New Leadership Appointments Named For Cherokee Schools

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Cherokee County School Board approved on Feb. 11 several appointments for Cherokee County school leadership roles for next school year.

As part of the monthly personnel report, the school board accepted the retirements of many longtime educators throughout Cherokee County including Bascomb Elementary School Principal Kathleen Chandler.

Over the course of her 36-year career as an educator, Chandler has led Bascomb Elementary for the past six years following five years as principal of Johnston Elementary School and assistant principal service at Boston and Knox elementary schools, as well as classroom teacher and administrator roles in other metro Atlanta school systems. Under her leadership at Bascomb Elementary, the school has earned four Governor’s Awards for exceptional performance as well as the Georgia School Bell Award, presented by the statewide principals’ association.

“Kathleen leaves a legacy of excellence at Bascomb Elementary School, just as she has at every school where she has served, and we greatly appreciate how much she gave to CCSD,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said, noting Chandler plans to work in her retirement as a mentor for students at Mountain Education Charter High School, which through a partnership with Cherokee Schools provides an evening high school program on the Etowah High School campus. “She made a positive impact on thousands of students and colleagues over her career, and we wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”

Carolyn Daugherty, who has led Macedonia Elementary School as its principal since 2016, was tapped as Bascomb Elementary’s next principal.

“The Bascomb community has high expectations for its principals, having been served so well by Kathleen, and Carolyn will bring the needed experience, leadership and caring heart for the role,” Hightower said of Daugherty, a Cherokee Schools alumna whose resume also includes tenure as a Cherokee County classroom teacher and assistant principal posts at Johnston Elementary and the former Chapman Intermediate.

Christy Rich, currently serving as an assistant principal at Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy, was named Macedonia Elementary School’s next principal. A 28-year educator and Cherokee Schools alumna, Rich has worked her way through numerous roles in the district including special education secretary, elementary school teacher, ACE Academy alternative school teacher - for which she won its Teacher of the Year title, middle school academic facilitator, teacher on special assignment for Title I in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, and, for the past three years, assistant principal at Hasty Elementary.

“Christy’s extensive education experience will greatly benefit the Macedonia community,” Hightower said. “She understands so much about successful teaching and learning and how to coach teachers and students alike.”

Andy Hall, currently an assistant principal at River Ridge High School, was named the first-ever administrator for the new Cherokee County Schools Virtual Academy, which is being planned now as an option for high school students beginning next school year. The Virtual Academy will be a permanent addition to the district’s academic offerings, with a different model than the online learning offered as an in-person learning alternative during the pandemic - including an application process.

“Andy is a bright young leader with 17 years of experience teaching and guiding high school students to success - first as an award-winning teacher and coach, and for the last five years as an administrator,” Hightower said, noting Hall also is a Cherokee Schools alumnus. “He’s the perfect choice to help us launch this new initiative.”

The school board also approved the hiring of Troy Hoff to serve as a science teacher at Woodstock High School and as its new head football coach.

The 2018 Region Coach of the Year in recognition of a record-setting season and leading his team to the Region Championships, Hoff is a 20-year educator and coach, who since 2015 has led the Eastside High School football program to a 51-17-1 record. The team qualified for the playoffs for five consecutive years, and most recently made the 2020 quarter-finals.