BOE Names New Educational Services Building After Petruzielo

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Woodstock, GA -- The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday unanimously voted to recognize retiring Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo by naming the new Educational Services Facility in his honor.

Dr. Petruzielo, who is retiring at the end of the month and served at his final school board meeting on Thursday, was humbled by the recognition, noting that the past 17 years of service to the Cherokee County School District “have been the best of my 50-year career in education.”

“I was expecting a plaque,” Dr. Petruzielo joked after the surprise honor was announced. “This is an extraordinary honor and an unbelievable recognition. I don’t think that in my career I’ve ever felt as appreciated as I do this evening.”

Dr. Petruzielo, whose leadership and accomplishments were celebrated with numerous standing ovations, went on to thank: district teachers, noting how much he appreciates their “sacrifices and hard work”; his wife and family; his senior staff; school board members; local education reporters; his dedicated executive secretary and administrative assistant; and the community’s “incredible” PTA volunteers and leaders.

“I hope everyone will agree that I am leaving the school district in good shape and in good hands,” Dr. Petruzielo said.

The much-needed administrative facility is under construction on the Bluffs Parkway in Canton and will open in August 2017. A dedication ceremony for The Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility will be held upon the facility’s completion.

Board members praised Dr. Petruzielo for his dedication and success and thanked him for his service on behalf of students, parents and the broader community.

They also expressed appreciation for the professional relationships he built with them.

“Sir, you have set the standard for education,” said board member Rick Steiner, who stood to deliver his message as a sign of respect.

Steiner noted his heroes are his father; his wrestling coaches; Ted Turner and Muhammad Ali, for whom he worked; and that he adds Dr. Petruzielo to that list.

“You have taught me how to be a leader,” he added.

Board Vice Chair Patsy Jordan wiped away tears as she thanked the retiring superintendent for beginning a life-changing journey for her… from his recommendation that she be hired as a teacher 17 years ago to serving alongside him on the school board dais.

“It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” she said.

The meeting included several other surprise recognitions for Dr. Petruzielo, including establishment by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation of a professional development annual scholarship in his name.

The Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Leadership Award is a $1,500 annual award that will be granted by the Foundaiton to the most outstanding graduate of the CCSD Superintendent’s Leadership Academy for teacher-leaders, a capacity-building program instituted by Dr. Petruzielo.

The grant enables the winner, who will be selected by his/her peers, to participate in additional professional development opportunities.

“Dr. P is a visionary with unsurpassed leadership,” CCEF Board President Billy Hasty Jr. said as he announced the scholarship. Since its establishment in 2012 with Dr. Petruzielo’s support, CCEF has issued more than $80,000 in grants to the School District’s teachers, students and schools, with another $25,000 to be awarded in February.

Following recognition of the district for its third consecutive inclusion in annual Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll Recognition, which celebrates school districts with increasing percentages of student participation and success in the AP Program, Dr. Petruzielo was also honored by The College Board, which administers the program.

“During your tenure, you have opened the door of opportunity for so many students,” Kendall Hawkins with The College Board said in her remarks praising Dr. Petruzielo for increasing student access to not only AP courses, but also to SAT and PSAT testing.

Since Dr. Petruzielo’s arrival in 1999, the Cherokee County School District has seen dramatic increases in participation and passage rates for these courses and tests… 108-percent increase in SAT participation, 260-percent increase in PSAT participation and 809-percent increase in AP participation.

During the public participation section of the meeting, longtime district teacher Anita Geoghagan praised Dr. Petruzielo for his passionate advocacy for teachers and public education.

“You didn’t take no for an answer even when there were times when that would have been easier,” she said.

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Photo 1: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo, center, is surprised with the announcement that the School Board is naming the new Educational Services Facility in his honor, as School Board Chair Kyla Cromer and Board Member Rick Steiner look on.
Photo 2: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo receives a hug from Cherokee County Educational Foundation President William “Billy” G. Hasty Jr. after CCEF announced a scholarship named in Dr. Petruzielo’s honor. Looking on are CCEF Board Members, from left to right, Kevin Williams, Debbie Rabjohn, Rod Drake and Zach Blend and School Board Student Advisor Claire Roop, left.
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District