Cherokee School Board Appoints New Chief Operating Officer

CANTON, GA — The Cherokee County School Board on Jan. 16 approved the appointment of a longtime Cherokee Schools leader as its next Chief Operations Officer.

Debra Murdock, a past Georgia High School Principal of the Year who currently serves as an Executive Director in the Office of School Operations, will begin leading the division this spring.

“Not only is Dr. Murdock renowned for how deeply she cares for and advocates for every student, she also is an experienced and effective leader who can rally teams through transitions and growth,” Superintendent of Schools Brian Hightower said. “I know she will excel in this new role and continue to raise expectations for our schools and their leaders.”

As Chief Operations Officer, Murdock will oversee the district's schools and principals, and the Transportation department, with a long list of responsibilities ranging from enrollment to student services to discipline.

For the last six months, Murdock has headed up the districts’s new Social and Emotional Learning initiative. Hightower said, as part of the transition in roles this spring, he will work with Murdock to ensure this important effort remains at the forefront. She is filling the chief post vacated by Trey Olson, who is retiring April 1.

“I am honored to be chosen to serve our outstanding school district as Chief Operations Officer,” Murdock said. “I look forward to continuing to promote our district’s work in engaging the social and emotional health and well-being of our students and staff as part of my new role.”

A Cherokee County native who graduated from Cherokee High School, Murdock is in her 23rd year in public education, all of which has been served in Cherokee County. Appointed as Cherokee High School’s principal for the 2010-11 School Year, where she earned the state’s top honor of Principal of the Year in 2014, she previously served as Principal of Teasley Middle School and as an assistant principal at Cherokee High School and at the former Chapman Intermediate School. As an Executive Director in School Operations, she oversaw the district’s middle and high schools and principals before being tapped to lead the Social and Emotional Learning initiative.

She began her career as a science teacher at E.T. Booth Middle School after completing her bachelor’s degree in education at Kennesaw State University. Murdock since has earned master’s, specialist and doctorate degrees in the field, and, for the latter, was honored with the 2016 Outstanding Scholar of the Year Award from Kennesaw State University’s Educational Leadership program.

Murdock and her husband, Lance, have two sons, who both graduated from Cherokee High School, and she is a past president of the Service League of Cherokee County.

As part of its approval of the monthly human resources report, the school board also accepted the resignation of Julie Little, who serves as Executive Director of Risk Management & Benefits. Little, who formed the department upon her hiring in 2000, is departing to serve as the first director of administration for her church, Canton First United Methodist.

School Board member Mike Chapman was recognized by his fellow board members in appreciation for 15 years of service and presented with a milestone pin from the Georgia School Boards Association. The Morrison Products executive has been a longtime advocate for career education and played a key role in the development of the Cherokee Academies and Georgia Education Coalition.

The School Board also:

• Re-elected Kelly Poole to serve another one-year term as Board Vice Chair
• Recognized Johnston Elementary School kindergarten teacher Olivia Ruggirello as an Extraordinary Educators honoree
• Recognized Avery Elementary School, Bascomb Elementary School, Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy and Sequoyah High School for earning Governor’s awards honoring academic success and progress
• Recognized the district’s Georgia High School Association State and Regional Champions
• Approved the monthly financial reports
• Approved the bond resolution and bond purchase agreement for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Education (Ed SPLOST) bonds to fund voter-approved projects
• Approved out-of-state travel and out-of-state and overnight field trips
• Approved the monthly capital outlay projects report

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13.