Thank You to Our School Board: District 5 Board member Erin Ragsdale!

In this season of gratitude, we’re sharing how thankful we are for our dedicated Cherokee County School Board members!  Our School Board members’ laser focus on student learning has been strengthened to new levels over the past year.  Their work created a depth of alignment from the board room to the classroom now driving our mission to be the highest performing school district in the state.  A high performing school district starts with a high performing school board!  We asked our board members a series of questions to share more with the community about themselves, their role, and their service, and we’ll be sharing these profiles with you this month. 

Please join us in thanking District 5 Board member Erin Ragsdale!

Ms. 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 HS, Towne Lake, and downtown Woodstock.  Both of her children are CCSD students.

Why did you choose to serve on the School Board?
I really wanted to be of service in my community. In particular, I wanted to be a voice for our classroom teachers; building a bridge of sorts between the board and the realities of a public school classroom.  At times, there can be too wide a gap between the board/central office and the actual classroom setting.  Having supported and heard teachers provides our students with the best possible education.

What part of your role on the School Board do you enjoy most? 
I enjoy the collaboration in working with my fellow board members, school officials and community to provide the best education possible for our students.  Listening to various viewpoints and ideas, even if they differ from my own, is key in striving for the best possible education outcomes.

What is the most challenging part of serving on the School Board? 
I think the most challenging part of being on the School Board is balancing the needs of our students with the needs of our community and stakeholders.  Everyone has different ideas and feelings based on their personal experience.  As a board member, I have to weight all those ideas and feelings and then make decisions that best serve our students while considering the needs of everyone.

What other ways do you enjoy volunteering in the community? 
Besides serving on the School Board, most of my additional volunteer efforts revolve around my family life, such as school events for my children or church events.

What are some of the reasons you love living in our community? 
I love the Cherokee County community because of its people.  I have lived in several parts of Georgia.  What struck me when our family moved to Cherokee was how nice everyone was.  From store clerks to pizza drivers to neighbors, everyone is so warm, helpful, and friendly.  Our family loves it here.

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