A Cherokee County School District Principal has been named a 2016 Georgia Distinguished Principal! Free Home Elementary School Principal Karen Carl will receive the honor, which includes a $1,000 award, from the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals at its fall conference. The prestigious recognition is awarded to one principal in each of the Associations regional districts, and winners are selected by their peers based on exemplary educational leadership. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower praised the schools successful efforts to increase student literacy and achievement as well as its focus on character education and community through projects such as the Rocket Pantry for families in need.
CCSD Teachers Honored with Golden Apple Awards The Gamma Eta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International recently honored 14 Cherokee County School District teachers and one graduating high school senior at its annual Golden Apple Ceremony. The Society has divided CCSD schools into three groups, and each year invites schools in one group to each select a teacher to be recognized. Over the course of three years, all schools have the opportunity to select a teacher for this recognition. Honorees are selected by their peers. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower participated in the event to recognize these outstanding teachers. Additionally, each year Gamma Eta awards a $1,000 college scholarship to a graduating, CCSD female student who plans to pursue a degree in education, and this years honoree is Bailey Burks of Etowah High School, who plans to study music education. Delta Kappa Gamma Society International's mission is to promote women educators.
Etowah High School names Trip Holton as new Girls Basketball Head Coach Etowah High School has named longtime assistant coach Trip Holton as the new Girls Basketball Head Coach. Coach Holton has served as an assistant basketball coach at Etowah HS for 12 seasons, the last three in the girls program serving under Coach Bob Westbrook as the varsity assistant. The Lady Eagles qualified for the State Playoffs two of the three years Coach Holton worked with the team. Coach Holton brings a great deal of coaching experience to the position and having worked the last three season under the direction of Coach Westbrook, we felt Trip was the perfect fit for the job, Etowah HS Athletic Director Bob Van Alstyne said. His familiarity with the program and the Etowah community will make for a seamless transition. A graduate of Cherokee High School, where he played baseball and basketball, Coach Holton earned a bachelors degree in physical education from Kennesaw State University. He has taught in the Cherokee County School District for 11 years and currently teaches health at E.T. Booth Middle School. He and his wife, Brittany, have two daughters, Hailey, 3, and Riley, 1. Having been a part of the Etowah community for 12 years, it is very special to me that I have been chosen to lead the girls program, Coach Holton said. The dedication and support from students, parents, teachers, and administration is unparalleled. I look forward to working with the girls and instilling values such as hard work, discipline, and leadership. I want to thank Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower, Principal Keith Ball, and Mr. VanAlstyne for giving me this opportunity, as well as Coach Westbrook for allowing me to be a part of his program for the last three years."
Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools named in Atlanta Business Chronicles Whos Who in Education Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicles Whos Who in Education. The Chronicles list features the 100 most influential education leaders in metro Atlanta from all levels of the field, including universities, as well as both elected and appointed officials. The profile on Dr. Hightower notes his appointment as Superintendent of Schools in February following 30 years of experience as an educator, rising from a classroom teacher to a school administrator and then a District administrator. It also details his bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees and notes his leadership roles including current chairman of the Cherokee YMCA annual campaign and current term on the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerces Board of Directors.
Liberty Elementary School is the latest CCSD school to launch the #BeKind initiative! Liberty ES joins Hickory Flat ES, Sixes ES, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy and E.T. Booth MS in the grassroots effort inspiring students and teachers to create a culture of kindness at their schools. Hickory Flat ES PTA was selected as a National PTA School of Excellence last year after launching the #BeKind initiative in their school and community. The Beta Club at Sixes ES recently traveled to Canton ES STEM Academy to read with kindergartners and present them with books as part of the #BeKind program at Sixes ES, which began earlier this school year. More information on the initiative can be found at http://www.2bekind.com/index.html
Dean Rusk Middle School eighth-grader recognized as the Zone Winner for the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest Dean Rusk Middle School eighth-grader Jace Nichols was recently recognized as the Zone Winner for the Optimist Club Oratorical Contest. The 2015-16 theme for the contest was "How My Best Brings Out the Best in Others." Towne Lake Optimist Club members Charlice Byrd and Julianne Rivera visited Dean Rusk MS on May 12 to present Jace with his plaque and a copy of the Optimist Creed. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower attended the presentation to offer Jace his congratulations for the achievement.
CCSD High School Choral Students Perform at NYC Cathedral Students representing all six of the Cherokee County School Districts high school choruses performed in New York City during Spring Break. Choral Directors Allison Baccala, Brad Ellis, William Hall, Josh Markham, Scott Martin and Ryan McKendrick coordinated the historic trip, which required months of planning and practice leading up to the performance at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. More than 340 students participated in the performance. Students also participated in other special activities, such as a workshop with Broadway musical theatre performers, and students from Etowah and Woodstock High Schools sang during a Sunday morning service at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church.
Six CCSD High School Seniors Recognized as 2016 Georgia Scholars Through the Georgia Scholar program, the Georgia Department of Education identifies and honors high school seniors who have achieved excellence in all phases of school and community life, including carrying exemplary course loads and excelling in all courses, successfully participating in inter-scholastic and extra-curricular activities. Only 151 graduating seniors from schools across Georgia will receive the honor, which includes a seal for his or her diploma. The CCSD honorees are: from Cherokee HS, Jessica Wenclawiak; from Creekview HS, Alex Francoletti, Alyssa Powell and David Wang; from Etowah HS, Madeline Gilmer; and from River Ridge HS, Laura Triana.
Woodstock HS Students Compete Internationally Senior, Michael Papadimitriou, and sophomore, Makayla Adams, both earned first-place honors in DECAs State Career Development Conference in the Principles of Finance category, which earned them the right to compete at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville at the end of April. DECA, an association of marketing students, is a co-curricular organization that promotes the principles of marketing, management and entrepreneurship. Through classroom instruction, community service and competition, DECA encourages students to develop skills in leadership, teamwork, management and decision-making skills.
CCSD Teacher Wins Prestigious Fulbright Award! Carmel Elementary School STEM enrichment specialist, Merry Willis, has been selected by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board for a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant to study in New Zealand. Recipients are selected based on their academic and professional achievement and demonstrated leadership potential; Ms. Willis is one of only 45 U.S. citizens named Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching grant winners for 2016-17. She will visit Wellington, New Zealand from February to June of 2017 and observe how technology impacts student learning throughout the country. Ms. Willis will focus on developing classroom resources, collaborative relationships and cross-cultural professional development for teachers in New Zealand and the U.S.