Commerce City Schools

Celebrating Our Million and Two Million Word Readers at CPS and CES. We are thrilled to recognize these incredible students for their dedication to reading and learning. Their commitment to literacy is an inspiration to us all! Million Word Readers: Camden Adams Emory Crawford Parker Dean Dash Haynes Harper Lee Harrison Lund Kyle Modesto Andrew Moulton Adalena Noto Joseph Pitts Parker Pugh Wyatt Roberts Elana Sayne Beckett Wilkinson Brooks Wilkinson Two Million Word Reader: Dawson Morris

At the Board of Education meeting last night, we had the honor of recognizing two outstanding students who participated in the Junior Jackson Leadership Program: Lily Sears Gavan Welchel These students have demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and a drive to make a difference in our community. We are so proud of their achievements and cannot wait to see the impact they will continue to make as future leaders!

Celebrating Our May Students, Teachers, and Employees of the Month! At the Board of Education meeting last night, we proudly recognized these outstanding individuals for their hard work, dedication, and contributions to the Commerce City Schools community. Please join us in celebrating our May honorees: CPS/CES: Teacher of the Month: Hope Foster Student of the Month: Sebastian Hernandez-Villavicencio CMS: Teacher of the Month: Kristina Satterfield Student of the Month: Connor Clay CHS: Teacher of the Month: Carli Roye Staff of the Month: Stacy Ellington Student of the Month: Olivia Goodnight These individuals exemplify excellence and embody the spirit of Commerce! Thank you for all that you do to make our schools a better place.

📚 Commerce Middle School 8th Graders Visit the Georgia State Capitol! 🏛️ Today, our 8th-grade students took an exciting trip to the Georgia State Capitol, bringing their Georgia Studies lessons to life! They explored where our state government meets, admired portraits of influential Georgians, and gained a deeper understanding of our state's rich history and civic processes. The highlight of the day was a surprise visit from Governor Brian Kemp! He graciously took time out of his busy schedule to meet with our students and even posed for a group photo. What an unforgettable experience for our future leaders! Another favorite part of the trip? Lunch at the iconic Varsity! It was the perfect way to cap off a day full of learning, fun, and memories. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible and to Governor Kemp for creating a memorable moment for our students.

Mrs. Cruz’s and Coach Cotrell’s classes teamed up with the amazing CMS FACS department for a fun and hands-on lesson in teamwork, life skills, and deliciousness! Students rolled up their sleeves and got creative in the kitchen, making personal pizzas from scratch. From measuring ingredients to choosing toppings, every step was an opportunity to learn and collaborate. A big thank you to our FACS team for hosting such a memorable and meaningful activity!

Congratulations to our ESS Substitute of the Month, Anna Bruce! Thank you for your commitment and the positive impact you make in our schools.

Congratulations to our ESS Substitute of the Year, Janice Hanley! We appreciate her dedicated service to CCSS and are grateful for our valued partnership with ESS. Thank you for making a difference every day!

We’re excited to offer summer meal programs to ensure all students have access to nutritious meals! Here's everything you need to know: https://www.commercecityschools.org/o/ccs/page/2025-summer-meals Contact Greg Buice with any questions: greg.buice@commercecityschools.org

CCSS Staff Feature: Introducing Tammy Simpson-Shirley, Special Education Director We are thrilled to welcome Tammy Simpson-Shirley as the new Special Education Director for Commerce City Schools! With 25 years of experience in education, Tammy brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for supporting students, teachers, and families. She holds a bachelor’s degree with certifications in both general and special education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Over the years, Tammy has served as a general education teacher, reading specialist, and special education teacher, as well as a special education coordinator. Most recently, she spent five years as a Special Education Director, gaining invaluable experience that will undoubtedly benefit our district. In her current role, Tammy leads and supports special education services across the district. When asked about what she loves most, she shared, “There’s nothing more meaningful than seeing a student accomplish goals they once thought were out of reach and knowing you played a part in helping them get there. Supporting teachers and staff so they can do their best work for students is equally rewarding.” Tammy is also excited to join the Commerce community, a place she admires for its excellence, strong relationships, and student-centered values. “I’m especially excited to get into schools and classrooms to build connections, support teachers, and celebrate student successes,” she says. “It’s an honor to be part of a team so clearly dedicated to doing what’s best for kids, and I look forward to contributing to that mission.” Please join us in giving a warm Commerce welcome to Tammy Simpson-Shirley! We are excited about the expertise, energy, and dedication she brings to our district.

Today, students in Mrs. Shiflet’s Allied Health and Medicine class presented their Capstone displays, and we were truly impressed! Each student shared about their chosen medical career and clinical experience through a presentation board and an interactive activity. School system personnel and community members in the healthcare field had the opportunity to attend and take part in the experience. We are so proud of these students and their hard work in preparing for future careers in healthcare!

