Bryan Johnson, the new superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, began the first day of the 2024-25 school year at 5 a.m. Thursday at the Lakewood Bus Depot. He was joined by APS interim Superintendent Danielle Battle. The pair greeted staff and thanked them for their work.
“They are the first face for so many of our students,” Johnson said.
Johnson is not officially the superintendent yet. He’ll be sworn in on Monday. Until then, he’s serving as a consultant to the district. After Monday, he will essentially switch roles with Battle. She’ll become a consultant to Johnson.
“It’s bittersweet,” Battle said about passing the torch. “I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the leadership of Atlanta Public Schools. We set a great foundation to put the focus on literacy and put the focus where it should be. I’m looking forward to supporting (Johnson), whatever he needs.”
After the buses fueled up and left to start their routes, Battle and Johnson began a tour of schools. Media were allowed to shadow the duo at Sylvan Hills Middle School in southwest Atlanta, where they visited classrooms and talked to teachers and students. Johnson said he plans to visit each of Atlanta’s 87 school campuses in his first 100 days on the job.