CCSD Connections

Dear CCSD Families,

May is an amazing time for educators. The year rushes by from August to now, filled with learning, growing, and achieving. Our students who seemed so small in August suddenly are so much taller -- and have made so much progress.

Every May, we celebrate our students as they successfully finish the school year, and we celebrate our graduates as they successfully finish this chapter and walk across the stage into their future.

And every May, we thank our teachers for their critical role in those successes. Our students’ success is made possible through the incredible investment of our teachers, who every day bring to their classrooms unparalleled talent and unmatched dedication to go the extra mile.

Teacher Appreciation Day is officially on Tuesday, May 6, with Teacher Appreciation Week observed for the full week. Please consider taking a moment to share your appreciation with a teacher, whether by sending them a message, a card made by your child, a small gift – I know they will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

As we finish this last month of school, know that our School Board, our district leadership team and I already are laser focused on preparations for next school year. We’ll share more details with you in our back-to-school newsletter in July, but here are two major highlights:

Thanks to the investment of our School Board, we will begin the new year with incredible new instructional resources for our English language arts and math classes for grades K-12. These resources, all tightly aligned to state standards, provide more printed resources, including textbooks and workbooks, in response to teacher and parent feedback.

The new school year will begin with even stronger safety and security, with additional staff and resources in place thanks to the investment of our School Board, and even more advanced coordination with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and Cherokee 911. The School Board has invested in six additional school police officers since October and will outfit officers with body cameras next school year as required for Georgia state certification. Our school police team now provides two POST-certified police officers at each multi-building high school campus, one officer at each other high school and middle school, and one officer per every two elementary schools. Our 2025-26 Code of Conduct, which is online here, includes stronger consequences for a student who brings a vape to school and for any student who makes a threat to school safety. The updated Code of Conduct also provides better clarity and consistency for elementary school expectations and consequences for behavior incidents.

I can’t wait for all the celebrations this month holds as we wrap up this successful school year for our students and community … and begin the countdown to a new school year!

Thank you,

Mary Elizabeth Davis

Superintendent of Schools

On the last day of school, Friday, May 23, will we have early dismissal for middle and high schools. See the schedule online here. Elementary schools will dismiss at regular time (2:15 p.m.), but After School Program will not be offered.

For nearly 120 years, the heart of the Free Home community has been its own school. While the building has been updated over the generations, what remains unchanged is the community’s inspiring pride in supporting a Free Home school. We hope you enjoy this brief video showcasing the amazing new home for Free Home Elementary School that will open for students in August. Thank you to Creekview High School teacher Dr. Ashley Pruitt, who leads the school’s Career Pathway program for Audio, Video, Technology & Film, her students and Assistant Principal Lisa Funderburk for making this video for our community to enjoy.

Student Artists Earn State Honors, Advance to Nationals

Middle School Students Win State STEM Contest Honors

Congratulations to Winners of CCSD Elementary School Academic Bowl

Students, Teams Earn State Literary Honors

CCSD Special Education Participates in Child Find

CCSD Celebrates Outstanding ESOL Teacher, Student

Cherokee HS Student Earns National Video Production Award

Students Succeed at Regional 4-H Competition

Students Earn Top Honors at Elementary State Science Fair

CCSD Recognizes Athletes of the Month for April

Students Earn Top Honors at State Science & Engineering Fair

The School Board at its most recent meeting appointed several new principals and other leaders.

Two executive director positions vacated by promotions were filled: Jessica Currie, a 27-year educator who currently serves as principal at Boston ES, will serve as an executive director in Human Resources, and Ashley McLemore, who has 25 years of experience and currently serves as coordinator for Title I programs, will serve as executive director of accountability.

The board also named Jenna Williams as a director for Financial Management to prepare for the retirement of the division’s current executive director. Ms. Williams has 15 years of experience including previous service as CCSD’s supervisor for financial compliance and budgets.

Principal positions for next school year were filled: Erica Morrie, a 25-year educator and current Principal at Mountain Road ES will move to the same role at Indian Knoll ES; Dr. Leah Bleisath, a 19-year educator and assistant principal at R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy, will lead Mountain Road ES; Dr. Celeice Hood, a 15-year educator and assistant principal at Creekland MS, will lead Boston ES; and Adam Johnson, a 17-year educator and assistant principal at Woodstock HS, will lead ACTIVE Academies.

Please check your school’s website and social media for school event information.

May 2: School Lunch Hero Day

May 2: 7 p.m., Cherokee HS, Cherokee High School's theatre program presents the show, "A Night of Dolly"; admission is by donation.

May 5-9: National Teacher Appreciation Week; May 6 is National Teacher Appreciation Day

May 7: National School Nurse Appreciation Day

May 13: 9 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m., School Board Auditorium at Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility, Consolidated Local Educational Agency Improvement Plan (CLIP) Stakeholder Review and Input meetings. Learn more here.

May 15: 7 p.m., School Board Auditorium at Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility, Cherokee County School Board Meeting.

May 22-24: CCSD High School Graduation Ceremonies. Ceremonies will be live streamed by the venue online here.

May 23: Last Day of School. Early dismissal for middle school and high school (schedule is online here). No After School Program for elementary school.

May 29-31: 7 p.m., Cherokee HS, CCSD's Academy Street theatre program for Grades 2-12 presents the musical, "Anastasia." Tickets: $10.

June 2: CCSD High School Summer School programs begin. Registration is open online now. Learn more here.

June 2-6: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Woodstock HS, Woodstock HS STEM Department's Biotech Summer Camp for rising sixth- to eighth-graders. Cost: $250.

Join CCSD's team of valued professionals! Learn more at our job fair to fill remaining openings for next school year from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at 1020 Keeter Road, Canton, GA 30114. We will be meeting with candidates for positions including bus drivers, paraprofessionals, teachers, School Nutrition workers and custodians (a full list of open positions is online here). We offer competitive compensation, outstanding benefits, a balanced school calendar, a wonderful work environment and caring team and opportunities for professional development and advancement. Questions? Contact Lindsay.Bowley@cherokeek12.net and 770.704.4256. #CCSDElevateTheExcellence

Email: communications@cherokeek12.net
Website: www.cherokeek12.net
Location: PO Box 769, Canton, GA 30169
Phone: 7704791871
Facebook: facebook.com/CherokeeGASchools/
Twitter: @CherokeeSchools