Cherokee Teachers Prepare For First Day of School

Staff Report

Cherokee County School District teachers returned to work officially this week, but many teachers reported earlier during Summer Break for workshops and classes or to prep their classrooms and organize for the start of the new school year on August 4.

District professional development staff in July presented a two-day Camp Cherokee workshop for new teachers. Teachers new to the district (and those with fewer than three years of experience) were able to attend sessions on personnel issues, school safety, Georgia Performance Standards, gifted instruction and evaluation. Special technology “boot camps” were offered for new hires to bring them up to speed on classroom technology in district schools. More than 125 teachers attended all or part of the two-day camp.

Many schools and Innovation Zones (high school plus its feeder middle and elementary schools) kicked off pre-planning week with special events.

Highlights included appearances by: Ron Clark Academy co-founder Kim Bearden and author of “Crash Course: The Lessons My Students Taught Me” at Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy; David Salyers, national Vice President of Marketing for Chick-fil-A and author of the book, “Remarkable,” at Creekview High School; Dr. Steve Constantino, a veteran educator, speaker and author, at Cherokee High School; and Chis Anderson of the iSTEM Institute visited numerous campuses including Canton and Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academies.

(Photo: Teasley Middle School special education reading teacher Courtney Jones readies a bulletin board in her new classroom. Credit: Cherokee County School District).