August 1, 2025—"Welcome to the huddle. Our team of 19,000 is together as a whole to get ready for the season," said Board Chair David Chastain as he welcomed Cobb School's staff and administration to the annual District Kick Off broadcast. "I want to say thank you very much for all you do and for all that you will be doing in the coming year. Now let's go, team!"
Harrison High School hosted this year's District Kick Off with an in-person audience of around 700 educators, but the message was broadcast live to all of Cobb's 109 schools. This is the only way to gather all of the District's employees at one time to hear the same pre-game speech from Cobb's "head coach," Superintendent Chris Ragsdale. The District Kick Off marks the end of summer and the beginning of the coming school year. For Cobb's One Team, 2025-26 has begun.
Before Superintendent Ragsdale took the stage, Karen Wright, the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year, addressed the team with a few words of encouragement. (The 2025-26 Teachers of the Year were announced earlier in the week.)
"Summer break is officially over—whether we want it to be or not—and it's time to head back into the classroom and do what we do best, which is to teach and inspire the next generation," she said with a smile. "We are not just teaching content. We are shaping lives. That is our legacy. That is what we leave behind."
Ms. Wright reminded the educators to always keep both the "why" and the "how" of their profession in mind. She compared the "why" to the overarching principle and the "how" to the everyday methods and techniques of keeping students engaged and connected.
"As you head back into your classroom, I want you to keep the 'how' at the heart of your teaching, so 'why' you became a teacher can come shining through," she said to appreciative applause.
With his characteristic wit and storytelling, Superintendent Ragsdale reminded his staff that he has their back as they continue to do everything necessary to keep Cobb on top.
"A school district of excellence where all students succeed. That is our mission," he said. "It sounds simple, and it sounds familiar because it's the same. We need to remain consistent because when you're the best, being consistent means you will continue to be the best. And that's who we are. We are the best."
The Superintendent has emphasized three main priorities over the last several years, explaining that focusing on these priorities keeps Cobb at the forefront of public education. He assured his team that these three priorities would remain consistent:
- Ensure that Cobb is the best place to teach, lead, and learn.
- Simplify our foundation for teaching and learning in order to prepare for innovation.
- Use data to make decisions.
"We want to make sure that every one of our 19,000 team members wakes up every single day, wanting to go to work nowhere else than Cobb County Schools," Superintendent Ragsdale said. "We want to make sure, most importantly, that our parents wake up and want to send their children to no other school other than the Cobb County School District."
Emphasizing Cobb's success in attracting and keeping the best teachers, the Superintendent revealed that the District received more than 27,000 applications for fewer than 500 open positions over the summer. He highlighted Cobb's high pay for teachers, professional advancement programs like Georgia's BEST, and relentless pursuit of safety and security as just a few of the reasons why educators choose Cobb. The District has been named by Forbes as a "Best Employer in Georgia" for six years in a row.
"Our One Goal is Student Success," he said in conclusion. "We have to make sure that we have prepared every single one of 105,000 students for success every year by providing every opportunity for them to be successful."
Cobb’s New Teachers Begin Their Journey Together
Each year, the New Teacher Academy plays a vital role in welcoming educators who are new to Cobb and equipping them for a strong start to the school year.
The Academy offers new Cobb teachers a glimpse into why Cobb is the Best Place to Teach, Lead, and Learn.
New teachers expressed appreciation for the Academy's robust technology training and the warm welcome they received. Those who had previously taught in other districts or even other countries remarked that Cobb's Academy stood out from any they had experienced before.
The Academy sessions emphasize building a strong foundation for student learning and offer hands-on, content-specific professional development. Teachers also explore strategies for meeting diverse student needs.
Beyond the core training provided to all new educators, those with 0–2 years of experience also participated in full-day, immersive sessions tailored to their specific teaching roles.
After the Academy, teachers continued their training and preparation within their individual school communities.
