Psychologist of the Year
Laura Killen; CCSD Special
Education Facilitator of the
Year Kortney Dempsey;
and CCSD Speech Language
Pathologist of the
Year Stacy Irwin.
“We know that our
students overcome obstacles
and make progress
thanks to the dedication
and care of these honorees
and their fellow Special
Education colleagues,” Dr.
Hightower said. “We’re so
proud of you and grateful
for all you do to support
our students and their
families. Congratulations!”
Ms. Peart joined CCSD
from Cobb County Schools
in 2015. She provides
occupational therapy
services to students with
fine motor and sensory
needs and has served
students at CCSD schools
including Carmel ES,
Boston ES, and Woodstock
MS.
Ms. Killen has served
CCSD for 11 years, with
seven of those years as
school psychologist. She
has worked with students
and teachers at Dean Rusk
MS, Holly Springs ES
STEM Academy, Macedonia
ES, Mountain Road ES
and Woodstock MS, and
additionally has acted as
the Innovation Zone psychologist
contact for the
Creekview Zone for the past
two years.
Ms. Dempsey began her
education career in 2006
with CCSD. She taught
Special Education students
42 CLASS ACT | 2021-2022
for eight years at Woodstock
High School, where
she also served as the head
softball coach. For the past
eight years, she has served
as a Special Education
facilitator to support
students and teachers at
numerous schools, including
Tippens Education
Center where she earned its
2020-21 Support Staff
Employee of the Year
Award. Ms. Dempsey will
work as a CCSD Special
Education lead facilitator
starting next school year.
Ms. Irwin, who started
her career with CCSD in
1999 but later relocated,
rejoined the CCSD staff in
2016 when her family
returned to the community.
She has provided speech
language services to students
with communication
needs at Liberty ES, Teasley
MS and Cherokee HS.
Ms. Irwin also provides
coaching and mentoring to
colleagues in her role as
speech language pathologist
mentor.
The Special Education
Staff of the Year Awards are
sponsored by Credit Union
of Georgia.
Coach of the Year: Matt
Cates, Cherokee High
School
The Cherokee County
School District recognized
Matt Cates of Cherokee
High School as its inaugural
Coach of the Year.
Coach Cates was chosen
by a panel of outside judges
who selected the Lady
Warriors basketball coach
for his leadership of a
strong winning program
that has seen annual trips
to the state playoffs for
many years, along with
multiple Region Championship
titles. Judges were
particularly impressed by
his community involvement
and leadership, as
well as dedication to his
school.
Dr. Hightower noted it
was a very competitive field
for the first Coach of the
Year award, and he commended
all the finalists on
both their strong programs
and commitment to school
and community.
“We know our coaches
go the extra mile for their
student athletes, and their
hard work shines through
the many titles and championships
our teams have
brought home, as well as
college scholarships for students
,” said Dr. Hightower.
“Congratulations to Matt
Cates for this well-earned
recognition of his leadership
and dedication to
team, school and community.”
The zone finalists for
Coach of the Year are:
Creekview High School:
Matthew Renney, Boys
Lacrosse; Etowah High
School: Garret Hurlburt,
Track and Cross Country;
River Ridge High School:
Michael Collins, Football;
Sequoyah High School:
John Edwards, Volleyball;
Woodstock High School:
Regina Tate-Leslie, Girls
Basketball.
The Coach of the Year
Awards are sponsored by
Shottenkirk Chrysler
Dodge Jeep Ram and BSN
Sports.
Partner of the Year and
Volunteer of the Year
The Cherokee County
School District this spring
celebrated the winners of
its eighth annual CCSD
Partner of the Year and
Volunteer of the Year
Awards.
For the first time in the
awards’ history, both
winners are from the same
school: Hasty Elementary
School Fine Arts Academy
Continued from Page 41
Superintendent Dr. Brian V. Hightower, right, congratulates Matt
Cates of Cherokee HS as CCSD’s Coach of the Year.