SUMMER 2016
A quarterly newsletter sharing the successes of students and employees in the Cherokee County School District
Dr. Hightower Named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who’s Who” List
Dr. Brian V. Hightower
Class of 2016 Ready to Make Its Mark on the World!
Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower has been
named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Who’s Who” in Education. The Chroni-
cle’s 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 class-
room teacher to a school administrator and then a District administrator. It also
details his bachelor’s, master’s 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 Commerce’s Board of Directors.
The Cherokee County School District’s Class of 2016 Valedictorians and Salutatorians
are, from left to right, front row: Woodstock HS Salutatorian Kendall Alsup, Sequoyah
HS Salutatorian Madison Evans, River Ridge HS Salutatorian Alex Rautio, Etowah HS
Salutatorian Sarah Autry, Creekview HS Salutatorian Peyton Heath, Cherokee HS
Salutatorian Conner Stevens; back row: Woodstock HS Valedictorian Michael Gus-
tafson, Sequoyah HS Valedictorian Mackenzie Joy, River Ridge HS Valedictorian Mat-
thew Wang, Etowah HS Valedictorian Sara Kate Brockmeier, Creekview HS Valedic-
torian Claire Roop and Cherokee HS Valedictorian Joshua Freeman.
CCSD graduated 2,616 members of
the Class of 2016 in ceremonies held
May 26-28, and the top graduates
from each high school were recog-
nized at the annual Scholar’s Ban-
quet on May 26. School Superinten-
dent Dr. Brian V. Hightower and
School Board Members congratulat-
ed the valedictorian and salutatorian
from each high school, who shared
their plans for college and future ca-
reer fields. Each student also select-
ed a teacher who was especially in-
fluential on his or her high school
career to honor at the banquet.
Each student received an iPad, $50
gift card and plaque. Each teacher
received a plaque and $100 gift
card. The dinner and gifts were
made possible by donations from
sponsors: Platinum: EF Tours, KRH
Architects Inc., Manley, Spangler &
Smith, Northside Hospital-Cherokee,
Poole’s Insulation Co. and Wood-
mont Golf & Country Club; Gold:
Brown & Brown Insurance of
Georgia, NOVA Engineering, Sea-
sonal Designs Landscaping and
Traditions Turf Management Inc.;
and Silver: Floorcare Specialists,
The Travel Store Inc. and True
Natural Gas.
“Tap into your ‘Why?’” Dr. High-
tower told the Scholars at the
banquet’s conclusion. “Know
why you want to do what you
want to do, and it will all fall into
place. We’re so proud of you
and all you have accomplished.”
2
All six Cherokee County School District high schools were named to the Washington Post’s “Most Challenging
High Schools” list in April, and two schools also were named to U.S. News and World Report’s “Best High
Schools in America” list.
Washington Post: Cherokee HS, Creekview HS, Etowah HS, River Ridge HS, Sequoyah HS and Woodstock HS
“America’s Most Challenging High Schools” ranks schools through an index formula that includes the number of
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests
given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year. A ratio of 1.000 means
the school had as many tests as graduates. Only 10 percent of the approximately 22,000 U.S. public high
schools managed to earn placement on the list.
U.S. News and World Report: Etowah HS and Sequoyah HS
Etowah High School and Sequoyah High School earned silver medals under the magazine’s ranking methodolo-
gy for “Best High Schools in America,” which awards gold, silver or bronze medals based on multiple factors,
including AP exam results and performance of disadvantaged students. Sequoyah HS has made the list each of
the last five years. Data for the rankings is based upon the 2013-14 school year, according to the publica-
tion. Out of the 50 states, Georgia ranked 21st nationally according to the percentage of medals earned by pub-
lic high schools. The annual “Best High Schools” list is released each spring.
CCSD High Schools Earn National Rigor & Achievement Honors
The District-level winners of the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition were recently honored at the June 16 School Board meeting. The annual writing contest is open to students in grades kindergarten through 12 and provides an opportunity for schools to encourage writing in a variety of genres. Each CCSD school submitted a top entry for each grade level to compete at the District level. District judges then selected a first-place winner for each grade level; the winners are:
Kindergarten: Hugh Landreth, Macedonia ES for “My Snow Adventure”
Grade 1: Audrey Hopkins, Macedonia ES for “The Unicorn Without a Horn”
Grade 2: Maile Rowley, Macedonia ES for “Owlets”
Grade 3: Kelly Manke, Liberty ES for “Imagine”
Grade 4: Laura Hand, Free Home ES for “Extraordinary”
Grade 5: Alyssa Rudolph, Woodstock ES for “The Long Shot”
Grade 6: Cadence Harvey, Indian Knoll ES for “Silent Thoughts”
Grade 7: Gabby Christian, Creekland MS for “Opposite World”
Grade 8: Jamila Reeves‐Miller, Mill Creek MS for “What Lurks in the Dark”
Grade 9: Savannah Clack, Etowah HS for “A Deathly Hope”
Grade 10: Katelynn Basford, Woodstock HS for “All That Blooms”
Grade 11: Special Davis, Etowah HS for “Monsters”
Grade 12: Yeseul Heo, Sequoyah HS for “Metamorphosis”
Top School District Young Authors Recognized by School Board
3
Each of CCSD’s six traditional high schools earned
recognition from the State this spring as an 2016 Ad-
vanced Placement (AP) Honor School for outstanding
student performance and participation on AP ex-
ams. CCSD’s high schools have been named to the
AP Honor List each of the last six years. Schools can
earn recognition in as many as six categories; CCSD
high schools earned recognition in all four categories
for which its schools were eligible, including three
schools winning a place on the Merit School list.
AP Merit Schools: Cherokee HS, Creekview HS
and River Ridge HS. AP Merit Schools are those
with at least 20 percent of the student popula-
tion taking AP exams and at least 50 percent of
all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.
AP STEM Schools: Cherokee HS, Creekview HS,
Etowah HS, River Ridge HS, Sequoyah HS and
Woodstock HS. AP STEM Schools are those with
students testing in at least two AP math courses
and two AP science courses.
AP STEM Achievement Schools: Cherokee HS,
Creekview HS, Etowah HS, River Ridge HS, Se-
quoyah HS and Woodstock HS. AP STEM
Achievement Schools are those with students
testing in at least two AP math courses and two
AP science courses, and at least 40 percent of
the exam scores on AP math and AP science ex-
ams earning scores of 3 or higher.
CCSD High Schools Lauded for AP Exam Excellence
National AP Distinction
CCSD was one of six school districts in Georgia
named to the national AP District Honor Roll in
2015, its third consecutive year to earn national
distinction for its AP participation and achieve-
ment. CCSD had the third-highest AP exam pas-
sage rate in Georgia in 2015, when more than
2,200 students in CCSD took more than 4,100
AP exams across 26 subjects.
AP Humanities Schools: Cherokee HS, Etowah
HS, River Ridge HS and Sequoyah HS. AP Hu-
manities Schools are those with students testing
in all of the following AP courses: at least one
ELA course, two social sciences courses, one fine
arts course and one world language course.
“We are extremely proud of our AP students and
teachers,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V.
