il.co/3tdgc
All GSCS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
FREE IS GOOD… and so is FREE COLLEGE TUITION! 🎓
Did you know high school students can earn up to 30 hours of FREE college tuition while still in high school? If you missed the Dual Enrollment events at Spalding or Griffin High, don’t worry - there are more chances! But space is limited in the programs, so please attend the earliest event possible to ensure your spot for the 2026-27 school year.
📅 When: January 8, 13, 20, or 26 at 5:30 PM
📍 Where: GRCCA, 221 Spalding Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
At this event, you’ll learn about:
✅ Career Programs
✅ High School Career Pathways
✅ Dual Enrollment opportunities
💡 Who’s Invited: Current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders interested in Dual Enrollment for the 26/27 school year. Remember, students must attend with a parent or guardian.
➡️ RSVP today at https://forms.gle/mUGEVPov5FZvUuQW7
GSCS is happy to announce the opening of the District Parent Resource Room! The District Parent Resource, located at 234 East Taylor Street, Room 121, will be open January 8th through May 22, 2026.
Hours of Operation:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 4:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
GSCS families are welcome to come during hours of operation; no appointment is necessary. The Parent Resource Center offers the following:
· Educational resources for parents to check out and use at home
· Computers with internet access
· Support for accessing Infinite Campus and understanding your child's information
· Supporting your child with homework
Hours of Operation:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 4:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
GSCS families are welcome to come during hours of operation; no appointment is necessary. The Parent Resource Center offers the following:
· Educational resources for parents to check out and use at home
· Computers with internet access
· Support for accessing Infinite Campus and understanding your child's information
· Supporting your child with homework
In December, GSCS held its annual Literacy Days competition. Students across the district expressed their creativity in: K-2 Read Aloud, K-8 Poetry Recitation, K-8 Drama and grades 3-8 Ready Writing. There was a high level of participation from all elementary and middle schools, with almost 200 participants. First-place winners will represent GSCS at the Griffin RESA Regional Literacy Days competition in February 2026. Congratulations to these first-place winners!
GSCS Parent University is offering a free 30-minute workshop for families on Safe & Positive Social Media on Thursday, January 15. Scan the QR code to register.
A town hall meeting with the two GSCS Superintendent Finalists will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6 p.m in the Griffin Auditorium. View the town hall meeting live at: https://youtube.com/live/HhEhl8g9kJA?feature=share.
Spalding High School is hosting a STEM Night on February 6 for students in grades 3-5. Register now by scanning the QR code!
Happy New Year from GSCS! Remember, staff and students return on Monday, January 5!
Free Meet and Greet and Photos with Santa tomorrow, Saturday, December 20, at Claxton-Hobbs Pharmacy! Donations are appreciated and all proceeds benefit Partners In Education.
GSCS families and community: Thomaston Milk Company would like to bless Spalding County families with free milk before the holidays. They will be in the Orrs Elementary parking lot, 1553 Flynn Street, on Monday, December 22, 2025, from 10 AM – 12 PM, while supplies last, distributing ½ pints of regular and chocolate milk. This distribution is a donation on behalf of Thomaston Milk Company. We appreciate their support of our community.
GSCS Interim Superintendent Dr. Donald Warren and Executive Director of Communications & Partnerships Adam Pugh represented GSCS at the Atlanta Falcons Community Honors Show event earlier this week. GSCS, along with five other Metro Atlanta school districts, received grant funding from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBFF), in partnership with Atlanta United, the Atlanta Falcons and PGA TOUR Superstore, totaling $6.3 million over three years to increase access to sports at the middle and high school level. GSCS received $425,000 over a three-year period to expand middle school athletic programs, adding soccer for boys and girls and girls' flag football. GSCS Athletic Director Bill Stikes led the effort to apply for this grant.
“The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and AMB Sports and Entertainment recognize and prioritize the importance of providing kids the opportunity to participate in sports,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO and AMBFF Associate Board Member Rich McKay. “We are proud to partner with these six school districts to remove barriers of entry to sports and enhance the sports experience for their students. We anticipate this funding will impact more than 7,500 athletes at the middle and high school level across Metro Atlanta.”
