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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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)