The new Atlanta Public Schools superintendent doesn’t officially start for two weeks, but Meria Carstarphen has been off and running for two months — literally. In the midst of her nonstop schedule, I talked with her about the job and the expected shelf life of an urban school chief. Separately, a California court decision earlier this month outlawed teacher job protections, saying tenure laws denied students their constitutional right to an education. A guest columnist discusses the controversial court ruling; readers also share their views.

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Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com