Newton BOE Chairperson tells all

By SARAH DAVIS

news@covnews.com In-person instruction officially goes to the teachers, your adminstarted on Jan. 11. Coggin said istrators and your superinten-

Abigail Coggin is a lifelong that being able to offer an in-per- dent’s leadership. But, that’s one Newton County resident who son option for kids has been thing that I’m so proud of being has served as the District 5 rep- beneficial. able to provide the resources or resentative on the Newton Coun- “I see a huge difference in kids help to provide them the funds ty School Board who I know were struggling necessary to give back.” since she was with their mental health and However, Coggin said that she elected in Novem- things like that,” Coggin said. fears that the pandemic may ber 2010. She was “Just in the past few weeks, have a negative impact on this recently elected as we’ve got kids that come in here progress. chairperson on Jan. at night for classes and their “It worries me just from my 19, a position she face is just lit up. It’s amazing, to experience in dealing with has served in sev- me, how important it is for those children in the community not eral times during COGGIN interactions and how important having that face-to-face interher 11-year tenure. Coggin also in-person is for students.” action,” Coggin said. “I know of serves as operations director at One of the biggest obstacles instances where children are not the Arts Association. for students during virtual logged on and our teachers and

Coggin ran for the board after school, according to Coggin, was our staff are having to basically former District 5 representative limited internet access in her track down to make sure these C.C. Bates resigned in July 2010. district. kids are OK.”

“The whole reason I ran was “We just don’t have the infra- Coggin was one of 18 people because of my kids and just structure for WiFi,” Coggin said. appointed to the Georgia Profeswanting to be involved in their “... That was the biggest hurdle sional Standards Commission education more so than I already for us to have to jump over was (GaPSC) by Gov. Brian Kemp on was as a parent,” Coggin said. “ providing, getting a WiFi connec- Nov. 13. The commission acts as … Politics has always interested tion for these students to partici- a “regulatory system” for certime, but the education of my chil- pate in activities.” fying public school employees, dren was most important.” The school system provided according to the GaPSC website.

During the pandemic, the a 1:1 option for students who “It’s fascinating to see that side board was forced to make deci- chose to be virtual. This option of education and all it takes to sions on tight deadlines about allowed students to checkout a oversee teachers,” Coggin said. virtual education and in-person device, if needed, that enabled “It’s a great honor to be a part start dates. them to fully engage in online of that and help out with those

“We were making decisions learning. Coggin said that this standards that teachers have to very fast — faster than I would one-to-one check out system is meet to teach our children.” have liked to have made,” Coggin something that will stay in place With reelection coming up in said. “But that’s just me, person- even after the pandemic. November, Coggin said she is ally. I’m one of these types of One of Coggin’s main goals en- unsure whether or not she will people that likes to sit down and tering the position 11 years ago run again. think about it and look at all the was to see a rise in graduation “You hear about some of the ramifications of it.” rates among Newton County negativity that goes on just in

Last fall, the school offered students. In the past few years, general for elected officials … and both in-person and virtual op- this is something she said has you just reach that point where tions for students. After Christ- become a reality. it’s just not worth it,” Coggin mas, the county saw a spike in “That’s one thing I’m very said. “… But then you look at the COVID-19 cases, causing the proud of,” Coggin said. “I didn’t kids, and you’re just like, ‘Wow, I board to decide to postpone personally have anything to do helped make that happen. I was the start of the spring semester. with that, necessarily — that a part of that.’”