Superintendent s Office
Superintendent, Dr. Yancy Ford entered the field of education in 1999 as a Business Education teacher at Effingham County Middle School and assistant football coach at Effingham County High School. Across the next five years, he transferred to Effingham County High School where he earned the positions of Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. In 2006, he began his successful ten-year stint as Principal of Effingham County High School. It was during this period that he earned both his Educational Specialist and Doctorate of Education degrees from Georgia Southern University. His combination of successful leadership and education earned him the position of Assistant Superintendent for the Effingham County School System in 2016. Dr. Ford assumed the role of ECSD Superintendent effective July 1, 2020 as the successor to Superintendent Dr. Randy Shearouse.
Welcome
Welcome Back! I hope each of you is as excited as I am to kick off Effingham County School District’s 2023-2024 school year! While this year promises to be a chapter filled with exciting new changes, we are also grateful to return to the people and traditions we have always held dear. As the Superintendent of our thriving district, I am honored to be a part of all that ECSD has to offer, and I am eager to serve the needs of stakeholders within our community. Together, we will prepare students for a bright, successful future.
As we move forward, our district will continue to make decisions that meet the criteria set forth in our Strategic Plan: Engage 2025. Our decisions must be meaningful, provide a positive outcome for all stakeholders, and show evidence of support for our mission statement to: Make every moment count, because every student matters! Whether we are enhancing communication efforts between home and school, adopting new learning strategies and materials, expanding our safety measures, or preparing to break ground for new facilities, our focus will always be to make each decision count towards the betterment of our students. Every student deserves access to a world-class education that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and values required to succeed in our ever-changing society. Additionally, every student, educator and staff member deserves to learn and work in an inclusive, nurturing and safe environment.
The mission statement outlined above serves to support the vision of our Strategic Plan to: Engage students for future success. It is through this vision that students are guided to move beyond the classroom to further develop appropriate critical thinking, problem solving, and social skills for success in real-world settings. Students benefit from access to hands-on experiences in actual work settings made available through our district’s partnerships with local businesses and organizations. These opportunities not only give students access to cutting-edge technology, but they also expose them to professional environments that model teamwork, respect for diversity, and an appreciation for differing perspectives.
As a result of a clear mission and vision, and through the combined efforts from each of our stakeholders, Effingham County School District has experienced tremendous success in recent years! Our academic and CTAE programs, designed to meet the varying needs and interests of our students, have been very successful in ensuring our graduates are prepared for future opportunities. Graduation rates have reached all-time highs exceeding 90%, and our students are successfully pursuing higher education, CTAE training, military opportunities, and rewarding careers. As our community’s population grows at a seemingly exponential rate, we anticipate increased enrollments and are preparing through new construction, additions and improvements to current facilities, approval of new teaching positions, expansion of educational programs, and continued access to comprehensive resources to support students, staff, and teachers.
The continued success of our school district depends heavily on your ongoing trust and support. Together, we can inspire, empower, and transform the lives of students and maintain ECSD’s reputation as a beacon of educational excellence. As we start a new year, I invite you to celebrate our achievements, embrace new challenges, and continue our legacy of educational excellence so it may endure for generations to come.
With warmest regards
Yancy J. Ford
ECSD Superintendent of Schools
Newsletter
Newsletter
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8/7/2023
News from the Superintendent
During the first month of school, I encourage you to share your Inky Johnson Story with your students. Each of us have encountered times of adversity and will experience new challenges ahead. How we respond to the challenges of adversity will determine if we are successful or not. You may recall Inky spoke about the University wanting to send him back home after his injury and his response was I’m not leaving until I finish what I started. His promise to graduate was embedded in his desire to not quit. Yes, he wanted to be a successful football player and make the NFL, but his ultimate perspective on life was bigger than football. Inky provides us with several life lessons we can share with our students.
The Power of Perspective - Can our circumstances in life be viewed in a positive way? How we view the events in our lives will determine how much of a positive impact we will make.
The Benefits of Unyielding Determination - How determined are you when the road of life becomes bumpy? Share personal stories with your students on how you overcame bumps in the road. There’s no doubt all of us have had to persevere through difficult times and have determination. Share that experience with your students. It will give them Hope!
The Power of Faith and Resilience - Faith gives us the courage to keep going when times are tough. Share with students examples of how to be resilient.
Play the Cards you are dealt as if this is the hand you have always wanted!
District Spotlight - GO IEP
What is GO-IEP?
Georgia Online IEP (GO-IEP) is a web-based IEP application with an easy-to-use interface and internal checks that help teachers avoid the most common compliance issues. GO-IEP
- Is accessible to authorized users anytime, from any internet-connected computer.
- Provides secure web software hosting with database back-up, recovery, and archiving services.
- Has a software maintenance process that includes management of corrections and updates for reported software problems and requested software enhancements approved by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE).
- Provides real-time data to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and state personnel through multiple reports.
- Maintains records which are unique, unduplicated, and permanent.
- Meets the requirements of Part B of IDEA.
- Features a user-friendly interface with a user manual and technical support.
- Includes all essential Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Eligibility features.
- Is provided at no additional cost to the LEA.
Please be patient with our Special Education Teachers as they are becoming familiar with this new application. The District Special Education Department is working closely with teachers to provide opportunities for training and help. Dr. Hunter and her staff are beginning to set up at schools for additional training sessions.
Who’s Using Go-IEP in Georgia
Weglot Translation Tool (for ECSD Website)
Exciting News! Introducing the Weglot Translation Add-On!
Are you eager to explore our website's ( www.effinghamschools.com ) content in your preferred language? Look no further! With Weglot, language barriers are a thing of the past.
