CCSD Celebrates Support Staff, Honors Employees of the Year

The Cherokee County School District celebrated the important role of support staff at its Seventh Annual Support Staff Employees of the Year Awards this evening.

The celebration honored one Support Staff Employee of the Year from each of CCSD’s schools, centers and central office divisions.  Each of the honorees was recognized by School Board members and the Superintendent of Schools, received a plaque and gifts of appreciation including a $200 Visa card funded by sponsors, including presenting sponsor, Cherokee County Educational Foundation; platinum sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia; and gold sponsor, Cobb EMC.

At the conclusion of the evening, surprise presentations were made to one overall CCSD winner each in three categories: Elementary School to Kelly Miller of Avery ES, principal’s secretary; Middle School/High School/Centers to Stephanie Weier of Mill Creek MS, student records facilitator; and Central Office to Patrick Walker of School Leadership & Operations, behavior intervention strategist.  These overall winners were selected by a committee of retired educators and community leaders. 

The three overall CCSD winners received: a $500 Visa card funded by sponsors, $200 Amazon gift card from Cobb EMC, a $150 voucher for CCSD or school branded apparel from Allegro Business Products, $100 gift card from Practically Perfect Day Spa, a Diamond Glow facial treatment gift certificate from The Beauty Barn, $50 gift cards from Buffalo’s Café, Eggs Up Grill and Riverstone Corner Bistro; gift cards from Chick-fil-A of Cherokee County, Crumbl Cookie, Golf2Grow, and Marco’s Pizza; an instant photo printer and camera combo from Canon; a gift basket from Lisa Arrington, Mary Kay; and a three-tiered bundlet tower from Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock.

All winners, in addition to the Visa gift card, also received a swag bag filled with gifts and certificates from CCSD partners including: Big Dan’s Carwash; Buffalo’s Café; Chick-fil-A of Cherokee County; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Cobb EMC; Creative Office Solutions; Credit Union of Georgia; Crumbl Cookies; Eggs Up Grill; Garth Gherardini | Managing Partner Modern Woodmen of America; Gas South; Golf2Grow; Imagine Learning; Lisa Arrington, Mary Kay; Marco’s Pizza; Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Riverstone; Northside Hospital Cherokee; Nothing Bundt Cakes Woodstock; NOVA; Practically Perfect Day Spa; Riverstone Corner Bistro; and Wellstar Health System.

School- and division-level honorees were selected by their colleagues, and everyone who works in a support role for CCSD is eligible for the honor.  Teachers, counselors, media specialists and administrators are not eligible, as they are honored through other awards programs. 

As part of the presentation to the three overall winners, excerpts from the nomination forms were shared to give the audience of greater sense of their value to their school and community.

Elementary School Winner: “Kelly Miller has been the backbone of Avery Elementary since it opened its doors in 2007.  Her role as the principal’s secretary goes far beyond managing the daily operations — she is the very essence of ‘Elevating the Excellence’ every day.  Whether it’s handling payroll with precision, quickly securing substitutes in a pinch or managing the hundreds of small yet crucial details that keep the school running, Kelly does it all with unwavering reliability.”

Middle School/High School/Centers Winner: “Stephanie Weier is a team player among her peers.  She is always willing to help, even if she is personally inundated with her own workflow.  She is a peaceful presence among the school office busyness.  Stephanie takes every opportunity to learn all she can about new processes and new systems (like Synergy), so that she is knowledgeable and helpful among others in her same role. Many of the other student records facilitators seek her guidance throughout the year.”

Central Office Winner: “Patrick Walker is one of the most dedicated, innovative and talented educators I have had the privilege to know.  Patrick became our first CCSD Tier I Behavior Coach in a time of desperate need as we emerged from the pandemic. He helped create a vision for supporting teachers and students to maintain their placement in the general education class.  He has built behavioral processes, systems of professional learning and teacher supports that have made the goal increasing student achievement through improved student management a reality.

Every week, a different school or division Support Staff Employee of the Year winner will be featured on CCSD’s website and social media platforms.  The three overall winners also will be congratulated by the School Board at its December meeting.

2024-25 CCSD Support Staff Employees of the Year
ACTIVE Academies: Liz Ray, school nurse
Arnold Mill ES: Sara Wolcott, Special Education paraprofessional
Avery ES: Kelly Miller, principal’s secretary
Ball Ground ES STEM Academy: Tiffany Sperin, Special Education paraprofessional 
Bascomb ES: Shawn Lisle, Special Education paraprofessional
Boston ES: Shawna Blount, Special Education paraprofessional
Carmel ES: Anna Brown, speech language pathologist
CCSD Preschool Centers: Heather Teachworth, Special Education facilitator
Cherokee HS: Erica Snider, student records facilitator
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy: Tricia Duffy, kindergarten paraprofessional
Clayton ES: Cole Black, bookkeeper
Creekland MS: Stephanie Frady, Special Education facilitator
Creekview HS: Bobbie Tucker, head custodian
Dean Rusk MS: Patti Carter, School Nutrition assistant manager
E.T. Booth MS: Devoreaux Bizzard, Special Education paraprofessional
Etowah HS: Sherry Conrad, school police officer
Free Home ES: ClancyDee Rasmituth, school psychologist
Freedom MS: Robyn Slaton, bookkeeper
Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy: Maria Barajas, custodian
Hickory Flat ES: Alex Wagaman, lead custodian
Holly Springs ES STEM Academy: Dee Childers, bookkeeper
Indian Knoll ES: Michelle Miller, principal's secretary
Johnston ES: Kimberly Forrester, instructional lead strategist
Knox ES STEM Academy: Gaby Galindo de Armas, school secretary
Liberty ES: Alisha Harmon, student records facilitator
Little River ES: Domenico Cappello, lead custodian
Macedonia ES: Stephanie Greene, student records facilitator
Mill Creek MS: Stephanie Weier, student records facilitator
Mountain Road ES: Heather Crachi, bookkeeper
Oak Grove ES STEAM Academy: Melissa Wallace, school secretary
R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy: Joshua Gayton, Special Education paraprofessional
River Ridge HS: Larry Roe, head custodian
Sequoyah HS: Colin Dozier, Special Education paraprofessional
Sixes ES: Deena Smith, bookkeeper
Teasley MS: Erin Frey, instructional lead strategist
Tippens EC: Nancy Acevedo, therapist
Woodstock ES: Travis Manous, head custodian
Woodstock HS: Ashley Odom, Special Education facilitator
Woodstock MS: Maureen Hinkelmann, principal's secretary
CCSD Office of Academics & Accountability: Lisa Shepard, lead Special Education facilitator
CCSD Office of Financial Management: Paula Hilton, procurement specialist
CCSD Office of Human Resources: Jaclyn Williams, division facilitator
CCSD Office of Safety & Security: Mary Hansen, administrative assistant to chief of police
CCSD Offices of Communications/School Leadership & Operations/Superintendent: Patrick Walker, behavior intervention strategist
CCSD Office of Support Services: Roger Moyers, zone foreman
CCSD Office of Technology & Information Services: Alisa Youngblood, executive director's secretary
CCSD Transportation Department: Rhonda Fiddler, transportation specialist

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