Reinhardt University alumni continue to excel in their careers, and a 2006 Price School of Education graduate has been honored by the state for her work as an educator.

Rachel Wasserman 06 was surprised May 23 with the announcement that she was named the Georgia 2016 National Distinguished Assistant Principal.

Reinhardt is where it all started for me on my path to becoming an educator.  I cannot tell you how proud I am to say that I am a Reinhardt grad, Wasserman said. The experiences I had there through my professors and fellow students made me the educator I am today.  They are the ones that will stay with me always.

The presentation was made by Hal Beaver, Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals Executive Director, at Woodstock Elementary School where Wasserman serves as an assistant principal. The honor also includes a $500 award.

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.

Dr. Cindy Kiernan, dean of the Price School of Education at Reinhardt University, said Wassermans experiences at Reinhardt are reflected in the Universitys mission of educating the whole person.

As reflected in our University Mission Statement, Reinhardt seeks to educate the whole person by developing the intellectual, social, personal, vocational, spiritual/moral and physical dimensions of its students, Kiernan said. Graduates are distinguished by attributes that are developed through personal interaction with the faculty, the staff and fellow students.  Ms. Rachel Wassermans experiences in the Price School of Education at Reinhardt University reflect a graduate impacted by faculty supporting this mission.

Wasserman credits the educator that she has become to Reinhardt and its faculty members a sentiment she highlighted while speaking at a recent retirement event.
She chose to speak about RU alumnus, former Reinhardt adjunct professor and former Cherokee County School District superintendent, Gene Norton.

So you see, Mr. Norton, having you as a teacher did more for me than you will ever know, Wasserman said during the event. I would not be the Assistant Principal, sister, daughter or person I am today without being taught by a teacher like you.

Wasserman began with the CCSD as a classroom teacher in 2006 after graduating from Reinhardt. She continued her education and earned a masters degree in early childhood education and specialist in educational leadership degree from Kennesaw State University. She was named the schools Teacher of the Year for the 2013-14 school year. Fellow RU alumnus and current Cherokee County School District superintendent, Dr. Brian Hightower, said the respect for Wasserman and her work as an educator and administrator go far past the walls of Woodstock Elementary School.

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."

Reinhardt University recently celebrated the inauguration of its 20th President, Dr. Kina S. Mallard (pictured), in an almost two-week-long celebration.

The event was kicked off with an art gallery reception at the Falany Performing Arts Center. The art on display was in honor of Dr. Mallard, and each piece had a connection to Reinhardts newest president.

The guest artists included Ann Bailey, of Canton; Nancy Currie Moore, of Canton; Lisa Flanary, of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Angela D. Lee, of Nashville, Tennessee; Michael Mallard, of Plains; Melissa Mann Bean, of Louisville, Kentucky; Julie Rabun, of Jefferson City, Tennessee; David Underwood, of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Joshua Wagner, of Nashville, Tennessee; and Jen White, of Memphis, Tennessee.

In addition to the art gallery reception, the week-long celebration also included an Inauguration and Alumni Awards Gala, as well as concerts by the Universitys Jazz Ensemble, its Symphonic Winds group and its Choir.

The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Jennifer Simonis with Healing Hands Youth Ranch has been named the Chairmans Council Volunteer of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2016. She was honored during the Chambers April Good Morning Cherokee networking event.

In determining the Volunteer of the Quarter, attendance at Chamber events is evaluated for all members of the Chairmans Council. There was no doubt when naming this quarters honoree, as Jennifer attended many Chamber events since the first of the year, said Steve Garrison, Chamber Chairman and Owner of Canton Tire & Wheel.

Chattahoochee Technical Colleges Executive Director for Adult Education, Tamika Phillips, has been named runner up for Outstanding Administrator of the Year by the Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) an award she was nominated for by Beverly Smith, assistant commissioner over the adult education programs for the Technical College System of Georgia.

COABE is a 13,000 member organization that exists to provide leadership, communication, professional development and advocacy for adult education and literacy opportunities. The commissions mission is to inspire educators so adults succeed and communities thrive. COABE provides a variety of services, including competitive national-level awards, incentive grants and scholarship opportunities through special funding provided by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Cherokee County Farm Bureau member B.J. Weeks is serving as chairman of the Georgia Farm Bureau Honeybee Committee for 2016.

Weeks maintains 500 bee hives, selling honey to 65 local grocery stores and providing limited pollination services. He also raises queen bees and sells packaged beehives.

