July 16, 2025—One Team, One Goal: Student Success. At Cobb, this is much more than a motto; it is a way of life. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale is fond of saying that Cobb has two types of employees: those who teach and those who support those who teach. Many of those administrative supporters were present at Hillgrove High School the morning of July 15 to mark the end of summer break and the beginning of the 2025-26 school year at Cobb's Annual Leadership Kickoff event.

Now in his second decade leading the second-largest school district in the state, Superintendent Ragsdale was full of smiles and encouragement for the nearly 800 school and District leaders who attended. The Hillgrove Performing Arts Center was standing-room-only, and the mood was joyful. These school leaders love what they do and each other, and it was evident. Hugs, handshakes, high-fives, and happy conversations were everywhere as they settled into their seats.

Board Chair David Chastain welcomed everyone back and reminded them of the important work they were doing. He mentioned that when asked to speak on behalf of the Board, he thinks about the ABCs: Academics, Business, and Community. "But," he continued, "there needs to be a 'D.' And that's 'Direction.' It's very important that our community knows the direction we are heading."

"And that's where you come in. In your leadership roles, you're like a resource officer trying to direct traffic from five different directions at once. I want you to know how much we appreciate what you do. Many executives in the corporate world aren't drawn in as many directions as you are. Thank you for what you do, and each of you deserves a whistle," Mr. Chastain concluded with a smile.

Superintendent Ragsdale reiterated Cobb's continued focus on three priorities for 2025-26:

• Ensure that Cobb is the best place to teach, lead, and learn.
• Simplify our foundation for teaching and learning in order to prepare for innovation.
• Use data to make decisions. 

"Over 8400 seniors walked across the stage in May and are now going out into the world," he said. "We have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that each graduate is going to be successful because we've prepared them to be successful."

"Being the best place to teach, lead, and learn is not a checkbox; it's a continuum. We have to make sure that we maintain consistency and keep that focus. We have to be intentional about moving forward. Our decisions will always be based on these three priorities," Superintendent Ragsdale said.

He reminded the District leaders of several ways Cobb is leading the way in Georgia: Georgia's BEST, a second career academy at Osborne, safety and security measures, and consistently being named a "Best Employer" in Georgia.

Superintendent Ragsdale thanked his leaders for contributing to the District's overall success. "I appreciate you and what you are doing to ensure that Cobb stays the Best Place to Teach, Lead, and Learn," he said in closing.