Cherokee Schools Name New Police Chief, Assistant Principals

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — The Cherokee County School Board on April 18 approved the appointment of a new District School Police Chief and new assistant principals to fill vacancies for next school year.

The School Board unanimously approved naming Major Buster Cushing, who currently serves as commander of field operations for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, as the next CCSD School Police Chief effective July 1. Cushing will fill the role held by retiring Chief Mark Kissel, who has led the department since its establishment 20 years ago.

“Major Cushing is just the right leader to continue to legacy of excellent service by Chief Kissel,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said. “His experience, education, reputation and commitment to our community will serve our School District and community well as he takes on this incredibly important role in our organization.”

Cushing’s past roles with the Sheriff’s Office over the last 22 years also have included commander of criminal investigations, lieutenant of internal affairs, narcotics agent supervisor, SWAT Team leader, crime suppression team leader and uniform patrol shift commander, after beginning his career as a deputy for one year in Early County. During his tenure with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, he has earned three Commendation Awards.

He’s a graduate of CCSD’s VILLA (Volunteer Instructional Leadership Learning Academy) parent academy and has won the Guardian of Ethics Award from the Rotary Club of Canton, for which he serves as sergeant-at-arms, and the Cristal Stancil Leadership Award from the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.

Cushing earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Georgia, and a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State College. He was not present to be officially introduced as the new chief, because he currently is studying at the FBI National Academy.

He and his wife, Christy, have a daughter, Preslie, and son, Sadler, who both are students at Creekview High School.

Following last month’s appointment of new principals, Hightower and his senior staff have focused on filling all of the vacancies for assistant principals for next school year due to advancements, retirements and reassignments.

“We’re so proud of their careers so far and know they will serve our students, staff and community well in their new leadership roles,” Hightower said before introducing each new leader to the audience.

• Avery Elementary: Amanda Schoeniger, 15 years of experience including her current role as a special education facilitator for Carmel ES and Clayton ES
• Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Lee Davis, 11 years of experience including her current role as a teacher on special assignment at the school
• Creekview HS: Caroline Miley, 15 years of experience including her current role as an assistant principal at Centennial High School in Fulton County
• Freedom MS: Dana Townsend, 22 years of experience including her current role as a PE and health teacher at Mill Creek MS, which this school year earned her the title of CCSD’s Teacher of the Year
• Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Sandi Harrison, 14 years of experience including her current role as an instructional lead strategist for Ball Ground ES STEM Academy and R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy
• Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: Ashley Polito, seven years of experience including her current role as the school’s academic facilitator
• R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: Adam Parker, 12 years of experience including his current role as a special education facilitator for Creekview HS, Dean Rusk MS, Hickory Flat ES and Liberty ES
• River Ridge HS: David Dyer, 26 years of experience including his current role as a teacher at Fannin County High School
• Sequoyah HS: Peter Vajda, 14 years of experience including his current role as an associate administrator at Cambridge High School in Fulton County
• Woodstock HS: Joel Roth, nine years of experience including his current role as an instructional lead strategist at River Ridge HS
• Woodstock MS: Pamela Estes, 23 years of experience including her current role as an instructional lead strategist at Carmel ES.

The School Board also voted to approve several reassignments for existing assistant principals and other CCSD leaders to assistant principal roles, and they are:

• Arnold Mill ES: Jennifer Johnson, who currently serves as an assistant principal at Ball Ground ES STEM Academy; and Abbey Philpot, who currently serves as Principal at Clayton ES
• Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Dr. Pam Green, who currently serves as an assistant principal at Liberty ES
• Dean Rusk MS: Scott Townsend, who currently serves as an assistant principal at E.T. Booth MS
• E.T. Booth MS: Steven Payne, who currently serves as a coordinator in the Office of Curriculum & Instruction
• Indian Knoll ES: Angela Martin, who currently serves as a teacher on special assignment in the Office of Curriculum & Instruction
• Liberty ES: Christy Bowling, who currently serves as an assistant principal at Arnold Mill ES
• Mill Creek MS: Leigh Gutierez, who currently serves as an assistant principal at Freedom MS
• Ralph Bunche Center: Angela Moody, who currently serves as an assistant principal at Arnold Mill ES.

Two assistant principals will move to CCSD roles:

• Richard Carnes from Mill Creek MS will serve as an administrator on special assignment in the Office of School Operations
• Krista Webb from Creekview HS will serve as an administrator on special assignment in the Office of Curriculum & Instruction.

As part of its monthly personnel recommendations vote, the School Board additionally approved the hiring of two new teachers who also will serve as head basketball coaches.

Aaron Darling, who currently teaches and leads the boys’ basketball program at Cambridge High School in Fulton County, will serve in the same role at River Ridge High School.

Chris Yarbrough, who currently teaches and leads the girls’ basketball program at Northview High School in Fulton County, will serve in the same role at Sequoyah High School.