Clarke County School District Governance and Flexibility Specialist and TEDxCCSD Organizer Stephen Nobles stands in the Clarke Central High School Media Center Courtyard on May 7. The CCSD has announced its first-ever TEDx event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 9, and will record, edit and release the event in a format similar to other TED talks. “The back end of what we’re looking to accomplish is once the post production edits are done and the video is released, there’s an opportunity to upload our videos up to TEDx’s platform and have one of our students on a platform with millions of subscribers,” Nobles said. Photo by Grady Dunston
CCSD students will take the stage at the district’s first-ever TEDx event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 9, showcasing student-led talks centered around the theme “Raise the Bar.”
On Saturday, May 9, the Clarke County School District will host its first-ever TEDx event at the District Office at 595 Prince Ave., featuring 15 student speakers from grades 3-12. The event marks a major milestone in the district’s implementation of the TED-Ed curriculum, which has been available to schools since the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.
According to CCSD Governance and Flexibility Specialist and TEDxCCSD Organizer Stephen Nobles, the delay in organizing a TEDx event stemmed largely from limited participation across CCSD schools during the program’s early years. However, as of May 7, the event was sold out with community support.
“It was a difficult first year. It was a trickle effect, but that’s how most things happen in the district. The (program was first) adopted (by) Barnett Shoals (Elementary), and two of their students ended up being picked to present at a Chamber of Commerce event at the Akins (Ford) Arena,” Nobles said. “That was big. People were genuinely blown away by how these kids conducted themselves on stage. It showed what’s possible.”
Now, about half of CCSD schools have implemented the TED-Ed curriculum, though the program varies by campus. Some schools offer it during the day, incorporated into Future Business Leaders of America and other gifted leadership classes, while others run it as an extracurricular opportunity. The curriculum consists of 13 modules and is focused on building confidence and leadership, specifically in writing and public speaking.
“That’s what we need, (to) set a higher standard. We don’t have to lower the standards for our kids to hit the mark. Our kids are so much more than some of the community narrative. We have amazing students, there’s great kids at all of our schools and I love opportunities (that) show it.”
— Stephen Nobles,
Governance and Flexibility Specialist and TEDxCCSD Organizer
The 15 student speakers were chosen out of over 70 applicants in early 2026. The applications included both a written and spoken portion to accurately gauge students’ initial capabilities. Once the speakers were chosen, they were assigned a coach to work with leading up to the event. Five of the speakers attend CCHS, including senior Mariah Carlson, juniors Brandon Frazier, Essex Forker and Kayla Walker and sophomore Laila Nobles.
“(Me and my coach are) both very excited, enthusiastic people that just wanted to make the coolest performance. So that out of all of (the talks), people will go home and say, ‘Essex’s was cool,’” Forker said. “We were on the same wavelength pretty much the entire time. It was really cool getting to work with somebody in a different field (and a) different age than me, who was excited about what I was talking about and wanted me to be successful.”
The Clarke County School District Administrative Office is shown on Feb. 12, 2024. On May 1, the CCSD announced that its first TEDx event, which will take place on May 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature 15 student speakers from grades 3-12, including CCHS junior Essex Forker, who worked with a TEDxCCSD-provided coach leading up to the event. “(My coach and I) were on the same wavelength pretty much the entire time,” Forker said. “It was really cool getting to work with somebody in a different field (and a) different age than me, who was excited about what I was talking about and wanted me to be successful.” Photo by Aza Khan
All of the student speeches fall under the theme, “Raise the Bar,” which organizers chose to reflect the district’s effort to highlight CCSD students’ potential. The theme culminates the district’s mission through the TED-Ed curriculum, to empower students to share their ideas, develop leadership skills and publicly speak on issues important to them.
“That’s what we need, (to) set a higher standard. We don’t have to lower the standards for our kids to hit the mark. Our kids are so much more than some of the community narrative,” Nobles said. “We have amazing students, there’s great kids at all of our schools and I love opportunities (that) show it.”
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