Woodstock Elementary Educator Named Distinguished Assistant Principal

WOODSTOCK, GA -- An assistant principal in the Cherokee County School District has been named the Georgia 2016 National Distinguished Assistant Principal.

Woodstock Elementary School's Rachel Wasserman was surprised Monday with the announcement by Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals Executive Director Hal Beaver.

Beaver made the presentation, which includes a $500 award, to Wasserman in front of a gym full of cheering students and teachers.

“You have been chosen by your peers because you exemplify educational leadership of the highest quality,” he said, noting the award is presented to only one assistant principal in Georgia each year, and honorees are selected for successful leadership. “You have put the progress and well-being of every child at the forefront of school planning and operations. Your distinguished leadership and extraordinary service as an educator exhibit your commitment to improving young lives.”

• Sign up for the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch newsletter!

Beaver was joined in making the presentation by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower and members of his senior staff.

“Assistant Principal Wasserman is a dynamic leader who has earned the respect of colleagues at her school, the District and statewide,” Dr. Hightower said. “We are committed to growing and supporting leaders like Ms. Wasserman, who has risen to the challenge of helping to lead one of our largest Title I schools. I could not be more proud to congratulate her on this well-deserved honor, which we expect will be the first of many.”

Wasserman has served in her current role for two years following success as a classroom teacher beginning in 2006, including being named the school’s 2013-14 Teacher of the Year. She earned her master’s in early childhood education and specialist in educational leadership degrees from Kennesaw State University

Principal Kim Montalbano describes Wasserman as a “cheerleader for children.”

“She is positive, innovative and a true professional,” the principal added. “She strives to maintain an extraordinarily positive school climate that ultimately promotes student learning.”

In her role at Woodstock Elementary School, Wasserman has focused on developing collaborative leadership with teachers and community partnerships and beginning several new initiatives including the establishment of a new positive behavior program and the creation of a school garden.

“Why do I lead?” she wrote in her application. “I lead so that I can make an impact on teachers so that they can, in turn, make an impact on their students. Why do I lead? I lead so that I can inspire, motivate and challenge teachers so that they can, in turn, inspire, motivate and challenge their students. It is my hope that people will think of these as my lasting legacy, not the programs I implemented or the data I collected or the school functions I attended. I want my legacy to be that I made an impact on a teacher.”

Wasserman will be recognized at the Association’s Fall Conference, and will be congratulated by the Cherokee County School Board at its June 16 meeting.

---

Photo 1: Woodstock ES Assistant Principal Rachel Wasserman, left, is surprised as Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals Executive Director Hal Beaver, right, announces that she is the Georgia 2016 National Distinguished Assistant Principal. Looking on are, from left to right, Principal Kim Montalbano, CCSD Deputy Superintendent Trey Olson, School Operations Director Dr. Nicole Holmes and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower.
Photos 2 and 3: Woodstock ES Assistant Principal Rachel Wasserman is presented a $500 award by Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals Executive Director Hal Beaver.
Photo 4: Celebrating the honor are, from left to right, Principal Kim Montalbano, CCSD Deputy Superintendent Trey Olson, School Operations Director Dr. Nicole Holmes, Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals Executive Director Hal Beaver, Woodstock ES Assistant Principal Rachel Wasserman and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower.
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District