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1.5 billion to charitable causes. Collective giving areas include Atlanta’s Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together. The foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. For more, visit www.blankfoundation.org.
“The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and AMB Sports and Entertainment recognize and prioritize the importance of providing kids the opportunity to participate in sports,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO and AMBFF Associate Board Member Rich McKay. “We are proud to partner with these six school districts to remove barriers of entry to sports and enhance the sports experience for their students. We anticipate this funding will impact more than 7,500 athletes at the middle and high school level across Metro Atlanta.”
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is a philanthropy founded to help transform lives and communities by uniting people across differences to find common cause. Started in 1995 by Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot, the foundation has granted more than $1.5 billion to charitable causes. Collective giving areas include Atlanta’s Westside, Democracy, Environment, Mental Health and Well-Being, and Youth Development. Across these areas, we take on tough challenges by uniting the courage and compassion of our communities so we can all thrive together. The foundation oversees a large portfolio of grants including support of essential Atlanta nonprofit institutions, such as Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Shepherd Center, and enduring founder-led initiatives, such as veterans and the military and stuttering, among others. For more, visit www.blankfoundation.org.
On Monday, December 15, GSCS K-5 English Language Arts CoordinatorTanya Potter facilitated a Literacy Workshop for GSCS Parent University. Families were able to engage in meaningful conversations about building strong reading skills at home and explore practical strategies to help their children grow as confident readers. Parents left the workshop with new strategies, resources, and the confidence to support their children’s literacy at home. If you want additional information on upcoming workshops, please contact GSCS Family and Community Engagement Specialist Dr. LaJuana Love, District @ lajuana.love@gscs.org
Please complete the ThoughtExchange at the link below to provide input for the questions that will be asked of the superintendent finalists at the town hall meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6 p.m in the Griffin Auditorium. The town hall event will also be live-streamed. Thought Exchange Link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/474844673/welcome
Today, all GSCS School Principal Secretaries were celebrated at a Jingle & Mingle Heart of the School Christmas Luncheon. They were all recognized for their dedication, hard work and joy that they bring to their schools. Thank you, school principal secretaries! Happy Holidays!
Monday morning could see a low temperature of 20 degrees. With windchill, it could feel as cold as 13 degrees. Please dress children warmly with layers to block the wind. Students at bus stops and walking to school need to use caution. Transportation staff will arrive early to start and warm buses, but delays are possible. Our transportation team will use text and e-mail alerts to communicate any delays if a bus has trouble starting.
The GSCS Country Music Christmas Video Challenge winners were announced at this morning's SMARTER meeting. Congratulations to the School 1st Place Winner, Atkinson Elementary and Department 1st Place Winner, Instructional Technology! Kudos also go to GRCCA for 2nd Place and Most Creative and Moore Elementary for Best Song!
The Literacy Specialist plays a critical role in supporting students who struggle with foundational literacy skills. Using a deep knowledge of the science of reading, this position provides targeted, evidence-based literacy instruction and interventions. The specialist collaborates closely with classroom teachers, families, and school leadership to ensure that instruction is aligned, data-driven, and responsive to individual student needs. This position is ideal for an educator who is passionate about literacy, skilled in assessment and instruction, and committed to ensuring that all students become confident, proficient readers. Read more and apply at: https://www.applitrack.com/griffin/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1
On Dec. 11, GSCS families can log in to learn about resources to help improve their child's English language development. Join the meeting at either 11 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. at this link: meet.google.com/trc-cbdu-tur or by scanning the QR code.
GSCS held its 5th Annual GSCS Holiday Art Contest, for high school students this year, sponsored by United Bank. First, second and third-place winners received cash prizes. The first-place winners' artwork is featured on the district's Christmas card. Special thanks to United Bank for sponsoring this year's contest! Congratulations to this year's winners:
1st Place – Maria Belen Valero Pena, Spalding High School
2nd Place – Raychul Wilson, Spalding High School
3rd Place – Aubrey King, Griffin High School
1st Place – Maria Belen Valero Pena, Spalding High School
2nd Place – Raychul Wilson, Spalding High School
3rd Place – Aubrey King, Griffin High School
