Monthly Archives: May 2026

The world of news reporting has lost an icon. Globally, Elliott Brack may not have been readily recognized, but to Georgians, he was among the last of the great newspapermen (and women!)

News of his death reached me as I was still in my classroom working this week. While he lived 90 strong years, it was still a shock. You see, way back when I began my fledgling little local paper, The Grayson Gazette, Elliott was among my early sources of support and encouragement. He kindly pointed to some errors I had made, but cheered on the fact that I had taken a dive straight in. When I told him that my Journalism 101 professor had informed me I would never write for publication, Elliott laughed and assured me the world was full of opinion and it is up to us as to whether we take them as gospel truths or find our own way. I always appreciated his quiet support and strong example as a researcher, reporter, and writer. His influence at The Gwinnett Forum will be missed.

The End of an Era

Sometimes, over the span of a teaching career, you get an opportunity to spend an inordinate quantity of quality time with students. This has been the case for three students who have been a part of my language arts class curriculum embedded with Film and Digital Arts. All three students are “pathway completers” who finished four years of Film and Digital Arts along with Dramatic Writing/Theater.

This brings us to the chaos of the couch – or futon. Gifted to our class by a retiring teacher, the futon has been moved from classroom to classroom each year with the every relocation of our program. It has seen lots of relaxing, laughter, snacks (ew), and brainstorming. For four years the couch served these seniors well.

In the last class, on the last day, with a celebratory playlist, the couch met its demise. It literally cracked in half! There was a short ceremony followed by a funeral dirge to the dumpster. It was a fitting end for the futon as these seniors prepare to walk across the graduation stage and onto the world stage. I have no doubt that the memories and bonds they forged on the futon will stick with them for the remainder of their days. They have been good times. Someone, pass me a tissue.