Cherokee Schools Superintendent Welcomes Students Back

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Another school year has started in Cherokee County after students went back to the classroom on Monday.

Superintendent Brian Hightower wrote a note to the community, said he woke up earlier than usual on Monday to "see as many smiles as possible."

"As I visited our schools today, the smiles lit up the hallways brighter than any New Year’s fireworks," he wrote in his message on Monday. "It felt like a reunion, not only for children and teachers and staff who missed seeing each other over the summer break, but also for former digital learners who spent more than a year learning from home and now are back in person. You could hear the joy among the parents and grandparents who delighted in today’s opportunity to walk little ones to their classrooms. And you could see it in the faces of PTA volunteers who have longed to work again in classrooms and media centers and cafeterias and now can return to this valuable service."

The district's teachers and support staff are ready to do what they do best: teaching, supporting, transporting, feeding and caring, caring, caring for students, Hightower said. The district is continuing to offer digital learning as an option for at least the first semester, and began its first classes at i-Grad Virtual Academy, the district’s new permanent online learning choice for high school students.

"We’ve improved online learning for this school year, and our teachers and support staff are eager to connect with students," he said.

District officials are closely monitoring the COVID-19 caseload in the community and schools and will take appropriate action as needed. Parents will be notified of any positive cases in their child’s classes and are encouraged to monitor for symptoms. The district also encourages everyone who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, stay home when sick or have been directed by a doctor to quarantine due to a positive case in your household.

While masks are not required in Cherokee Schools, Hightower noted he saw masks among students, adults and visitors.

"Our students greatly benefitted, both academically and socially and emotionally, from our school board’s leadership to open schools on time and in-person last school year," Hightower said. "While we know there were learning opportunity losses along the way due to at-home learning, our teachers and staff have worked hard to close gaps. We’ve hired an additional 125 teachers, above and beyond enrollment growth, for this school year to ensure full recovery. We encourage you to join us in our mission of continuous improvement in service to our students by becoming an active member of your school’s PTA and keeping up with your child’s learning in Canvas."

Learn more about the academic curriculum and social and emotional learning curriculum on the district's website.

Read more: Back To School: Cherokee County 2021-22 School Calendar