More Than 100 Employees Retire From School District

CANTON, GA -- More than 100 educators and support personnel retired this year from the Cherokee County School District and to show its appreciation, the system held receptions to honor these public servants for their years of dedication to their professions.

“Our school district is not only an outstanding professional organization with a reputation for excellence, it’s also a family,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower said. “While we don’t see them as often, retirees remain an important part of our family, and many return to volunteer in our schools as tutors and mentors. We appreciate them and wish them great joy in their retirement."

Schools and offices held retirement receptions supported by their staff members. A reception for retiring department heads was held Tuesday at the Educational Services Annex in Canton. The five honored retirees – Director of Technology Services and Data Communications Tim Feltner, Supervisor of Special Education Sheryl Gould, Supervisor of Federal Programs Teresa Henry, Manager of Support Services Anita Lathem and Susan McCarthy, assistant superintendent of Educational Programs, Student Support, Accountability and Professional Development – were recognized with remarks by other assistant superintendents and Dr. Hightower.

“These leaders dedicated themselves to our schools and District during their tenure,” Dr. Hightower said. “They leave behind of legacy of selfless service to improving education and our community.”

Each was presented with a plaque and a children’s book inspired by their vocation, a copy of which also will be placed in their name in the collection of a district elementary school. Guests also shared hugs and memories in receiving lines for each honoree, and enjoyed cake and punch; the reception and gifts were sponsored by a donation from Northside Hospital Cherokee, a school district partner.

CCSD employees who retired this school year include:

-Arnold Mill ES: Roberta Daniels, Robert Jordan and Judy Langston

-Avery ES: Donna Dobson and Karen McClellan

-Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Principal Dr. Keith Ingram

-Bascomb ES: Beth Denney, Kimberly Hellenga, Debra Jones, Donna Mihal and Linda Pritchett

-Boston ES: Terese Gresham, Sue Hartwell, Kathleen Nalley and Lynn South

-Canton ES STEM Academy: Debbie Bryant and Sherry Cooper

-Carmel ES: Charlotte Chastain, Kathryn Choquette, Diane Clark, Kelly Maugans and Stefanie Schoeller

-Cherokee HS: Beverly Darby and James Thompson

-Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Deb Abrams, Pamela Garmon, Madeline Hall, Dixie Mathews, Linda Pierzchala, Virginia Scialpi, Pamilia Travis and Dianne Vergouven

-Clayton ES: Holly Brasfield

-Creekland MS: Susan Albee, Susan DeBacker, Babette DeLaune, Louise Fox, Lovenia Houston, Mary Noland, Dana Phillips, Joanne Renfro-Poidevant, Kathleen Stockman and Principal Dr. Deborah Wiseman

-Creekview HS: Linda Nicholson

-Dean Rusk MS: Catherine Cass, Principal Cynthia Cooper and Phillip Wagoner

-Educational Programs: Supervisor Teresa Henry and Assistant Superintendent Susan McCarthy

-E.T. Booth MS: William Carter, Mary Duke, Pam Patterson, John Richberg and Deborah White

-Etowah HS: Andrew Kakavelakis, Mary Shell and Charles Strickland

-Free Home ES: Deborah Lundstrom and Sandy Simmons

-Freedom MS: Camille Ward

-Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Linda Crane, Patricia Hess and Laura Shiver

-Hickory Flat ES: Suzanne Hynes

-Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Joyce Daniel, Mary LaFar, Elizabeth Purvis, Larry Tolerson and Sandra Threlkeld

-Indian Knoll ES: Susan Wrensen

-Johnston ES: Bonnie Carver, Karen Feltner and Barbara Ostrander

-Liberty ES: Sandra Blohm and Cindy Mathews

-Little River ES: Candis Livingston and Hazel Brock

-Macedonia ES: Lynn Outlaw, Mary Sutton and Patricia Webber

-Maintenance: Edward DeLima and Hugh Hodgins

-Mill Creek MS: Phyllis Ailes, Shirley Bryant, Janet Hammen-Harry, Angela Keener and Janet Sergent

-Mountain Road ES: Kay Marcum, Kathy Stamey and Tonya Slease-Cannon

-Oak Grove ES Fine Arts Academy: Cindy Divine-Vilchez, Trenta Herrmann and Vicki McGill

-Purchasing: Vickie Dunagan

-River Ridge HS: Debbie Goldberg and Tamara Smith

-R.M. Moore ES: Greg Hendrix, Cecelia Rainey and Ada Rogers

-School Food Service: Manager Anita Lathem

-School Police: Todd Maloney

-School Operations: Kathy Bolin

-Sequoyah HS: Shirley Anderson, Debra Baker, Diane Butterworth, Mark Farist, Brenda Priest and Curtis Williams

-Sixes ES: Kathy Boyle, Brandon English, Laura Martin and Margaret Swarts

-Special Education: Dr. Dan Campbell, Supervisor Sheryl Gould, Sue Hightower, Renee Jones and Dr. John Poidevant

-Student Assessments: Gayle McLaurin

-Teasley MS: Eula Chastain and Darrell Pendergrass

-Technology Services: Susan Dreschel, Director Tim Feltner, Lynne Murphy, Deborah West and Joan Williams

-Transportation: William Anderson, Shirley Crowe, William Davis, Shirley Drain, Charles Faucett, Beverly Greene, Rebecca King, Stephen Mraz, Brian O'Brien, Larry Sweat and Karen Warren

-Tippens EC: Steve Frankel and Marge McMullen

-Woodstock ES: Jane Hancock and Crista Sycks

-Woodstock HS: Laura Cox, Susan Greene, Joanne May, Patricia Olton, Charles Pineo and Cathy Roberts

-Woodstock MS: Kimball Blankenship, Jane Cochran, Melanie Huey and Lynn Reynolds

Photo: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, right, recognizes retiring leaders at the Cherokee County School District Senior Staff Retirement Celebration, from left to right: Supervisor of Federal Programs Teresa Henry, Supervisor of Special Education Sheryl Gould, Susan McCarthy, assistant superintendent of Educational Programs, Student Support, Accountability and Professional Development; Director of Technology Services and Data Communications Tim Feltner and Manager of Support Services Anita Lathem.