April 24, 2026 — Recently, a group of Cobb teachers was seen running away from Cobb County public safety officers. No need to worry. It was all for a good cause. The team of educators was on a fast break in a charity basketball game against law enforcement from various Cobb County departments.
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The inaugural Autism Awareness Charity Basketball Game, sponsored by the Cobb Schools Foundation, raised funds to benefit the Learning Interventions Fund, which supports students who need additional support with learning, coping, or processing. April is Autism Awareness Month, and our district fully endorses the need to understand, include, and support individuals with autism.
This charity game, played at South Cobb High School, featured a team of Cobb County teachers taking on a team of law enforcement participants from the Cobb County School District Police Department, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Austell and Powder Springs Police Departments.
"It's a great cause. Great turnout. We're having a good time," one participating teacher said. "The refs are a little swayed toward the police officers right now, though, but that's all right."
The Public Safety squad might have needed the extra help. The teacher-hoopers came ready to play.
"The law enforcement team, we're just taking it a little slow," Officer Robinson claimed, tongue in cheek. "We're trying to tire out the teachers. They're playing hard right now, but we're going to see how they do in the third and fourth quarters."
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Fred Blankenship of WSB-TV Channel 2 News emceed the game, and Tommy, a special needs student from Wheeler High School, came onto the court during a break in the action and made a deep 3-point shot that elicited a massive celebration.
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The competition was good-natured as both teams agreed they were “Two Teams, One Goal.” In the end, the Cobb teachers survived the third and fourth quarters to solidify a 46-37 win.
“No excuses, the teachers brought the energy from tip-off to the final buzzer,” the Cobb Sheriff’s Office posted on Instagram. “More importantly, this game was bigger than the scoreboard. Every bucket, every cheer, and every ticket supported the Cobb County School District’s Special Needs Department and helped shine a light on autism awareness. We’re proud to stand alongside our partners in public safety and education for a cause that matters.”
The Cobb Schools Foundation is thankful for the teachers and law enforcement officers who continue to serve students even outside their regular duties. While a scoreboard was in use, ultimately, the Learning Interventions Fund was the real winner, as all proceeds went directly to the cause.
To support the Cobb Schools Foundation, get started here.
