The Board of Education voted to extend Governor Brian Kemp’s one-time $2,000 employee supplement from the Amended FY26 State Budget to all Tift County Schools employees.

While the Governor's bonus designated specific job families and/or a specific number of positions within job families to receive the bonus, the Board approved the use of nearly $900,000 in local funds to ensure that all district employees receive the supplement in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the students of Tift County.  As Superintendent Gore explains, "The Governor's bonus was not all inclusive of all our staff.  For example, we received funding to provide the bonus for every principal, but the Governor's bonus did not provide any funds to cover the bonus for our Assistant Principals, who work side by side with our principals and school staff on a daily basis.  Fortunately, Tift's Board of Education believed it important to extend the one-time supplement to every full time employee, recognizing every individual within our school system plays their part in ensuring the education, safety, and support of our students."

Employees who were employed with Tift County Schools as of March 31, 2026, are eligible to receive the payment. Full-time employees will receive $2,000 and part-time employees will receive $1,000. The supplement is included in the April payroll.

Thank you for the work you do every day to support our mission to Collaborate | Learn | Achieve.

The Board of Education received information on progress the finance team is making with finalizing a draft of the FY27 budget, now that the legislative session has completed and the Governor's proposed budget is clearer.  

The Tift County School's Board of Education will engage in a budget workshop on May 5th @ 6:00PM in the Board Room.  District Finance Team members will share information with the Board about Projected Revenue, Projected Expenses and the Board will discuss options for balancing the budget. This meeting is open to the public, as are all Board meetings.

In accordance with Board Policy FDC, Board Chairman Jones identified Board members appointed to the Facility Naming Committee charged with bringing a recommendation of a name of the new 7/8 school to the Full Board at the May Board meeting.  Specifically, Mrs. Burkes will serve as Chair of this committee and Mrs. McKinnon, Mr. Hill, Mr. Waddell, and Mr. Jones will serve as members.

The facility naming committee will have a committee meeting on May 5th at 5:00PM to review the Board Policy requirements, review submissions received to date, and work to develop a recommendation to bring to the Full Board for consideration at the May Board meeting.

Mrs. Beth Sellars shared with the Board the work underway to build a comprehensive counseling and advisement program with intentionality in the education and involvement of parents in the processes.  She highlighted the work the district team, in conjunctionn with school-level counselors, social workers, and administrators has completed to date.

Mrs. Sellars also shared the next steps her team will take in the coming year to continue to work to completion of this strategic plan tactic.

As part of the Strategic Plan, Tift County Schools continues implementing tactics to strengthen one-way and two-way communication between system leaders, school leaders, employees, families, and community stakeholders. These efforts are designed to build transparency with parents and the public, improve communication with stakeholders, and provide clearer guidance for employees.

Efforts include the monthly community newsletter, which provides recaps of Board of Education meetings, and the use of Simbli to share board agendas and presentations with the public. The district also continues to provide public comment and review opportunities for policies and major decisions and expanded family engagement resources to help parents stay connected and involved.

For employees, new communication supports include a monthly staff newsletter, one-page guidance documents, and the upcoming “One Stop Shop” employee resource hub, launching this summer to house key resources in one location. Staff also provide input through professional learning surveys, superintendent advisory councils, and Job Alike groups, which currently include 33 networks for different job families.

Looking ahead, the district will continue expanding opportunities for engagement, including student representatives on Local School Governance Teams, strategic plan feedback opportunities, and increased collaboration with school leadership teams.

By intentionally expanding both one-way and two-way communication opportunities, Tift County Schools is working to keep stakeholders informed, engaged, and connected as we continue to Collaborate – Learn – Achieve.

ANNIE BELLE CLARK INTERIOR PAINTING UPDATE

Spring break work included painting offices, storerooms, hallways, and other miscellaneous areas. Classrooms, kitchen and media center will be painted over the summer.

Construction on the New 7/8 Middle School and the Multi-Purpose Pavilion is progressing. 

These photos show progress on the projects as of April 24th. 

TCHS GYM FLOOR RESURFACING

The restoration of the gym floor at Tift County High School has just been completed. The process included stripping, repainting and resurfacing the entire floor. 

WHAT IS ESPLOST?

WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS

FIRSTNET RADIOS

PROMETHEAN PANELS

CENTEGIX

HMH INTO READING

LEN LASTINGER ELEMENTARY RENOVATIONS

The Tift County Board of Education is currently constructing a new school in which to serve all 7th and 8th grade students. This new facility is being constructed adjacent to the Tift County High School off New River Church Road,  and it is slated to open during the 2027-2028 school year.

As part of the continuous planning process associated with the construction and opening of this new facility and in compliance with Board Policy FDC, the Tift County Board of Education is seeking input from individuals and organizations in Tift County on the name of this new school.

The form will remain open until Friday, May 1st at 5:00pm. 

https://forms.gle/Y71QnrvR9tDkLi8Y8

Members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council were recognized for their leadership and service to the school system.

The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council provides students in grades 6 - 12 with an opportunity to share their perspectives, ideas, and experiences directly with district leadership. Throughout the year, council members meet with Superintendent Natalie Gore to discuss topics that impact students and to provide valuable input on school initiatives, programs, and the overall student experience.

We appreciate the leadership, insight, and dedication these students bring and for their thoughtful contributions to conversations about the future of Tift County Schools. Their voices help ensure that student perspectives remain an important part of the decision-making process.

The Superintendent’s Staff Advisory Council is made up of classified staff members who were selected as their school or department’s True Blue Winner. These individuals represent the many support roles across the district and serve as a voice for classified staff by sharing ideas, feedback, and perspectives directly with the superintendent.

Throughout the year, council members meet with district leadership to discuss ways to support school operations, strengthen workplace culture, and continue improving the experience for both employees and students.

We appreciate their willingness to help represent and support their colleagues across the district. Their contributions help ensure that the voices of classified staff remain an important part of conversations that guide the work of Tift County Schools.

The Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council is composed of the Teacher of the Year from each school, bringing together a group of educators who exemplify outstanding teaching and a deep dedication to student success. These teachers meet monthly with the superintendent to provide input on instructional initiatives, share classroom perspectives, and discuss ways to support teaching and learning across the district.

Their participation helps ensure that the experiences and insights of classroom teachers are included in important conversations that guide district decisions. We commended them for the impact they make each day in the lives of students and for their willingness to serve as leaders and representatives for their fellow teachers.

Tift County students who participated in Georgia 4-H Project Achievement and competed at the District Project Achievement (DPA) event at Rock Eagle 4-H Center were recognized.

Students in grades 7–12 spend the year researching a project of interest, completing a portfolio, and presenting their work as part of the competition. Through this process, students develop valuable skills such as leadership, creativity, public speaking, and record keeping.

This year, 21 Tift County Schools students competed at the Junior/Senior DPA event, earning 12 first-place awards, 6 second-place awards, 1 third-place award, and 2 honorable mentions, along with four special awards for the county.

We are proud of these students for their hard work and dedication throughout the year and for representing our community so well.

The Beyond the T Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of our students, staff and community.

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for going 'Beyond the T'? Click here to submit a nomination.

We are so proud of all our school level awardees and the work they do in support of our students and community on a daily basis.  School level representatives will be invited to participate in the Superintendent Advisories for the 2026-2027 school year providing their insights, ideas, and opinions to inform system priorities, needs, and decisions.

The System Level Winner for both True Blue and Teacher of the Year will be announced at a home football game in the Fall of 2026.  The System level Teacher of the Year will have the opportunity to compete for the Title of Georgia Teacher of the Year.