The 10-member GFB Honeybee Committee is made up of fruit producers from around the state. Weeks leads the committee in making recommendations to Georgia Farm Bureau regarding issues that impact the states honeybee industry.

Weeks has previously served on the Cherokee County Farm Bureau board, including a stint as vice president. He has also served as vice president for Georgia Beekeepers Association and helps teach classes and workshops for the Cherokee County Beekeepers Club.

Lyndon Academy recently broke ground on the third phase of their Toonigh Road campus. The new addition will enable the school to fully educate current and future students, from kindergarten through high school graduation.

The Murdock family owns and operates the school and made a promise to add a grade level per year to build a complete k-12 academy. The beginning of phase III brings that promise to fruition. Lyndon Academy is excited to enter this next phase of development and growth for the students and families it serves. The Academy is now enrolling kindergarten through 10th grade for the 2016-2017 school year.

Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Chief, Larry Berry, recently retired after 40 years as a volunteer firefighter and 37 years as fire chief. Nearly 100 friends, relatives and firefighters attended a retirement celebration at station 23 in Hickory Flat.

Fellow officers discussed Berrys impact on the community and the county as a whole. Chief Berry was instrumental in building the Volunteer Firefighters Organization, said Tim Crossland, the new Hickory Flat Volunteer Fire Chief. He then added that, beginning in the 1970s, Chief Berry set high training standards, which enabled many volunteers to pursue firefighting careers. Crossland estimated that as many as 35% of Hickory Flat volunteers have become career firefighters.

Even after retirement, Berrys legacy will continue, as the firefighters he recruited and trained help citizens in fire stations throughout the county. Berrys final radio call came through at 8:30 pm on March 14, 2016.

After a series of tones representing fire stations throughout the county, the dispatcher thanked Chief Larry Berry for 40 years of service. Following the dispatch, firefighters sent messages of appreciation to a chief who has made a difference in Hickory Flat and beyond. Berry will continue to serve on the HFFD, Inc. Board of Trustees.

Two Chattahoochee Tech Campus Police Officers are moving up in rank, bringing an additional wealth of law enforcement knowledge and experience to the departments already skilled command staff.

Wayne Bennett, CTCs executive director of Facilities Management and Public Safety, recently announced the promotions of Jeffery Youngkin and Robert McDowell to the rank of sergeant. Sgt. Youngkin will supervise the Marietta, Paulding, Mountain View and Austell campuses and Sgt. McDowell will oversee the Appalachian, Canton, Woodstock and North Metro campuses.

Sgt. McDowell joined CTCs Department of Public Safety as a part-time police officer in August of 2010 after retiring from the Cobb County Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer and as an investigator in felony crimes against persons, as well as internal affairs. McDowell, from 1998 to 2005, also worked as a departmental polygrapher, conducting more than 700 polygraph tests. He additionally served as a member of the Cobb County Police Crisis Negotiation Team from 1994 to 2010. Sgt. McDowell rose up the ranks at Cobb County Police, serving as a sergeant and supervisor over uniform patrol.

The Cherokee County Farm Bureau, along with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee, will sponsor a Political Forum/ Meet and Greet on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 6:30 pm. The forum will be held under the wooden pavilion at Cagles Family Farm, 362 Stringer Road, Canton. All local, state and national candidates running for office in 2016 will be invited to attend. If they have opposition, they will have two minutes to speak followed by written questions from the audience. Attending elected officials will be introduced.  Everyone will have time to meet and greet the candidates and elected officials before and after the forum. There will be homemade ice cream served by Boy Scout Troop #465. Sodas, water and peanuts will be provided by the Farm Bureau. The forum is open to the public. To RSVP to attend, please call Cherokee County Farm Bureau at 770-479-1481, ext. 0.

This 28th Anniversary Class was chosen following participation in a nomination, application and interview process.

The 23 class members traveled to Brasstown Valley Resort for their retreat. The group participated in both indoor and outdoor team building exercises that enabled them to learn not only about each other, but also about themselves through a look at personality types and communication styles, said Katie Wise with LGE Community Credit Union and the 2016 Chair of Leadership Cherokee.

Over the next nine months, the Leadership Cherokee Class will participate in a broad range of sessions that will focus on a variety of topics such as economic development, infrastructure, government, justice, education, recreation, tourism, public safety, healthcare and social/human services.

Following the nine months of leadership training, the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2016 will graduate during a ceremony in September. For information on the Leadership Cherokee Class of 2017, contact the Chamber office at 770-345-0400, or visit CherokeeChamber.com.