Hightower said. “These students challenge them-
selves to take the highest level of academic course-
work available, and our AP teachers go the extra
mile to ensure their students are prepared to suc-
ceed on rigorous AP exams and earn the college
credit they’ve worked hard for all year.”
CCSD’s high schools also won a 2016 AP Teacher
Training Grant for the training of AP teachers at AP
Summer Institutes, totaling over $7,800.
Sequoyah High School Class of 2016 graduate Mackenzie R. Joy earned a National
Merit Scholarship. Mackenzie, who was named her Class Valedictorian for the high-
est GPA and STAR Student for the highest SAT score, was selected for a National
Merit University of Georgia Scholarship. She plans to study astrophysics and science
at UGA to pursue a career as a physicist.
In her junior year at Sequoyah HS, Mackenzie earned a perfect score of 36 on the
ACT… less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earns this top
composite score. Mackenzie is one of only 3,000 winners nationwide of National
Merit Scholarships financed by a college or university.
Sequoyah HS Graduate Named A National Merit Scholar
Mackenzie Joy
4
The Cherokee County School District continued its Georgia School Bell Award-winning streak with Bas-comb Elementary School earning the prestigious honor for 2016.
The distinguished Georgia School Bell Award is pre-sented to 10 schools in Georgia each year in recogni-tion of outstanding curriculum and organizational leadership initiatives… this is the sixth consecutive year that at least one CCSD school has earned the award.
Bascomb ES, led by Principal Kathleen Chandler, has won the award presented by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals for her program, “Keeping It Real.” The selection committee chooses exemplary programs that show positive results and reflect significant involvement of staff, students, par-ents and community.
“Keeping It Real” is a school-wide initiative to bring Georgia Performance Standards “to life” by planning interactive, hands-on activities that give students the opportunity to experience lessons in another way in addition to textbook and online learning. Examples of these activities include fifth-grade Civil War Day and fourth-grade Colonial Day, which feature historic demonstrations and re-enactments, guest speakers from the community, costumes and crafts; and Sci-ence Day, which is presented for all grades with PTA
Bascomb ES Wins School Bell Award for ‘Keeping It Real’ support and offers science ex-periments ranging from launch-ing balloon rockets to dissecting owl pellets to creating flying smoke rings.
“Students make connections to the real world!,” Principal Chan-dler said, noting that activities are differentiated to meet the learning needs of all stu-dents. “We know that these ex-periences create lasting knowledge, which is evident in our school’s outstand-ing test scores year after year.”
“We are so proud of Bascomb Elementary School and Principal Kathleen Chandler not only for this award, but also for the creativity in the classroom that led to this recognition,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bri-an V. Hightower said. “Congratulations and thank you to everyone in the Bascomb community who helped make this outstanding accomplishment possi-ble!”
Recent past CCSD Georgia School Bell winners are: 2015, Holly Springs ES STEM Academy and Wood-stock ES; 2014, Canton ES STEM Academy; 2013, Free Home ES; 2012, Liberty ES; and 2011, Oak Grove ES.
Kathleen Chandler
Woodstock High School recently rec-ognized 25 work-based learning stu-dents who earned GeorgiaBEST (Business Ethics Student Training) cer-tificates for successfully completing the workforce education program. The students were required to earn at least 25 out of 30 possible points to receive the certification from the Georgia Departments of Labor and Education.
The Departments designed the program to teach stu-dents the top 10 “soft skills” needed in the workplace, as identified by Georgia businesses. GeorgiaBEST al-lows for leadership development, critical and creative thinking, decision-making, problem solving, teamwork and work-based learning experience. Guest speakers from the business community, mock job interviews and résumé critiques round out the program.
Woodstock HS students who earned the certificates
are: Alyssa Alfano, Kailey Austin, Olivia Barnes, Marina Buromskikh, Christian Bur-rell, Megan Cooney, Stephanie De La Cruz, Natalie Foster, Jessica Frasor, Rasheed Gib-son, Daniella Gonzalez-Espinoza, Julianne Karnes, McKenzie Keeton, Jordan Kendall,
Megan Moore, Paige Morrison, Antonette O’Gorman, Taylor Parks, Mandi Rocker, Dyemond Steed, Ashley Stephens, Ashley Van De Ryt and Stephanie Velez.
“Many students have a hard time understanding the difference in hard, tangible skills versus soft skills,” said teacher Olivia Steele, who oversees Woodstock High’s work-based learning program. “Soft skills are more impactful and big contributor of a successful employee or team member. After completing the program, students were able to grasp how the ‘small things’ you do on a job outperforms any skills learned using equipment or technology devices.”
Work-Based Learning Students Earn GeorgiaBEST Certification at WHS
5
Two CCSD Schools Recognized
for ‘Greatest Gains’ on CCRPI
Two Cherokee County School District schools
were honored by Gov. Nathan Deal for making ac-
ademic gains. Sequoyah High School has received
a Gold Award and Woodstock Middle School has
received a Bronze Award for “Greatest Gains.”
To earn these “Greatest Gains” awards, schools
must earn a three-year average CCRPI (College
and Career Ready Performance Index) Progress
Score that ranks in at least the 93rd percen-
tile. Only 127 schools in the State received a
“Greatest Gains” award, and only 37 earned Gold
Awards. Winners received a certificate to display
at their school.
“I want to congratulate all of the award-winning
schools across our State, as well as the students
and teachers who have worked tirelessly toward
these accomplishments,” Deal said.
Creekland MS Academic Bowl
Team Places Fourth in Nation
Creekland Middle School’s Academic Bowl team’s sixth-graders placed fourth in the Nation, and one student individually placed sixth!
The team completed at its second National individ-ual and team championships in Arlington, Va. earli-er in May, where its Sixth-Grade team placed fourth in the National Elementary Division. Sixth-grader Justin Bolsen placed sixth in the Nation in the individual science competition and ninth in the Academic Bee. Justin’s success follows his recent fourth-place win at the National Academic Quiz Tournament recently held in Atlanta.
Sixth-graders and twins Jordan Moyal placed ninth and Er’el Moyal placed 14th in the Nation in the Humanities Bee held as part of the Nationals event in Arlington.
Pictured above— Creekland MS Academic Bowl team members, from left to right, front row: sixth-graders, Hampton Barrineau, Cal Pace, Jordan Moyal, Justin Bolsen, Er'el Moyal; back row: Coach Dr. Mark Nazemzadeh, Jack Eno, Joseph Satter-field, Mathew Thompson, Susannah Currie and Coach Eli Rollman.
Pictured right, Creekland MS Aca-demic Bowl Coach Dr. Mark Nazemza-deh congratulates Justin Bolsen on his success at Na-
tionals.
Two Cherokee County School District teachers were recently named Georgia Science Ambassadors.
Cherokee High School teacher Clyde Lowery and Clark Creek Elementary School STEM academy teacher Karen Garland have been selected by the Georgia Department of Education to participate in its Science Ambassador Program.
The program increases the leadership capacity of sci-ence educators across the state by providing target-ed training to select science teachers and other sci-ence educators to support professional development for their local school districts. All travel, lodging and substitute teacher costs are reimbursed by the De-partment of Education.
