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Board of Education

A high performing school district starts with a high performing Board of Education.
High performing Boards of Education focus on the work of governance, that includes core beliefs, clear student performance goals, an aligned superintendent evaluation, effective policies and a long-range strategic plan.

school board members working in a governance training session

School Board Members gather for a training session with Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis and CCSD Administrative Leadership.

 

Core Beliefs

CCSD School Board members worked through several whole board training sessions during the summer months of 2024 and as part of that, developed a new set of core beliefs that serve as the foundation for the district:  

  • All students are highly engaged in their education and capable of reaching their full learning potential.

  • Employees are trusted and supported as professionals and provided with resources to elevate student outcomes.

  • Families and our community are involved partners in student success and can expect all students to receive the best education possible.  

  • Schools are positive and welcoming environments with clear expectations and accountability in all academic and operational areas.

collage of four photos showing school board members in training session

 

Student Performance Goals & Accountability

Student performance matters in CCSD because it means students learning more, growing more, and achieving more in a CCSD classroom than they could anywhere else.  Accountability means we have clear goals for student learning and when we meet those goals, we celebrate.  When we fall short of meeting those goals, we adjust our practices in order to improve outcomes for students.

Student Performance Goals

For the first student performance goals, the School Board together set three-year goals in reading on grade-level and English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and American Literature, as measured by Georgia Milestones Assessment scores.  To aid them in setting these goals, School Board members reviewed three years’ of state testing data for CCSD students, state averages and data from comparable school districts statewide.

The School Board  will conduct the same goal-setting work for the same grade levels for math in the next few months.

three photos showing school board members explaining goals on a flip chart

 

chart showing goals for reading proficiency
chart showing goals for ELA testing

To implement these goals:  

(1) Principals analyzed their school’s student performance data and set aligned goals in their School Improvement Plan.  The Superintendent will be regularly sharing student performance reports with the community on our website here.   As these school-level improvement goals are developed, school principals will engage their faculty in best practices for elevating classroom instruction and use of data to improve student learning. 

(2) District leaders will establish Key Performance Indicators to measure the effectiveness of district systems designed to support schools and the focus of increasing student learning.  KPIs will be added to the district website in summer of 2025.

Accountability

The Cherokee county School Board is committed to high expectations, clear student achievement goals, and consistent accountability coupled with the support needed for principals, teachers, staff, and students to be successful.  Accountability starts with the School Board establishing student achievement goals in multiple achievement categories.  The School Board-established goals serve as the basis for the Superintendent's evaluation instrument that will be made publicly available on the School District's website.

Superintendent Evaluation Instrument

The Superintendent is to align Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each Division of the School District and School Improvement Goals for each school to the student achievement goals established by the School board and the evaluation instrument it establishes for the Superintendent.  

Accountability coupled with support is defined by the School Board as clear expectations, aligned resources, defined monitoring structures, customized support structures for schools informed by student achievement, and annual reporting to the public on progress toward attaining the School Board-established student achievement goals.

Theory of Action

In October 2024, the School Board engaged in a whole board governance training that focused on Theory of Action, enabling them to review and give feedback on various governance models and how they want to effect improvement in the district.  School Board Policy BAB emerged from this study and discussion, presented in November and approved for final reading at the December 12 School Board meeting.  

collage of 7 photos of school board members presenting at flip charts

The policy can be reviewed at this link:  

SCHOOL BOARD POLICY BAB:  SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE

 

Meet the Board

headshot of janet read welch

Janet Read Welch, School Board Chair
janet.readwelch@cherokeek12.net

Janet Read Welch is a 33-year resident of Towne Lake who began her volunteer engagement with Cherokee County Schools in 1998. She served multiple roles in the Bascomb, Chapman, E.T. Booth and Etowah PTA organizations, including President of the Bascomb PTA from 2000-2002.   She previously served on the school board from 2005 to June of 2015, and currently is the Community Outreach Officer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for Cherokee and Pickens County.   Janet is the proud mom of Drew Read and Lucas Read – both graduates of Etowah High School, and has been married to her husband Jan Welch since April of 2018.

head shot of Kelly Poole

Kelly Poole District 1
kelly.poole@cherokeek12.net

Kelly Poole of BridgeMill, who is elected by District 1 which includes Holly Springs and the Sixes community, is an accountant with experience in government and nonprofits and their audits and joined the School Board in 2015 to expand upon her longtime service to local schools through the PTA.  Her daughter and son are CCSD graduates.

head shot of Rick Steiner

Robert Rechsteiner "Rick Steiner" District 4 
rick.steiner@cherokeek12.net

Robert Rechsteiner of southwest Cherokee, known by his nickname Rick Steiner from his professional wrestling career, has served for 19 years on the School Board.  A Realtor and longtime youth sports volunteer and supporter, he is elected by District 4, which includes Etowah High School and southwest Cherokee.  His three sons are CCSD graduates.

head shot of Susan Padgett-Harrison

Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison District 6
SPH@cherokeek12.net 

District 6 member Dr. Susan Padgett Harrison of Canton, who took office in 2023, served as an educator with CCSD for 29 years in roles including teacher, assistant principal, Cherokee High School principal and district curriculum supervisor and assessment director.  An adjunct Kennesaw State University and Piedmont lecturer and longtime community volunteer, her family includes three CCSD graduates, including two who now serve as CCSD educators, and 12 grandchildren.

head shot of Patsy Jordan

Patsy Jordan District 2 and Vice Chair
patsy.jordan@cherokeek12.net

Vice-Chair Patsy Jordan is a retired educator from the Cherokee County School District, with a strong educational background that includes an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist degree, along with endorsements in Gifted and Teacher Support. A lifelong member of the Mica/Conns Creek community in Northeast Cherokee County, Patsy attended Ball Ground Elementary, graduated from Cherokee High, and is serving her fourth term as District 2 school board member. Patsy holds a deep respect for all roles within the school system, believing that teamwork, trust, and shared values are key to a nurturing educational environment for all students.

school district post map

District 3
Currently Vacant

Applications are being now being accepted to fill the vacant seat for District 3 on the School Board, created by the December resignation of John Harmon.  The application can be downloaded here; completed applications are due January 31, 2025.  In alignment with Ga. L. 1966 p. 1077 § 2., the School Board will appoint a candidate to serve the remainder of Mr. Harmon's term. 

head shot of Erin Ragsdale

Erin Ragsdale District 5
eragsdale@cherokeek12.net

Erin Ragsdale of Towne Lake joined the School Board in 2023, bringing to the role experience as a teacher, speech language pathologist and school and community volunteer.  She is elected by District 5, which includes Woodstock High School, Towne Lake and downtown Woodstock.  Both of her children are CCSD students.

senior portrait of student Samantha Stahler

2024-25 Student Advisor
Samantha Stahler of Etowah High School

Board Meeting Information

The Cherokee County School District welcomes your input.  Please email questions, comments and concerns.
The Cherokee County Board of Education meets regularly at:

Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility
1205 Bluffs Parkway
Canton, GA 30114

Upcoming meeting dates and agendas are posted on the Board Meetings page.  Each meeting is preceded by a work session, both meetings are open to the public. Public Participation is scheduled at every regular meeting.  Any citizens who wish to speak to an agenda item will have the opportunity to do so at any regular meeting of the Board, as recognized by the Chairman.  School Board meetings are streamed live each month; videos of recent regular meetings and work sessions are housed on the Board Meetings page, along with minutes and agendas. 

If your child is being recognized at a School Board meeting, please read this additional information.

Recent Board Meeting Recaps