Cherokee Middle School Assistant Principal Named Finalist

WOODSTOCK, GA — A Cherokee County School District leader has been named a finalist for the statewide title of 2020 Georgia Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year.

E.T. Booth Middle School Assistant Principal Kathie Monti is one of two leaders announced as finalists for the award presented by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. The award, which is open to middle school assistant principals statewide, recognizes “outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.”

The judges will select a winner based on achievement in four categories of specific standards: personal excellence; collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and personalization. The winner will be announced next month and then represent the state in the competition for the national title.

“Kathie is devoted to E.T. Booth Middle School and her Eagle Mountain family, and this award speaks to that dedication,” Superintendent of Schools Brian Hightower said. “We’re so proud to see her recognized for excellence in leadership and for the service she provides to the students and staff.”

In addition to being a vital part of the administrative and leadership team, Monti’s specific area of oversight at E.T. Booth Middle is student support, which includes special education, response to intervention, 504 plans, testing, the school improvement plan, and English learners.

Now in her fifth year as an assistant principal at E.T. Booth Middle, Monti previously taught middle school English language arts and reading and earned the Teacher of the Year title for both Marietta Middle School and the Marietta City School System, and then advanced to be named a finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year.

Monti later worked for the Georgia Department of Education as a teacher advisor for Race to the Top and trainer for the Teacher Keys Evaluation System before joining Cherokee Schools in 2013.

Originally from North Carolina, Monti grew up in a family of educators and went on to earn her education degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.