VILLA Offers Parents Insight into School District Operations
The Cherokee County School District’s VILLA Parent
Academy program is a game-changer for increasing
engagement to improve the culture of its schools and
organization as a whole.
Developed in 2017 ago in collaboration with the
Georgia School Boards Association, VILLA (Volunteer
Instructional Leadership Learning Academy) offers
parents the opportunity to learn more about their school
district and its operations and how they can be more
involved in its future success.
“VILLA welcomes parents and community members,
develops partners to help address critical education
issues and advocates for public schools and the students
they serve,” School Board Chair Kyla Cromer said.
An application process is used to ensure that classes
are inclusive, diverse, and include representation from all
of the School District’s “Innovation Zones” (a high school
and its feeder middle and elementary schools), as well as
parents of students at different points in their education.
While the primary participants are parents, community
members who volunteer in CCSD schools also have been
included in each class. The application process timeline
46 CLASS ACT | 2021-2022
VILLA program participants tour several schools with CCSD leadership
as part of their six sessions.
is announced each year on the CCSD website and social
media and in the CCSD Connections parent e-newsletter.
During the first four classroom sessions, participants
learn from School Board members and Superintendent of
Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower and his senior staff about
CCSD’s governance model, the role of School Board
Members, the School Board’s priorities, and CCSD
day-to-day operations. Every aspect of operations is
covered: from budgeting to employee recruitment to
standards for teaching and learning. The content is
refined each year based on an anonymous post-graduation
survey of participants. Three of these initial sessions
are held in CCSD’s administration building, and one is
held in CCSD’s technology center.
For the fifth session, the class takes a “field trip” to an
elementary, middle and high school, where participants
see the operations in a new light given their newly gained
insights. For lunch, it’s a buffet of choices from CCSD’s
school cafeteria menus, served up by the executive
director of school nutrition, who then participates in a
Q&A session with the class.
The final session includes not only the last lessons,
but also a celebratory dinner, provided by Credit Union
of Georgia, and a graduation ceremony. The ceremony is
conducted at a School Board meeting, so participants
can, again, see the proceedings in a new more informed
light.
In addition to being considered for Superintendent’s
ad hoc committee roles, VILLA graduates use their newly
gained knowledge to help fellow parents and community
members better understand what happens in their
school; how they can help their child, their child’s teachers
and their child’s school succeed; and how they, too,
can help improve the culture of their school and school
district.
The Y is more
than just a place
to exercise. It’s a
place to connect
with family and
community.
THE Y OFFERS:
• Family Memberships
• Indoor Pool
• Outdoor Waterpark
• Gymnasium
• Childcare Services
• Youth Sports
• Summer Day Camp
• Swim Lessons
• Group Exercise Classes
• Water Aerobics
• Wellness Coaching
• And so much more
Serving Cherokee County...
G. Cecil Pruett Community
Center Family YMCA
151 Waleska Street
Canton, GA 30114
Cherokee Outdoor YMCA
201 E. Bells Ferry Road
Woodstock, GA 30189
www.ymcaatlanta.org
You Belong Here. 770.345.9622
/www.ymcaatlanta.org