Meet Cherokee County School District's Newest Administrators

The Cherokee County School District’s newly-appointed principals and assistant principals have joined returning administrators in preparing for the 2015-16 school year, which starts on Monday.

The appointments made this spring include seven principals -- Arnold Mill Elementary Principal Dan Fuller, Avery Elementary Principal Dr. Lisa Turner, Cherokee High Principal Todd Miller, Johnston Elementary Principal Amy Graham, Oak Grove Elementary Fine Arts Academy Principal Penny Valle, Tippens Education Center Principal Kelly Strickland and Woodstock Middle Principal David Childress and 12 assistant principals; and all bring years of experience as educators to their roles.

“We know that these proven leaders will succeed in their new roles of ensuring each child is prepared for future success and that every educator exceeds expectations,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said. “We train and promote our brightest teachers to become administrators, and we recruit the best from other school systems – this is one important reason as to why our School District’s leadership team is so strong. I know that parents, staff and partners will be delighted with their school’s new leaders and will join me in congratulating them.”

The Superintendent’s Leadership Academy was established by Dr. Petruzielo early in his tenure with the district to increase depth within the organization and develop future Principals and Assistant Principals.

“The Academy has been extremely successful in assisting with the identification of teacher-leaders for administrator roles, and has provided participants with a deeper understanding of our operations and leadership skills,” the superintendent said.

Three schools also are welcoming veteran CCSD principals who are transferring there: Bascomb Elementary Principal Kathleen Chandler, who transferred from Johnston; Mill Creek Middle Principal Dr. Kerry Martin, who transferred from Arnold Mill; and Woodstock High Principal Mark Smith from Woodstock Middle.

Please read more about the newly-appointed principals and assistant principals:

PRINCIPALS

Mr. Dan Fuller

-Principal, Arnold Mill ES
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Mill Creek MS (2 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Chapman IS (7 years); joined CCSD in 2002 as a special education teacher at Teasley MS and also taught at Freedom MS
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Dr. Lisa Turner

-Principal, Avery ES
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Holly Springs ES (3 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Bascomb ES (6 years); joined CCSD in 2006 as a third-grade teacher at Bascomb ES
-Other prior teaching experience: Assistant Principal and Teacher in public and private schools in both Florida and North Carolina
-Past participant in the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Mr. Todd Miller

-Principal, Cherokee HS
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Sequoyah HS (8 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Joined CCSD in 2004 as a Special Education Teacher at Sequoyah HS
-Other prior teaching experience: Special education teacher in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties in Florida
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Ms. Amy Graham

-Principal, Johnston ES
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Teasley MS (5 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Creekland MS (4 years); joined CCSD in 2003 as a teacher at Chapman IS and also taught at Creekland MS
-Other prior teaching experience: Teacher in Houston (Ga.) County Schools
Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Mrs. Penny Valle

-Principal, Oak Grove Fine Arts Academy
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Etowah HS (3 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Woodstock MS (2 years), CCSD Graduation Coach (2 years), Teacher On Special Assignment at Oak Grove ES (1 year); joined CCSD in 1995 as a teacher at Buffington ES and also taught at Holly Springs ES
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy 

Mrs. Kelly Strickland

-Principal, Tippens Education Center
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Cherokee HS (2 years)
Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Woodstock HS (2 years), Special Education Facilitator (2 years), Teacher on Special Assignment in Special Education (2 years), Extended School Year Administrator (2 years); joined CCSD in 1993 as a special education teacher at Sixes ES and also taught at Woodstock HS
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Mr. David Childress

-Principal, Woodstock MS
-Most recently served as an Assistant Principal at E. T. Booth MS (6 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Etowah HS (1 year) and Macedonia ES (1 year); joined CCSD in 1988 as a math teacher at Etowah HS
-Participant in the 2014-15 Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS

Ms. Jennifer Hall

-Newly-Appointed Assistant Principal, Ball Ground ES STEM Academy
-Most recently served as a teacher at E. T. Booth MS (2 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Chapman IS (6 years) and Bascomb (3 years)
-Other prior teaching experience: Teacher for State of Florida
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy 

Ms. Emily Webber

-Newly-Appointed Assistant Principal, Bascomb ES
-Most recently served as a teacher at Liberty ES (13 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Sixes ES (2 years)
-Other prior teaching experience: Paulding County (4 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Ms. Valerie Lowery

-Newly-Appointed Assistant Principal, Canton ES STEM Academy
-Most recently served as Academic Coach at Canton ES STEM Academy
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Clayton ES (6 years), Hasty ES (3 years), Tippens ES (4 years), and Holly Springs ES (3 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Mr. Neil Howell

-Newly-Appointed Assistant Principal, Cherokee HS
-Most recently served as a Principal in Bartow County Schools (1 year)
-Other prior teaching experience: Principal in Pickens County Schools (5 years) and Assistant Principal (3 years); high school Band Director in Rockdale County and in South Carolina

Jillian Nichols

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Clark Creek ES STEM Academy
-Most recently served as an Academic Coach at Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy (2 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Oak Grove ES (1 year), Boston ES (6 years) and Hasty ES (1 year)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Jessica Whitley

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Creekview HS
-Most recently served as a teacher at Etowah HS
-Prior CCSD experience: Counselor at Etowah HS (2 years)
-Other prior teaching experience: Teacher and counselor in other Georgia districts (White County, 5 years; Clayton County, 1 year) and in Texas
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Matthew Swanson

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Freedom MS
-Most recently served as Teacher On Special Assignment-Race To The Top-Superintendent’s Leadership Academy (1 year)
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Woodstock HS (14 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Dr. Jessica Porter

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Holly Springs ES STEM Academy
-Most recently served as Teacher On Special Assignment-Race To The Top-Educational Programs, Student Support, and Professional Development
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Woodstock MS (3 years) and Woodstock ES (9 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy 

John Carter

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Indian Knoll ES
-Most recently served as Band Director at Creekland MS (10 years)/music teacher at Ball Ground STEM Academy (2 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Band Director at Teasley MS (2 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Laura Akers

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Little River ES
-Most recently served as a teacher at Liberty ES (8 years)|
-Other prior teaching experience: Teacher in Cobb County Schools (7 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Dr. Mark Merges

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Sequoyah HS
-Most recently served as a Principal in Dawson County Schools (6 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Assistant Principal at Dean Rusk MS; originally joined CCSD in 1994 as a PE teacher
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

Renee Bernhardt

-Newly-appointed assistant principal, Teasley MS
-Most recently served as a Teacher On Special Assignment (Academic Support) Educational Programs, Student Support, and Professional Development (6 years)
-Prior CCSD experience: Teacher at Johnston ES (3 years)
-Other prior teaching experience: Teacher for State of New York (7 years)
-Past participant in Superintendent’s Leadership Academy

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Photo 1: Mark Smith
Photo 2: Kerry Martin
Photo 3: Kathleen Chandler
Photo 4: David Childress
Photo 5: Kelly Strickland
Photo 6: Penny Valle
Photo 7: Amy Graham
Photo 8: Todd Miller
Photo 9: Lisa Turner
Photo 10: Dan Fuller
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District