A huge shout-out to the CHS Yearbook Staff for their hard work, creativity, and dedication in capturing the heart of the school year! From documenting special moments to last-minute edits, your commitment to telling the CHS story does not go unnoticed. Thanks for creating a keepsake that students will cherish for years to come.

Tysean Wiggins Receives His Wrestling State Championship Ring! A big congratulations to Tysean Wiggins as he received his GHSA Wrestling State Championship ring today! This incredible achievement reflects his unmatched work ethic, discipline, and commitment to excellence on the mat. Tysean’s championship journey is an inspiration to the entire CHS community. We are so proud of you, Tysean—thank you for representing CHS with strength and pride!

CHS Celebrates College Signing Day! Today, we proudly celebrated College Signing Day at CHS, honoring our outstanding student-athletes who have committed to continuing their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. Their dedication, discipline, and perseverance—both on the field and in the classroom—have earned them this incredible opportunity. Congratulations to: Tysean Wiggins Michael Duncan Jermiah Mintz Wesley Usher Dante Smith-Hernandez We are so proud of each of you and can’t wait to see all you accomplish in this next chapter. Keep chasing excellence!

CCSS Staff Feature: Nicole Bennett – Pre-K Paraprofessional Meet Nicole Bennett, a dedicated Pre-K Paraprofessional and proud member of the Commerce City Schools family! Nicole is a United States Marine Corps veteran, having served as a Field Radio Operator after joining the Marines shortly after 9/11. Her service allowed her to travel the world and gain valuable life experience. She earned her Associate of Science degree from Georgia Military College and is now a Senior at Valdosta State University, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, her true passion. She plans to graduate in May 2026. This is Nicole’s fifth year as a Pre-K Paraprofessional, where she loves supporting her students and watching their growth. She cherishes moments like seeing students write their names for the first time, count to 20, or build creative block towers. Though Nicole wasn’t born or raised in Commerce, she feels at home here. “The Tiger community is so kind and welcoming. I AM a Commerce Tiger. The love our school system has for our staff and students is infectious and makes me proud to be a Tiger—and I always will be!” Thank you, Nicole, for your dedication to our students and for being a proud part of Commerce City Schools!

Summer Meal Program Announcement: We’re excited to offer summer meal programs to ensure all students have access to nutritious meals! Here's everything you need to know: https://5il.co/3fmx0

We are thrilled to recognize these amazing students for their incredible achievement of reading one million words this school year! Their dedication to learning and love for books inspire us all. Harper Lee - 2nd Grade Adalena Noto - 3rd Grade Wyatt Roberts - 3rd Grade Your hard work and commitment to literacy are shining examples of what it means to be a Commerce Tiger. Keep reaching for the stars, readers!

Today, our Future Georgia Educators and Extra Special Tigers clubs proudly hosted the Shining Stars Awards Ceremony, honoring our incredible Tigers! These students shine brightly in academics, athletics, and every aspect of being extraordinary Tigers. Their hard work and spirit inspire us all, and we are so proud to recognize their contributions to Commerce High School. Thank you to everyone who made this special day possible and for showing your unwavering support for these amazing students. Let’s continue celebrating the unique talents and bright futures of our Shining Stars!

Today, we proudly hosted Future Georgia Educators Signing Day, celebrating our students who have committed to pursuing careers in education! 2025 Future Georgia Educators Signers: Jayden Torres – University of North Georgia Ruthie Mae Gaddis – University of North Georgia Ashley Hogan – (College decision pending) Kaylee Purvis – Emmanuel University Avie Norman – Emmanuel University Autumn Henry – Athens Technical College Matthew Rogers – Kennesaw State University We were honored to have Cherie Miller, GaDOE Representative, join us for this special occasion, along with representatives from esteemed colleges. Their presence and support made the event even more inspiring for our future educators. This day underscores our dedication to fostering a passion for teaching and empowering the next generation of educators. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day unforgettable!

We’re extremely thankful for the support of our community and Partners in Education as we continue celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. Your contributions are helping us honor the dedication and hard work of our incredible teachers and support staff at Commerce City Schools—truly the best team around!

CCSS Proudly Celebrates Teach in the Peach – Statewide Educator Signing Day! Commerce City Schools was proud to be part of Teach in the Peach, a statewide celebration recognizing the next generation of Georgia educators! Jenny Palmer, TAP teacher at CHS, brought four outstanding seniors who have committed to pursuing a career in education: Kaylee Purvis, Matthew Rogers, Avie Norman, and Ashley Hogan. We are incredibly proud of their passion and purpose as they begin this meaningful journey! We also celebrated Bryson Flint, who is completing his student teaching and will officially join the CCSS team as a first-year teacher next school year! Representing Commerce alongside our future educators were Cameron Shirley, Lauren Milford, and Billy Kirk. The future is bright for education in Georgia — and especially in Commerce! #Teachinthepeach