Mr. Lowery teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Phys-ics and Honors Physics and serves as the school’s Science Department Head. Ms. Garland teaches Grades K-5 science in the school’s science lab and serves as the Georgia Science Teacher Association’s elementary grades representative for the State of Georgia.
CCSD Teachers Named Georgia
Science Ambassadors for 2016
6
A Cherokee County School District leader was named to a National advisory committee in May. Bobby Blount, Assistant Superintendent of Accountability, Technology and Strategic Planning, is a member of the 2016 RTM National K-12 Advisory Committee.
RTM Education events are made up of school system senior administrators and superintendents responsi-ble for making decision for the operations, technolo-gy and instruction at the District level. Assistant Su-perintendent Blount was one of 20 K-12 education professionals (who included chief information offic-ers, chief technology officers and superintendents) invited to attend the 2016 RTM National K-12 Advi-sory Committee meeting in New York City earlier this month. The RTM Business Group paid the travel and lodging costs for participants.
“It’s refreshing to gain a national perspective on not only technology trends, but also how technology is
Assistant Superintendent for Technology Named to National Committee
CCSD Students Win State, Region Honors from Positive Athlete Georgia
transforming the classroom through the adoption of digital content, and to hear how differ-ent districts are approaching this movement,” said Mr. Blount, who has served in CCSD’s Technology Depart-ment for 18 years.
“Our District is recognized na-tionally as a leader in effective technology use, integration and innovation, and the Cherokee County community, along with the Board of Education, have been vital in supporting the Education SPLOST, which com-pletely funds the technology infrastructure our stu-dents and teachers utilize daily in the classroom.”
Cherokee, Cobb and DeKalb counties represented Georgia at the conference.
Bobby Blount
A Cherokee County School District student is a Geor-
gia Positive Athlete Award winner— and nine CCSD
students won region honors. Woodstock High School
sophomore Katie Beckham is one of only 28 student
athletes to receive the statewide honor sponsored by
Positive Athlete Georgia, a subsidiary of Celebrate
Positive LLC, which promotes the benefits of positivity
to young athletes around the world. In addition to
Katie's state honor, CCSD had nine region winners:
• Connor Bourn, Alternative (rodeo), Cherokee HS
• Kyle Wilkie, Baseball, Creekview HS
• Alex Burgess, Golf- boys, Woodstock HS
• Erin Peters, Golf- girls, Sequoyah HS (also winner of
the Life University “Life-Changer Award”)
• Bella Thomas, Gymnastics, Creekview HS (also win-
ner of the LGE Credit Union “Extra Credit Award”)
• Daniel Zimny, Lacrosse- boys, Etowah HS
• Timothy Johnson, Soccer- boys, River Ridge HS
• Ivie Uwaifo, Soccer- girls, River Ridge HS
• Natalie Lucco, Volleyball, Etowah HS (also winner of
the Chattahoochee Technical College “Academic Ex-
cellence Award”)
The Third Annual Georgia Positive Athlete Awards
ceremony was presented by The College Football
Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-a Fan Experience on
June 7 in Atlanta. Katie was selected as the Volley-
ball honoree for the State.
More than 3,400 students were nominated by
coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and
parents. In addition to excellence on the field, each
nominated Positive Athlete was required to show
characteristics such as an optimistic attitude, team-
mate encouragement, servant leadership, heart for
others, ability to admit imperfections, giving 100
percent all the time, and realizing the team as more
important than the individual.
7
The Canton and Woodstock Lions Clubs each spring
honor Cherokee County School District students and
teachers at their annual STAR Student and STAR
Teacher Recognition Ceremony.
The STAR, or Student Teacher Achievement Recogni-
tion, Student honor is awarded to the student from
each Cherokee County public and private high school
with the highest SAT score.
Each honored student is invited to select his or her
favorite teacher to be named that school’s STAR
Teacher.
The CCSD 2016 Honorees are:
Cherokee HS
Student: Dalton Hutchinson
Teacher: Charley Ingham
Creekview HS
Student: Brian Dunn
Teacher: Peggy Corbett
2016 STAR Students Honored by Lions for Highest SAT Scores
The River Ridge High School Academic Bowl team placed second at the Georgia Academic Team Asso-ciation’s State Championships in March.
Team members are Julia Boll, Josh Carver, Leah Choi Garrett Johnston, Mukthi Kaup, Bethany Norman and Simon Yang; the team’s coach is teacher Wiliam Norman. Leading up to the State championships, the team recently placed first at Kennesaw Moun-tain High School’s March Madness event; they beat Collins Hill HS twice to sweep through the finals.
River Ridge Academic Bowl Team
Places Second at State Competition
Etowah HS
Student: J.P. Shaw
Teacher: Rebecca Schwartz
River Ridge HS
Student: Katie Carlsen
Teacher: Kendra Nayman
Sequoyah HS
Student: Mackenzie Joy
Teacher: Brian Carnes
Woodstock HS
Student: Paula Ruiz
Teacher: Andy Hall
From left: Katie Carlsen of River Ridge HS, J.P. Shaw of
Etowah HS, Dalton Hutchinson of Cherokee HS, Paula Ruiz of
Woodstock HS, Mackenzie Joy of Sequoyah HS and Brian
Dunn of Creekview HS; behind each is the STAR Teacher they
selected to honor: Kendra Nayman, Rebecca Schwartz, Char-
ley Ingham, Andy Hall, Brian Carnes and Peggy Corbett
Six Cherokee County School District high school seniors were named 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 Chero-kee 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.
“I offer my sincere congratulations to each of our 2016 Georgia Scholars,” State School Superinten-dent Richard Woods. “These students have worked extremely hard and have engaged with all aspects of the educational process, with the result that they are truly ready to learn, ready to live, and ready to lead.”
Six CCSD Seniors Named Georgia
Scholars for Academics and Leadership
8
The Cherokee County School District annually recog-
nizes outstanding high school juniors as Superinten-
dent’s Key Scholars, and a record number of students
earned the distinction this year by scoring at the
90th percentile or above on the Grade 11 PSAT/
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
During the 11th Annual Superintendent’s Key Schol-
ar Recognition Ceremony held on March 22 at River
Ridge High School, 327 students were recognized for
their PSAT scores achieved in October, which ranked
them in the top 10% of the nation. Each student re-
ceived a letter jacket patch that reads
“Superintendent’s Key Scholar” and will also be hon-
ored at their school’s year-end awards ceremony as a
Superintendent’s Key Scholar. These students also
will have a special embossment on their high school
diploma.
"As academic leaders, you have the potential to con-
tinue distinguishing yourselves as high school sen-
iors, in your college pursuits and, eventually, in your
chosen careers," said Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Super-
intendent of Schools, in his remarks to the students.
"We also extend our congratulations this evening to
all of the individuals who stand behind and support
their efforts, including: parents, grandparents, teach-
ers, school administrators and all others who have
made and continue to make an impact on their edu-
cation and their lives."
Record Number of Key Scholars
Honored for PSAT Excellence
Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower hands Makaila Wood of Cherokee HS her Key Scholar patch.
The Cherokee County School District for the 11th
time has been named one of the top 10 large
school systems nationwide for its effective use of
technology in education. The honor is a result of
the annual Digital School Districts Survey conduct-
ed by the Center for Digital Education and the Na-
tional School Boards Association (NSBA). The sur-
vey compares public school districts from across
the Nation and awards Top 10 rankings to those
that fully integrate technology into the classroom,
and throughout their system as a whole. With this
year’s recognition, CCSD has made its 11th appear-
ance in the Top 10 since 2004.
“To be successful in the world of today and tomor-
row, each one of our students needs to understand
technology and how to use it to succeed,” Superin-
tendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower
said. “This importance is why we’ve made technol-
ogy a major system priority, and we use technology
not only to improve teaching and learning, but to
make every facet of our operations more efficient
and to continuously improve communications with
our community.”
The survey evaluates areas of digital and emerging
technologies, including: integration of mobile de-
vices and technology into curriculum; technology
leadership and transparency in school board poli-
cies and meetings; strategic planning, data manage-
ment and safety, as well as instructional strategies.
School District Ranked in Top 10
for Technology Use, Integration
Cherokee County School District high school juniors recently pre-
sented their ideas for improving metro Atlanta to the Atlanta Re-
gional Commission (ARC) Board. The five CCSD students had the
opportunity as participants in the ARC’s Model Atlanta Regional
Commission (MARC), a six-month youth leadership program fo-
cused on regional issues and challenges. Etowah HS juniors Aubrey
Gerber, Olivia Klingler and Sydney Miracle, River Ridge HS junior Jordan Mason and Woodstock HS junior
Kurt Mueller were among the 50 students selected from a pool of applicants representing the 10-county
metro region. “I am so impressed with the innovative ideas that these young leaders have developed,” ARC
Board Chair Kerry Armstrong said of the students’ ideas. “These resolutions have the potential to help im-
prove quality of life throughout the region. They deserve our careful review.”
9
Ridge Ridge High School Counselor Brittany Voltner
is a “ray of sunshine” for students and staff, accord-
ing to her Principal.
Her dedication to their successes, enthusiasm for
their new ideas and support for them when they
struggle is why she was honored this spring as the
Cherokee County School District 2016 Counselor of
the Year. She will represent CCSD in the Georgia
Counselor of the Year competition. Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower surprised Ms.
Voltner with the news at a faculty meeting in front
of her peers, who gave her a standing ovation. The
CCSD winner is selected by a panel of community
leaders.
“I was impressed with the things you said about her
more than what she said about herself,” Dr. High-
tower told the audience of her colleagues. “She’s
humble… but it’s clear that she’s vital to the success
you see in your classrooms. We’re so proud of her.”
Ms. Voltner, who began her career as a school coun-
selor at River Ridge HS in 2013 after graduating
from Columbus State University with a Master of
Education in School Counseling degree, was quick to
thank her fellow educators for their support.
“I could not do it without you all,” she said, noting
the faculty’s support of her counseling initiatives in-
cluding the Mentor Program to assist students at risk
of not graduating on time… one of the ways she has
contributed to increasing the school’s on-time gradu-
River Ridge High School’s Counselor Selected as Tops in District
Brittany Voltner, left, is congratulated by Superintendent Dr.
Brian Hightower.
ation rate to an impressive 92%. “You want to make
your students better.”
Among her many duties at River Ridge, Ms. Voltner
also serves as assistant coach for the varsity football
and competition cheerleading teams and sponsors
the Infinity Standing Strong Club, a peer support
program for students with severe emotional needs
that also organizes suicide prevention and aware-
ness activities.
“I have found that meeting students’ emotional
needs is important in helping them to get academi-
cally on track, and this club attempts to do just that,”
Ms. Voltner said.
“You really do bring a ray of sunshine to us and a lot
of help,” Principal Darrell Herring said in his re-
marks.
CCSD Juniors Study Regional Issues on Model ARC Board
10
Etowah High School's Audio-Video Technology and Film (AVTF) pro-
gram earned industry certification this spring. According to the State
Department of Education, when a program has become industry certi-
fied, “it received a ‘stamp of excellence,’ which represents the apex of
program quality. Only those programs that have successfully under-
gone rigorous reviews by leaders from business and industry are rec-
ognized with this distinction.”
The AVTF certification team visited Etowah HS in April to review the
program, noting in its report: “The team found Etowah’s AVTF pro-
gram to be strong and a recommended model for other schools to fol-
low. Overall excellent program. The content of the courses is de-
tailed, comprehensive and aligned with industry. The instructor’s hard
work and dedication to the program, not only at her school but others
as well, is remarkable.”
Linda Yunker, the AVTF instructor at Etowah HS, teaches four levels
of the class, which prepares students for a career in AVTF or for post-
secondary study in the field. Students in her classes learn about video
production from initial writing to final editing, as well as camera opera-
tions, commonly used software (Photoshop, Garage Band, Adobe
AfterEffects, Final Cut, Motion and others), industry ethics and career
opportunities. They produce segments for Etowah High’s weekly
news show and also have the opportunity to film sporting events and
assist in operating the Jumbotron in the Etowah HS football stadium.
AVTF is a Career Pathway offered at all CCSD high schools. For more information on Industry Certification
and Career, Technical, Agricultural Education, see the DOE’s website here.
Etowah HS Video and Film Program Earns Industry Certification
From left to right, Arayna Goodman, Kami
Westgate, Sofia Weckerle and teacher
Linda Yunker watch the action as Sarah
Podstata is filming.
Three Cherokee County School District high schools
won approval for Georgia’s International Skills diplo-
ma seal. Cherokee HS, Etowah HS and Woodstock
HS successfully applied to the Georgia Department
of Education for authorization to issue the seal to
eligible graduating seniors beginning with the Class
of 2016. The State DOE’s Global Skills Committee
members stated they were impressed with the
schools’ applications, which were approved in the
first round of school reviews by the DOE.
The State designed the program to encourage and
recognize students who complete an “international
education curriculum and engage in extracurricular
activities and experiences that foster the achieve-
ment of global competencies… it is a signal to em-
Three CCSD High Schools Approved for International Skills Diploma Seal
ployers and higher education institutions that a stu-
dent is prepared to participate in the global econo-
my.” To earn the designation, students must com-
plete at least three credits in the same world language
and/or English for Speakers of Other Languages; at
least four credits in courses determined to have an
international focus (e.g., international economics,
world/non-US history, world geography, etc.), at least
four extracurricular activities and experiences with
global themes and/or in global contexts (e.g., ex-
change programs, international and language clubs,
travel abroad), 20 hours of community service involv-
ing a global/cross-cultural public service project and a
capstone presentation on the knowledge gained in
the courses and activities listed above.
Woodstock ES Assistant
Principal Named Best in GA
11
Free Home ES Principal Wins
‘Distinguished’ Honor for State
Woodstock Elementary School Assistant Principal
Rachel Wasserman was surprised May 24 with the
announcement that she is the Georgia 2016 Nation-
al Distinguished Assistant Principal.
Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals
Executive Director Hal Beaver made the presenta-
tion, which includes a $500 award, to Ms. Wasser-
man in front of a gym full of cheering students and
teachers.
“You have been chosen by your peers because you
exemplify educational leadership of the highest
quality,” he said, noting the award is presented to
only one Assistant Principal in Georgia each year.
Ms. Wasserman has served in her current role for
two years following success as a classroom teacher
beginning in 2006, including being named the
school’s 2013-14 Teacher of the Year. She earned
her master’s in early childhood education and spe-
cialist in educational leadership degrees from
Kennesaw State University
Principal Kim Montalbano describes Ms. Wasserman
as a “cheerleader for children.”
“She is positive, innovative and a true professional,”
Principal Montalbano said. “She strives to maintain
an extraordinarily positive school climate that ulti-
mately promotes student learning.”
Free Home Elementary School Principal Karen Carl
has been named a 2016 Georgia Distinguished Prin-
cipal, which includes a $1,000 award, from the Geor-
gia Association of Elementary School Principals at its
fall conference.
The prestigious recognition is awarded to one Princi-
pal in each of the Association’s regional districts, and
winners are selected by their peers based on exem-
plary educational leadership.
“The Free Home community is very passionate about
its school, and Principal Carl has exceeded its high
expectations by valuing traditions, while also engag-
ing families and partners in new initiatives to expand
opportunities for students,” Superintendent of
Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.
Dr. Hightower praised the school’s 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 fami-
lies in need.
Ms. Carl was praised by the Association for her dual
focus on new innovations in teaching and traditional
lessons of ethics and good citizenship. Ms. Carl
joined Free Home ES in 2012 after starting her ca-
reer with CCSD in 2006 as an assistant principal at
Hickory Flat Elementary School followed by three
years in the same role at Sixes Elementary
School. She previously worked in the Cobb County
School District for 19 years as a teacher and instruc-
tional lead teacher.
From left, Principal Kim Montalbano, Deputy Supt. Trey Olson,
Director of School Operations Dr. Nicole Holmes, GAESP Execu-
tive Director Hal Beavers, Assistant Principal Rachel Wasserman,
and Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower.
Free Home ES Principal Karen Carl, left, is congratulated by
GAESP Executive Director Hal Beavers, Superintendent Dr. Bri-
an Hightower, Connie Brown of Mentoring Minds, and Deputy
Superintendent Trey Olson.
12
Macedonia ES Media Specialist Honored as District Winner
Jennifer Rice
When Macedonia Elementary School Media Specialist
Jennifer Rice wanted to “change up” what she was
doing as a classroom teacher, she didn’t envision that
it would lead to her true calling.
Instead of moving from one grade level to another,
she moved from a traditional classroom to the media
center. And in March, she was surprised in the media
center that she now calls her classroom by the Super-
intendent of Schools, family and colleagues, who sur-
prised her with the announcement that she had been
named the 2016 Cherokee County School District
Media Specialist of the Year. She now will represent
CCSD in the State-level competition.
“If you would have asked me what my dream career
was, I would have said three: media specialist, event
planner or prop builder,” she said, and then gestured
around the media center, which was decked out for a
Read Across America event with plenty of colorful
props. “I really feel like this is the place I’m supposed
to be.”
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower in
making the presentation praised Ms. Rice for the en-
ergy and passion that she brings to her work.
“I believe in passionate educators,” he said. “You
don’t just need a passionate educator in the class-
room, you need them in the cafeteria, the front office,
the media center – and Jennifer, you embody that.”
He went on to detail for the crowd of well-wishers
the way that Ms. Rice has transformed the cen-
ter. She not only has increased the annual circulation
numbers from 30,000 to more than 70,000, but creat-
ed a “cabin” reading room for reading “camp-outs” and
increased PTA involvement. As she accepted her
award, parent and student volunteers quietly worked
their way up and down aisles, shelving books and cre-
ating displays. A new project she’s embarking on,
Books on the Bus, will bring a mobile library to low-
income students who receive free lunches delivered
to their neighborhoods during the summer break.
“You empower people and you engage kids… to me,
this is what media specialist is all about in the 21st
Century,” Dr. Hightower said.
A graduate of Georgia College & State University,
where she earned bachelor’s, master’s and specialist
degrees in education, Ms. Rice, in addition to her
traditional media specialist responsibilities, also or-
ganizes the school’s reading bowl team, spelling bee
and student news team. She recently was named
to the Georgia Children’s Picturebook Award Com-
mittee for a three-year appointment.
The 2016 Chick-fil-A 5K & Fun Run will be
held Aug. 6 at Etowah River Park in Canton
benefitting the Cherokee County Education-
al Foundation and Cherokee County Special
Olympics. CCSD schools are competing for
a $1,000 prize for the school with the most
participation; this year, there also will be a
$500 prize for runner-up. The course is USA
Track and Field certified and serves as a
Peachtree Road Race qualifier. A Family
FunZone for children under 12 will be open
from 7 am—10 am with free activities and
inflatables. To register, go to:
http://cfaraceseries.com/races/191/
Chick-fil-A 5K Set for August 6
13
A Woodstock High School teacher has been selected
to serve on the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Com-
mittee.
Karen Zayance was tapped for the Committee,
which is charged with reviewing the Governor’s Edu-
cation Reform Commission’s recommendations “that
specifically relate to teachers such as teacher re-
cruitment and retention, the implementation of
competency-based education, and the elements dis-
tricts should consider including as they transition to
new compensation models,” according to the Gover-
nor’s Office.
The Governor’s Office said it solicited educational
leaders and legislators statewide for nominations of
teachers to serve on the committee.
Teachers are asked to attend at least one meeting in
person, as well as two conference calls and one
webinar; the State will reim-
burse teachers for traveling
to the in-person meeting.
Ms. Zayance, who teaches
Engineering Technology Ca-
reer Pathway classes includ-
ing AP Computer Science, is
the Career, Technical and
Agricultural Education De-
partment Chair for Wood-
stock HS.
She recently was recognized as the Class of 2015
Woodstock HS Valedictorian’s Teacher Honoree at
CCSD’s Annual Scholar Recognition Banquet, and,
with a Woodstock HS colleague, won a 2015 Public
Education Leadership Community of PPG Aerospace
Grant for collaborative STEM activities.
Woodstock HS Teacher Tapped for Governor’s Advisory Committee
Karen Zayance
Etowah HS, River Ridge HS Win Region Sportsmanship Awards
Two CCSD High Schools won the GEMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsman-ship Award for their respective regions for 2015-16.
Etowah HS won the Region 5-AAAAAA award, and River Ridge HS won for Region 7AAAAA.
The prestigious Georgia High School Association (GHSA) honor is spon-sored by Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, and awards are pre-sented annually to one GHSA-member high school in each region in all classifications.
Introduced in 2006, the awards promote sportsmanship and reinforce GHSA’s philosophy: “Student athletes, coaches, spectators, and all others associated with high school activities programs should adhere to the fun-damental values of respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.”
According to GHSA, the program honors student-athletes along with fel-low students, school staff, parents and game spectators, making the award not only a school honor, but also a community honor.
The awards were presented to Principal Keith Ball and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Bob Van Alstyne for Etowah HS and to Principal Dar-rell Herring and Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Scott Krug for River Ridge HS.
14
CCSD Students Among First to Receive State Honor as ESOL Stars Three CCSD students and two of their teachers were
honored with a new Georgia Department of Educa-
tion recognition this spring. The Georgia ESOL Star
Learner program honors students who speak English
as a second language; CCSD nominated students
with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, extra-curricular involve-
ment and outstanding attendance and conduct.
Only 27 students statewide were selected for the
honor, including Class of 2016 graduating seniors
Lucas Barros and Kathy Keodouangdy of Etowah
High School and Brian Quintana-Guzman of River
Ridge High School.
Each Georgia ESOL Star Learner had the opportunity
to nominate a Georgia ESOL Star Teacher, and they
chose Pamela Holman of Etowah HS and Autumn
Hamilton of River Ridge HS.
Lucas, who has a 3.25 GPA and currently is enrolled
in AP Physics, played two years on the school soccer
team and designed and created a bicycle-powered
energy source to charge a cell phone.
“In class, he was always asking questions, helping
others and desiring feedback on ways he could im-
prove his speaking and writing,” Ms. Holman
said. “He never backed down from anything hard
and overcame any language barrier in order to meet
standards in his classes.”
Lucas said Ms. Holman’s ESOL classes did more than
improve his reading, speaking and writing skills.
“It changed my life because I learned how to com-
municate better to other people and assimilate in the
American culture,” he said.
Kathy, who has a 3.5 GPA and also works part-time
in retail fashion, plans to study fashion design after
graduation… her senior project was creating a dress
of her own design.
“I have had the pleasure of watching her blossom
from a shy girl from Laos to an outgoing, thriving
young woman with a future in college and a bright
career in fashion design,” Ms. Holman said. “She has
a happy disposition all of the time and has built a
community for herself where she is beloved and re-
spected by her teachers and friends.”
Kathy sees Ms. Holman as part of that special com-
munity.
“She was the one who actually noticed me, pushed
me forward, and forced me to realize that I was ac-
tually a somebody, and not just anybody, someone
who would someday make a difference,” Kathy said
of her teacher.
Brian, who has a 3.5 GPA, plays soccer and tennis
and volunteers at school and church, including as a
mentor to newcomers at River Ridge HS.
“Often I would sit with Brian and help him work
through the ‘How you say?’ conundrum that often
plagues our newcomers,” Ms. Hamilton said. “Even
at times when he was frustrated, he kept a con-
structive, optimistic attitude. He knew he had to
keep working if he was going to make it.”
Brian said Ms. Hamilton’s support went beyond
teaching him English.
“Living in the United States as a foreign student is
the hardest challenge I have ever faced in my
life. But with the help of Mrs. Hamilton, I have been
able to go through this challenge,” he said. “In the
beginning, like any other kid, I had trouble learning
the language and also making friends, but Mrs.
Hamilton never gave up on me.”
L. Barros K. Keodouangdy B. Quintana-Guzman
P. Holman A. Hamilton
15
Sequoyah High School’s Automotive program stu-
dents competed in the Summit Motorama at Atlanta
Motor Speedway, which involves deconstructing a V
-8 engine and reassembling it to the manufacturer’s
specifications. The team is competitively timed on
how quickly they disassemble and reassemble the
engine in its entirety. They are timed for accuracy,
and penalties are added in the form of extra time.
In only their second competition, they earned a time
that ranked them 32nd in the Nation.
“They have been working very hard to improve their
time and errors, and it shows in their competition
rankings,” said automobile maintenance and light
repair teacher Chuck Wilson, who coaches the team.
Pictured, from left: Instructor Charles Wilson and
students Hunter Richardson, Kenny Robinson, Cam-
eron Denton, Spencer Mann and Gage Reamy.
Sequoyah HS Automotive Team
Ranks Nationally in Competition
Creekview HS Rocketry Team
Earns Return Trip to Nationals
Creekview High School’s Aeronautics Team again
advanced to the National finals of the world’s larg-
est rocket contest, earning a slot at the competi-
tion for the fourth consecutive year. The team
qualified to compete in the 14th Annual Team
America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) in May, at
which they faced 99 of the top rocketry teams
from across the country. While the team did not
repeat its national victory effort of 2014,
Creekview HS was the only team from Georgia to
qualify for the prestigious event.
Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Associa-
tion, the National Association of Rocketry and
more than 20 industry partners, TARC is the
world’s largest rocket contest.
This year’s Creekview HS team includes Team
Captain Andrew White, a senior; seniors Nicholas
Dimos, Christian Ingram and Nicholas Garcia and
freshmen Nathan Hall and Noah Tetpon. Both An-
drew White and Nicholas Dimos were members of
the 2014 National Championship Team. The
Creekview HS program began in 2008 under the
direction of Todd Sharrock and Tim Smyrl, both
science faculty members at the school. In 2014, a
Creekview HS team won the national competition
and went on to represent the United States in the
International Rocketry Competition in London,
England, earning the title of World Runner-Up.
“I am so proud of the team this year,” Mr. Sharrock
said. “This year presented some very unique chal-
lenges, and these students once again proved that
they could rise to the occasion.”
TARC is the aerospace and defense industry’s flag-
ship program designed to encourage students to
pursue study and careers in STEM fields. The
competition challenges middle and high school
students to design, build and fly a rocket that
meets specific altitude and flight duration parame-
ters. This year's rules require a rocket carrying
two raw eggs to reach 850 feet before returning
the eggs to Earth, uncracked, all within 44 to 46
seconds.
2016-17 School Year Begins
Monday, Aug. 1
Open House/Walk Throughs
July 27-29
School Offices reopen July 19
See your school’s website for details!
16
CCSD Celebrates 20 Years of Lottery-Funded Pre-K in Schools
Woodstock Middle School
teacher Georgia Heard was
selected for the 2016 Na-
tional Food and Drug Admin-
istration (FDA) Professional
Development Program in
Food Science.
She will join middle and high
school science and family
and consumer science edu-
cators from across the coun-
try this summer at an all-
expenses paid week-long
workshop in Washington, D.C.
Participants learn best practices for teaching topically
relevant lessons in food science to their stu-
dents. The program, sponsored by the FDA and the
National Science Teachers Association, is in its 17th
year. Classes are conducted by a leadership team of
master teachers and representatives of FDA and the
Graduate School USA.
Georgia Heard
Woodstock MS Teacher Selected for
National FDA Food Science Program
Golden Apple honorees are, from left to right, front row: Nancy Walker (Clayton ES),
Todd Sharrock (Creekview HS), Connie Garrison (Hickory Flat ES), Bailey Burks
(Scholarship Recipient from Etowah HS), Julie Youmans (Clark Creek ES STEM
Academy) and Riva Newton (Mill Creek MS); back row: Gamma Eta President Elaine
Daniel, Melissa Riddle (Little River ES), Rebecca Heard (Hasty ES Fine Arts Acade-
my), Karina Bailey (Holly Springs ES STEM Academy), Katrina Haas (Dean Rusk
MS), Rena Ehlers (Boston ES), Janelle Haysman (Freedom MS), Jeff Hester (Liberty
ES) and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower. Not pictured: Karen Mervis
(Carmel ES) and Rebecca Coury (Cherokee HS).
Gamma Eta Chapter Honors 2016 Golden Apple Award Winners The Gamma Eta Chapter of Delta
Kappa Gamma Society Interna-
tional honored 14 Cherokee
County School District teachers
and one graduating high school
senior at its annual Golden Apple
Ceremony.
Honorees are selected by their
peers. Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Brian V. Hightower participat-
ed 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 year’s honoree is Bailey
Burks of Etowah High School.
The Cherokee County School District’s School Nutri-
tion Association won the prestigious Georgia Gold
Scroll Award, it was announced in May.
The award was presented to Association President
Ramona Pruitt at the Georgia School Nutrition Asso-
ciation Conference recently held in Savannah.
The award recognizes ongoing excellence in school
food service and commitment to Georgia’s children,
according to the Association.
“There is a great deal of work that goes into this
award,” CCSD School Nutrition Supervisor Susan
Turner said. “I am so proud of our local Association
and the work everyone has accomplished.”
Ms. Pruitt is the School Nutrition Manager at Creek-
land MS.
School Nutrition Association Wins
Gold Scroll Award for Excellence
17
Carmel Elementary School
STEM enrichment specialist
Merry Willis has been se-
lected by the U.S. Depart-
ment of State and the J.
William Fulbright Foreign
Scholarship Board for a Ful-
bright Distinguished
Awards in Teaching grant
to study in New Zealand.
Recipients are selected
based on their academic
and professional achieve-
ment 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 fo-
cus on developing classroom resources, collabora-
tive relationships and cross-cultural professional de-
velopment for teachers in New Zealand and the U.S.
Ms. Willis has received numerous honors in her edu-
cation career, which she began in 2004 at Carmel ES
and where she previously has taught Grades 3–
5. Recent honors include being named a 2015-16
Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert and
2015 Master Trainer, Museum of Aviation National
STEM Academy’s STEM Teacher of the Year for
2015-15, Pitsco National Teacher of the Year for
2013-14, 2011 Emerging International Society for
Technology in Education Leader, 2011 Carmel ES
Teacher of the Year and 2009 National Mickelson
ExxonMobil Teacher's Academy participant.
Ms. Willis, who has Gifted teaching and Teach 21
technology endorsements, earned her Bachelor of
Science in Early Childhood Education degree from
Kennesaw State University and Master’s Degree in
Educational Technology and Educational Specialist
Degree in Technology Management and Administra-
tion from Nova Southeastern University.
Carmel ES Teacher Named
Fulbright Award Winner
Merry Willis
The Sequoyah High Schools Speech and Debate
team finished its season by winning the Georgia Fo-
rensic Coaches Association’s Philip Wertz School of
Excellence Award.
The Award is presented to schools with 1,500 to
2,000 students that qualified the most number of
students in its division for the Varsity Speech and
Debate State Championship Tournament. The Se-
quoyah HS team qualified 18 students for the Tour-
nament held earlier this month in Duluth: Mary Beth
Dicks, Ashley Hendel, Megan Evans, Julianne Clark,
Chris Harkins, Donavan Giardina, Caleb Crayton,
Josh Nieves, Nyla Crayton, Gabby Filkins, Rebecca
Choe, Nieves Ristuccia, Ellie Agler, and Nic Fricia, in
Public Forum and Lincoln Douglass debates; Rebek-
ah Carnes competed in Humorous Interpretation;
Caitlin Franchini in Program of Oral Interpretation;
and Maddie Doerr in Dramatic Interpretation and
Impromptu. Yeseul Heo qualified in Dramatic Inter-
pretation, but was unable to compete.
Finalists at the State competition included Mary
Beth Dicks and Ashley Hendel and Chris Harkins
and Donovan Giardina; Ellie Agler was an finalist in
Lincoln Douglass debate, and Caitlin Franchini
placed eighth in Program of Oral Interpretation.
More than 50 students participated on the team this
year, which is the only one of its kind in the Chero-
kee County School District. The team is ranked in
the top 10 percent nationwide by the National Fo-
rensic League and is coached by teachers Matt Bar-
tula and Katie Maher.
Sequoyah HS Speech and Debate
Team Wins State Excellence Award
18
Sixteen Cherokee County School District stu-
dents earned top honors at the Georgia Educa-
tional Technology Fair.
The School District entered 59 projects into the
State Fair based on students’ outstanding perfor-
mance at the Regional competition coordinated
by River Ridge HS teacher Judi Haggerty. The 16
students who placed at State competed there
against 1,200 other students in a range of cate-
gories such as robotics, animation and project
programming.
First-place winners at State were: Christian
Deneka of E.T. Booth MS, Bryce Jones of Wood-
stock ES, Josh Minter of Etowah HS, Jack Sapere
of E.T. Booth MS and Kathryn Stapleton of
Etowah HS; second-place winners were: Cress
Howard and Ryan Moniz of River Ridge HS, Xavi-
er Owens and Mason Davis of Etowah HS, Alice
Pelton of Indian Knoll ES and Lucy Watkins of
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy; third-place
winners were Isabella Bryant and Sarah Oburu of
E.T. Booth MS, Brittany Gunter of Woodstock
HS, Reagan Pastor of Macedonia ES and Mia Ter-
rado of Carmel ES.
CCSD Students Take First Place
Honors at State Technology Fair Seventeen Cherokee County School District students
placed in the 2015-16 Georgia PTA Reflections fine
arts contest, with three winning first-place awards.
The annual contest gives students in all grades and
abilities the opportunity to create original works of art
in the categories of dance choreog-
raphy, film production, literature,
music composition, photography
and visual arts for the opportunity
to earn recognition at the School,
County, State and National levels.
This year’s theme was “Let Your
Imagination Fly.” More than 1,900
entries were submitted by CCSD
students for the school level of the
competition, and 500 moved on to the county level of
competition.
Winners at the State level are:
Dance Choreography
Second place: Hadley Duplantis, Bascomb ES, Grade 4
Second place: Dakota Smith, Sequoyah HS, Grade 9
Second place: Amber Woodhull, Sequoyah HS, Grade 11
Film/Video Production
First place: Sidney Samuel, Hickory Flat ES, Grade 4
Second place: Jake Krumrey, Woodstock HS, Grade 10
Third place: Emma Gunter, Indian Knoll ES, Grade 1
Music: Composition
Third place: Emma Violet Hagle, Avery ES, Grade 2
Literature
First place: Halley Jurnack, Clark Creek ES STEM Acade-
my, Kindergarten
Second place: Brayden Wallace, Bascomb ES, Grade 4
Third place: Marissa Henager, River Ridge HS, Grade 10
Photography
First place: Joseph Marshall, Cherokee HS, Grade 10
Third place: Kayla Lambert, ET Booth MS, Grade 8
Third place: Emmy Young, Etowah HS, Grade 10
Third place: Logan Miller, Free Home ES, Grade 1
Visual Arts:
Second place: Evelyn Andrews, Avery ES, Grade 3
Innovator Awards 2D/3D (new this year)
Katherine Hunt, Macedonia ES – Visual Arts
Julia Smith, Sequoyah HS – Visual Arts
State Reflections Winners Named in
Annual State PTA Arts Contest
Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy was
featured on the national “Red Nose Day” telethon
May 26 on NBC. The school was selected because
its Red Hawk Pantry, which provides bags of food to
students in need to take home in their backpacks, is
supported by a nonprofit that benefits from the “Red
Nose Day” telethon fundraiser.
The segment shows a visit by entertainer Ludacris to
the food pantry and his interaction with students, an
interview with a mom whose family is helped by the
program, along with comments from Principal Dr.
Jennifer Scrivner. More information about Red
Nose Day is at rednoseday.org
Clark Creek ES Featured on National
Telethon for Red Hawk Pantry Project
19
Johnston Elementary School Principal Amy Graham has been named as a 2016 “Top 10 in 10: Young Professionals to Watch” Award winner. The acco-lade, which honors young professionals for profes-sional achievements, awards and volunteer and community activities, was presented by the Chero-kee County Chamber of Commerce at its June “Good Morning Cherokee” breakfast.
Co-sponsored by Enjoy! Cherokee Magazine, the awards are presented annually to 10 young profes-sionals between the ages of 20 and 40, who are se-lected based on nominations from the community, and a subsequent application from nominees and letters of recommendation.
Principal Graham, who joined CCSD 13 years ago, was appointed to her current role in 2015, after serving as an Assistant Principal at Teasley Middle School and Creekland Middle School and as an in-termediate and middle school teacher. She was one of four finalists statewide for the Georgia 2013 As-sistant Principal of the Year Award presented by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.
“Ms. Graham is not only dedicated to her profession as an educator and administrator, but she also is a team player who accepts new challenges and re-sponsibilities with ease, as she has in her new role as Principal at Johnston ES,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.
She is an Honorary Member of the Cherokee Coun-ty Service League, having completed her 10 years of
volunteer ser-vice; and a mem-ber of Canton First United Methodist Church. Princi-pal Graham was joined at the recognition cere-mony by her husband, Frank, a Mountain Road Elementary School teacher; their two chil-dren and her parents. Amy Graham
Johnston ES Principal Among County’s
2016 ‘Young Professionals to Watch’
The Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame as part
of its recent annual banquet recognized a male and
a female Outstanding High School Senior Athlete
from each of the Cherokee County School Dis-
trict’s high schools.
The students are, from left to right, front row: Ana
Albertson of Etowah HS, Bailee Gilbreath of Cher-
okee HS, Ashton Sutton of Woodstock HS, Saman-
tha Ann Rolka of Creekview HS), Brooke DeSantis
of River Ridge HS, Kelley Hartman of Sequoyah
HS; back row: Bronson Rechsteiner of Etowah HS,
Michael E. Gustafson of Woodstock HS, Ryan
Camp of Creekview HS, Luke Berryhill of River
Ridge HS, Derrion Rakestraw of Sequoyah HS and
Brittain Brown of Cherokee HS.
Sports Hall of Fame Recognizes
Senior Athletes for 2015-16
The Creekview High School FFA Chapter is one of
only four in the State to win a National FFA grant.
The school’s FFA agricultural education program has
been awarded $2,500 as part of the FFA: Food For
All program. The Creekview FFA chapter will fight
hunger by growing fresh fruits and vegetables to do-
nate to the community, as well as raising tilapia that
they will filet and donate to families in need. In addi-
tion to food donations, the FFA members and volun-
teers will conduct four educational seminars for the
community on growing your own food.
Creekview FFA Chapter Wins
National Grant to Fight Hunger
20
dren’s garden project, and Liberty ES was honored
for its “Have a Heart for Seniors” program,
through which students prepared gifts for
seniors in a local nursing and rehabilitation
center.
This is the second Promising Practices honor
for Carmel ES, which also was recognized in
2014. Liberty ES Assistant Principal Dr. Pam Green,
who previously served in the same role at Carmel
ES, led that initiative and the successful effort for
Carmel ES to be named a National School of Charac-
ter.
Liberty ES Principal Doug Knott said he and Dr.
Green now are focused on earning the National
School of Character designation there as well.
“Our students are getting firsthand experience in the
importance of service learning and how they can
positively impact their community,” Principal Knott
said of the Promising Practices award.
Two CCSD schools have won international awards
recognizing their effective strategies to develop
positive character in their students.
Carmel Elementary School and Liberty Ele-
mentary School are among the 326 winners
worldwide of Character.org Promising Practic-
es awards. They are two of only four schools
from Georgia to win the honor bestowed on schools
and youth-serving organizations from across the
United States, as well as from Canada, China, Co-
lombia, and Mexico.
“These great ideas really highlight the creative
efforts of amazing teachers all across America ---
and the world,” Promising Practices Program Direc-
tor Dr. Dave Keller said. “These practices represent
practical, effective ways to develop empathy, en-
hance conflict resolution skills, and inspire good citi-
zenship.”
Carmel ES was recognizing for its community chil-
Two CCSD Elementary Schools Noted for Character Education Programs
Three Etowah High School students are part of a team that earned the 8th Regional District Chair-man's Award at the FIRST Robotics Competition and advanced to International competition.
Etowah High’s Joshua Minter, Noah Minter and Gwenevere Wrye, along with a group of Cobb Coun-ty high school students, make up the team that re-cently won the Chairman’s Award, which is consid-ered the most important and highest-ranking award in FIRST. As a result, they advanced to the Interna-tional Championship Chairman's Award, which was held in St. Louis in May. The team will be presenting at a conference in Washington, D.C. in June, and in Memphis this summer as well.
This success was the culmination of eight years of progressive improvement and work in advancing STEM education and represents tens of thousands of hours of work by students and mentors, according to Ed Barker, Assistant Director of Advanced Compu-ting Services, Research Technology and High Perfor-mance Computing at Kennesaw State University, a team coach and mentor.
Etowah HS Students Advance to
International Robotics Competition
Twenty CCSD teachers and technology instruc-tors recently completed an exclusive Apple Van-guard Program for extended professional learn-ing on iPads led by Apple Foundations Trainer and CCSD Technology Specialist Carol Dicker-son. The 20 members were selected from across all six CCSD Innovation Zones to serve as inter-nal resources to their peers. Members attended 24 hours of class time instruction to receive their Apple Vanguard Certificate and will have an addi-tional 12 hours assisting in the delivery of classes and small group coaching to become Vanguard Coaches.
CCSD Graduates Inaugural Class
from Apple Vanguard Program
21
Accolades is published quarterly by the Cherokee
County School District Office of Public Information,
Communications and Partnerships.
CHEROKEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Carrie McGowan, Coordinator
Community Relations and Publications
Barbara Jacoby, Director
Public Information, Communications and Partnerships
Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Superintendent of Schools
www.cherokee.k12.ga.us
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