Cherokee County School District Announcements Career Education Teacher HonoredSequoyah HS teacher Casandra Hembree, who leads the school’s Work-Based Learning (WBL) program, received the Outstanding Achievement in Career Awareness and Exploration Award from the Georgia Department of Education (DOE). The award was presented at the Georgia DOE’s WBL and Youth Apprenticeship Conference at which Hembree also was recognized for completing the department’s Top Gun Training for WBL teachers. The WBL program allows high school students to earn school credit while working in a job related to their Career Pathway studies.Superintendent Earns Prestigious Educational Leadership AwardSuperintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower recently was presented with the inaugural Dr. Gregory E. Arnsdorff Servant Leadership Award by the international educational accreditation agency Cognia. The award is named for the late Dr. Arnsdorff who served as senior director of client services for Cognia until his passing. The special honor was presented to Dr. Hightower at Cognia’s recent Impact Conference in Atlanta. The new award honors longtime outstanding service by an educational leader on behalf of Georgia’s students and families.Sequoyah HS Sets New Record for Music ProgramThe Sequoyah HS chorus saw a record 23 students selected for All-State Chorus. Students must audition for the elite choral program, which will be presented by the Georgia Music Educators Association in February at The Classic Center in Athens. Choral Director Joshua Markham said the achievement is a major accomplishment for the individual students and the program.Selected students are Max Aaron, Asher Bennett, Braylee Bryant, Sofia Castillo, Elena Dagostino, Teagan Durham, Paige George, Alex Gilliam, Kaitlyn Hartman, Lizzie Hatch, Blythe Hilliard, Parker Ingram, Emma Jira, Andrew Latimer, Matthew Lorenz, Madeleine Markham, James Markham, Ben Offenberg, Derik Pedro-Espinoza, Adrian Perez Arciniegas, Sasha Sins, Lily Ward, and Dakota Youngblood.Creekview HS Student Wins First Place in Statewide Spelling Quiz BowlAs part of the Georgia Career and Technical Instruction program’s Fall Leadership Conference, students from across the state participate in academic, career readiness, and leadership skills events including quiz bowl competitions on core academic topics. Creekview HS sophomore Thomas Wang earned first place in the statewide spelling quiz bowl. A member of the school’s Emerging Leaders program, Wang additionally entered the conference’s “Activate Dreams” T-shirt design competition.River Ridge HS Students Earn Honors at Statewide Career Skills CompetitionThe River Ridge HS SkillsUSA chapter earned the Chapter of Excellence Award at the Georgia SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference. The award recognizes career education programs that demonstrate exceptional integration of personal, workplace, and technical skills into their activities to prepare students for future success.Aidan Nemec, an honors student in the Career Pathway program for Audio Video Technology and Film, earned the Statesman Award at the conference. The award is the highest individual honor bestowed upon students at the state level. It recognizes students who have completed career leadership training and demonstrate outstanding leadership skills.Woodstock HS Student Wins First Place in State Academic Quiz BowlAs part of the Georgia Career and Technical Instruction program’s Fall Leadership Conference, students from across the state participate in academic, career readiness, and leadership skills events including quiz bowl competitions on core academic topics. Woodstock HS senior Owen Markette earned first place in the statewide social studies quiz bowl, which focuses on early American history. Active in the school’s JROTC program, Markette’s plans after graduation are to attend college, enter the military as an officer, and pursue a career as a drone pilot. Carmel ES Named a State Distinguished SchoolCarmel ES ranked among the top 5% of highest-performing Title I schools statewide to earn this recognition. The award honors students’ performance on the English language arts and math sections of the Georgia Milestones test. Title I schools serve communities with higher rates of students receiving free or reduced-price meals due to family income levels. Carmel is led by Principal Kim Hagood.Teams Excel at National JROTC CompetitionAt the recent Raider National Championships, the Etowah HS Air Force JROTC team won the Master Division Mixed Team National Championship, and team member Austin Brice was named No. 1 Raider. The River Ridge HS Air Force JROTC team won the Challenge Division Male Team National Championship. The multi-event military-style athletic competition includes a 4K run, half-mile physical fitness test, rope bridge test, and the gauntlet (a half-mile obstacle course).
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