The state Department of Education seems to get a new leader every four years of late, and the newest one officially starts this week. Richard Woods ran for state school superintendent as an outsider on a platform that included opposition to one of DOE’s key initiatives, the Common Core State Standards. Despite his opposition, Woods may not have the power to stop the standards, as I discuss today. In a guest column, an educator says the best teachers are those who regard the job as a calling. And readers sound off about a new federal study that found low-income schools get a higher share of inexperienced teachers.

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez