Cherokee County School District - GA

Our Principals are dedicated leaders, and this month we’ll be introducing you to each of our school district’s new Principals. Please help us celebrate Principal Mark Vance, who this school year will lead Creekview High School! Creekview High School’s new Principal is very well known in the school community – he’s been a part of the school family for the past five years as an assistant principal. This experience gives Principal Mark Vance, a 17-year educator, a great head start on success. “Having served as the assistant principal at Creekview High School, I am deeply familiar with our school’s strengths, challenges, and the wonderful community we serve,” he said. “As I step into the Principal role, I am looking forward to using this prior knowledge to continue to drive impactful changes. I am excited about the opportunity to further interact with our students, staff, and community, and to build on the solid foundation we've established together.” During his tenure as an assistant principal at Creekview, Principal Vance led numerous positive initiatives focused on increasing student academic performance and positive behavior, improving school operations, and growing community partnerships. “My primary goals are to continue to enhance academic achievement and strengthen community engagement,” he said. “My plan is to focus on data driven instruction and individualized learning strategies to meet the needs of our students. I would love to deepen our partnerships with parents, local businesses, and community organizations. This will only increase our support network for our students and enhance their educational experience.” One of the best ways parents can be more engaged, he said, is by volunteering to support the school. “Parents can be more involved in Creekview High School by joining the PTA and volunteering their time at the school and events. Parents should attend meetings, as well as supporting their children's learning at home,” he said. “This plays a critical role in school improvement and student success. Providing feedback with staff and maintaining open communication helps us continually improve and meet the needs of all students at Creekview.” A two-time Teacher of the Year nominee, Principal Vance began his education career as a science teacher and baseball and softball coach at Cherokee High School in 2007, and then served in the same roles at River Ridge High School beginning in 2011. He joined Etowah High School in 2016 as a science teacher and served as chair for targeted intervention programs and 504 access plans for students with disabilities. Learn more about Principal Vance: https://lnkd.in/emjpaBAj #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: The CCSD Bulletin Board on our website is a resource for information about upcoming back-to-school health clinics, community events, recreation leagues, performances, summer and school break camps, enrichment activities, community service opportunities, scholarships, and more. Content is provided by CCSD Partners and regularly updated: https://lnkd.in/esCyESij More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence 

We greatly value the outstanding support staff in our schools and central office divisions, which is why we recognize them here. Please join us in congratulating the 2024 Support Staff Employee of the Year for Sequoyah High School: Marina Goddard! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating the winners of its second annual School Nutrition Team of the Year awards! Holly Springs ES STEM Academy is the elementary division winner, and Teasley Middle School is the middle school/high school/center division winner of the program, which gives school cafeteria teams the opportunity to win prizes by improving their service to students, teachers, and staff. For all of last school year, the teams at each school cafeteria worked to earn top scores for the “Six Servings of Success”: health inspections, employee satisfaction, program participation (number of students who purchase meals or receive free or reduced-price meals), inventory levels, budgeting, and promotions.  The elementary school team and the middle school/high school/center team with the best scores were named the winners and announced today at School Nutrition’s annual back-to-school training day for all staff held at River Ridge High School. The Holly Springs cafeteria team is led by Manager Chastity West and Assistant Manager Nancy Palmer and is made up of: Sally Arnold, Rosela Hill, Donna Kelley, Wynelle Roach, and Sandra Yniguez. The Teasley cafeteria team is led by Manager Julie Lawrence and Assistant Manager Lory Stigliano and is made up of: Krisha Acevedo-Reyes, Susan Barger, Holly Borg, Janet Brown, Sharon Campbell, Kelly Cantley, Beverly Carpenter, Brenda Daniel, Brittany Godfrey, and Mary Harrison. Runners-up also were honored: first runner-up for elementary, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy, and for middle school/high school/center, E.T. Booth MS; second runner-up for elementary, R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy, and for middle school/high school/center, Dean Rusk MS. The overall winning team members each earned a $100 Visa gift card and special shirt; each overall winning team received a $500 gift card and honor banner for their cafeteria; each first runner-up team received a $250 gift card, and each second runner-up team received a $100 gift card, with costs for all these gifts sponsored by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation.  Each overall winning team also received special gifts for the school kitchen including: a compact panini grill valued at $895 from PMR - Professional Manufacturers Representatives, a $500 gift box containing an Advantage #1 Can Opener, Film/Foil Dispenser and Tongs from CGA Reps, and a Hamilton Beach side-open can opener valued at $279 from The Hansen Group. The overall winning teams also will be treated with a catered meal at a later date sponsored by Credit Union of Georgia. Each member of the winning teams additionally received a “swag bag” with gifts from CCSD Partners. More: https://lnkd.in/dJQaXB-H #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

Our Principals are dedicated leaders, and this month we’ll be introducing you to each of our school district’s new Principals. Please help us celebrate Principal Matthew May, who this school year will lead Creekland Middle School! Creekland Middle School is welcoming a new face on its campus, but it’s one well known throughout Cherokee County. Longtime CCSD educator and 2024 Georgia PTA Middle School Principal of the Year Matthew May will lead the school as its new Principal this school year. “Creekland Middle School is rich in tradition and parent engagement!” said Principal May, a 22-year educator. “I am excited to join a staff that has done such a great job of serving the community! I look forward to helping our students prepare for high school, college, and beyond!” Principal May, who most recently served as Principal of Mill Creek Middle School for six years, is focused on ensuring all students grow academically. “Middle school is full of transitions for our students,” he said. “Not only are they learning new things as they come to us from elementary school, but they are also growing and preparing for high school.  During their time at Creekland, our goal will be to help our students engage in meaningful ways with the curriculum, be challenged academically, and explore the many possibilities the world offers lifelong learners.”     Principal May is known for his strong partnerships with parents and families, especially through the PTSA.  “The PTSA is a great organization that not only keeps you in the loop of things happening at school, but also directly supports our teachers and students,” he said. “I hope that all of our families will take the time to join our PTSA and engage in all they offer the Creekland community!”  In addition to his recent statewide award, Principal May’s numerous honors include being named a 2023 Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals’ Principal of the Year award finalist, multi-year regional District 13 and Cherokee County PTA Outstanding Principal of the Year award winner and past Teacher of the Year. Prior to joining Mill Creek MS as its Principal, he served for two years as an assistant principal at Sequoyah High School, with a focus on overseeing curriculum and instruction. During his teaching tenure, which began in 2002, Principal May taught social studies at Woodstock HS for eight years and then for five years at River Ridge HS, where he was named department chair. An accomplished Advanced Placement (AP) teacher, he also was tapped to serve as a teacher on special assignment at Etowah High School for a year. Learn more about Principal May at https://lnkd.in/eghwgURN #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: The Bus Stop Look-Up website is now open so you can check your child's bus stop times for pick up and drop off: https://lnkd.in/eqi5SbzV. Route information also will be available at school walk-through/open house events: https://lnkd.in/ePtYuV4J More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence 

Volunteers make a positive difference in our schools, which is why we spotlight them here ... congratulations to Bascomb Elementary School 2024 Volunteer of the Year: Bascomb ES PTA Executive Board! #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

Our Principals are dedicated leaders, and this month we’ll be introducing you to each of our school district’s new Principals. Please help us celebrate Lisa Rich, who this school year will lead Carmel Elementary School! As an educator and a parent of current students, Principal Lisa Rich understands the importance of family engagement for student learning success. In her new role as Principal of Carmel Elementary School, Principal Rich has made this engagement a top priority. “We are working on our parent events that allow parents to learn more about what is happening in the classroom. Parents will learn about their student’s progress from their student and what the scores mean,” said Principal Rich, who is beginning her 15th year as an educator. “We want our parents as involved as they can be. We are going to be sending weekly updates and resources for parents as well as hosting question and answer sessions throughout the year.” Principal Rich said she’s focused on all students receiving the support they need to succeed. “I want to ensure that every student has the same opportunities to achieve at high levels,” she said. “I will strive to create a culture where these beliefs are real and noticeable in every decision that is made, but also, I want each student to be known, accepted, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.” Throughout her career, Principal Rich has served as a paraprofessional, classroom teacher, department lead, instructional lead strategist and, for the last four years, as an assistant principal at Dean Rusk Middle School and then at Freedom Middle School. She began her career as a parapro at E.T. Booth Middle School and continued there as a teacher and then a teacher leader, department head and grade-level head. She joined Dean Rusk’s team in 2017 as their instructional lead strategist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in middle school education from Kennesaw State University, and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and specialist degree in curriculum, instruction, and leadership, both from Berry College. Principal Rich has earned an instructional coaching endorsement, completed the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy III and is a certified Microsoft Innovative Educator. Among her district roles, Principal Rich served on CCSD’s successful Cognia Reaccreditation Team and as a lead for CCSD’s successful Cognia STEM Certification Team. Principal Rich and her husband, Brandon, are parents to two elementary school students and one middle school student, who all attend school in CCSD. “I am so excited to serve the Carmel students, staff, and community,” she said. “Education is a passion of mine. I look forward to the opportunity of leading in a different capacity this year and at the elementary level.” #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We’re counting down to the first day of school on Thursday, Aug. 1, with important information each day to help you prepare for the best school year ever. Today’s reminder: Parents will continue to receive school communications through ParentSquare. Parents automatically receive emails from ParentSquare at the email addresses we have on file for your child; you can customize how you receive messages through its website (https://lnkd.in/grH3mcdF) or app. If you need technical assistance, please contact CCSD Technology at https://lnkd.in/etCQtxFT. More helpful back-to-school information is in this month’s CCSD Connections parent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/etcJkjK7 #CCSD1stDay2024 #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

We appreciate partners' support of our schools, which is why we celebrate their service here – congratulations to CCSD Preschool Centers 2024 Partner of the Year: Geiger Legal Group LLC. Does your business or organization partner with a CCSD school?  Visit our School Partnerships webpage (https://lnkd.in/g2NKAZmW) to learn more! #CCSDPartnersInAction #CCSDElevateTheExcellence