Just click on the flag icon in the lower right corner of your screen/device, and voilà, the magic of translation happens! Whether it's English, French, Spanish, Korean, or any language you desire, Weglot has got you covered.
Want to dive into the digital version of the Student/Parent Handbook ( www.effinghamschools.com/ecsd-handbook ) in your native language? With the assistance of Weglot, it's easier than ever!
For more information about Weglot, please visit: https://www.weglot.com/
#Weglot #TranslationMagic #whyEffingham See less
Parent Portal
Effingham County School District uses Infinite Campus Parent Portal for parent communication and student information.
What is Infinite Campus Parent Portal?
Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows parents real-time access to student schedules, grades, and attendance via a secure login. The most popular component of Parent Portal is the ability for parents to access detailed assignments and grades for their students as they are entered by teachers.
How do I Get Access to Parent Portal?
New parents are given parent logins during registration. Please refer to the Campus Parent & Campus Student Accounts worksheet (given at the time of registration) for your login information. For parents of current students who wish to obtain login information, please call any Effingham County School at which you have child(ren) enrolled and ask to speak to the data clerk about setting up your account. After confirming guardianship status, the data clerk will establish an account for you.
How is Parent Portal different from Student Portal ?
The Parent Portal has access to information for all students within the household whereas the Student Portal only shows information relevant for that particular student's login information. It is highly recommended that students do not use their parents’ accounts for accessing portal information. Students should use the account assigned to their student numbers when logging in to Student Portal in order to access grades, schedules, and other information targeted specifically to the student. Parent Portal accounts give parents access to all students while student accounts can provide information specific only to each individual student.
Who Do I Contact with Questions About Parent Portal Access?
Please call your child’s school and ask to speak to the Data Clerk if you have questions about Infinite Campus access. When school is out for a holiday or the summer, please contact the Central Registration Center.
|
School |
Data Clerk |
E-Mail Address |
|---|---|---|
|
Blandford Elementary |
Lindsey Clark |
lclark@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Ebenezer Elementary |
Shelli Whittle |
swhittle@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Guyton Elementary |
Wendy Gracen |
wgracen@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Marlow Elementary |
Jean Purnell |
jpurnell@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Rincon Elementary |
Kara Gelderman |
kgelderman@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Sand Hill Elementary |
Glenda Caldwell |
gcaldwell@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
South Effingham Elementary |
Michelle Smith |
cmsmith@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Springfield Elementary |
Ashley Moody |
amoody@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Ebenezer Middle |
Kaleigh Perry |
kperry@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Effingham County Middle |
Kimberly Clements |
kclements@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
South Effingham Middle |
Tonique Duncan |
tduncan@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
Effingham County High |
Whitney Bennett |
wbennett@effingham.k12.ga.us |
|
South Effingham High |
Jennifer Wilson |
jwilson@effingham.k12.ga.us |
For more information
https://www.effinghamschools.com/family-students/parent-portal
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
On the Website at https://www.effinghamschools.com/nutritionprogram/menus
Bus Stops
Student Academic Calendar
Upcoming Events
Subscribe to specific school(s) calendar(s) to view the most up-to-date list of events by downloading the NEW ECSD Mobile App ( to download, visit: https://effinghamschools.parentlink.net/smartlink/ )
We're excited to announce that users can now subscribe to breakfast and lunch menus
7/31/2023
News from the Superintendent
Welcome Back! I trust each of you had a wonderful summer and were able to relax and have some fun. I also hope you were able to attend Open House either Monday or Tuesday. As we embark on this academic journey together, I want to extend my warmest greetings and express my excitement for the year ahead.
Students, as you begin the school year, believe you can accomplish any of your goals with resilience and determination as you navigate through the challenges that arise. I have no doubt each of you can win the day!
Parents and community members, the partnership between students, parents, community members, and educators is at the heart of our success. When we work together, we create a powerful force that fosters an environment conducive to growth, achievement, and personal development. I can assure you we believe your child’s well-being and academic success is our top priority.
This year, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment. We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff. Additionally, we are fully dedicated to academic excellence, offering a wide range of programs and resources to meet the unique needs and interests of each student.
I encourage each student to embrace the opportunities that come their way, to challenge themselves to excellence, and to cultivate a passion for learning. Education is a journey of discovery, and every experience, and opportunity contributes to your growth.
As we begin this new school year, let us embrace the challenges with optimism, determination, and a willingness to support one another. I have full confidence in the collective strength of our school community, and I believe that this school year will be filled with accomplishments, joy, and personal growth.
Once again, Welcome Back to another incredible school year! Let’s join together to make every moment count because every student matters! Have a Great Year!
District Spotlight - Youth Sports Registration
Effingham County Recreation and Rincon Recreation are currently accepting registration for Youth Fall Sports
https://effinghamrec.recdesk.com/Community/Home
see page 2 of PDF [click here]
School Nutrition
Check out our August menus! https://www.effinghamschools.com/nutritionprogram/menus
Add funds to your student’s account: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/
see page 2 of PDF [click here]
District Tools
see page 3 of PDF [click here]
Student Academic Calendar
see page 4 of PDF [click here]
Upcoming Events
Subscribe to specific school(s) calendar(s) to view the most up-to-date list of events by downloading the NEW ECSD Mobile App ( to download, visit: https://effinghamschools.parentlink.net/smartlink/ )
We're excited to announce that users can now subscribe to breakfast and lunch menus
via our mobile app, and the menus will be automatically added to your app calendar!
see page 5 of PDF [click here]