Seven School Board Members Are Elected to Serve
The Cherokee County
School Board has been
honored as the best in the
state for its leadership and
governance.
Winner of the Georgia
School Boards Association
Governance Team of the
Year award for large school
systems, the School Board
is made up of six members
elected by specific voting
districts and a chair who is
elected countywide. Together,
they boast more
than 65 years of service to
the students of the Cherokee
County School District.
The prestigious award
requires that school districts’
governance teams,
which are comprised of the
School Board and Superintendent
of Schools, meet
stringent requirements
encompassing all duties:
Teaching & Learning
20 CLASS ACT | 2022-2023
Resources; Governance,
Leadership & Accountability;
Human & Organizational
Capital; Teaching,
Learning & Assessment;
Climate, Culture & Stakeholder
Engagement; School
Finance; Communications
& Messaging; and Early
Learning & Student Success.
School districts are
invited to apply for the
award based on high scores
on the State’s system that
measures how well students
are prepared for
college and career success.
The detailed application
process requires providing
significant evidence including
verifiable data that
illustrates the school
district’s excellence and the
governance team’s role in
ensuring that excellence.
The vetting process also
includes interviews of
School Board members, the
Superintendent and his
senior staff by an impartial
review team. The judging
committee that reviews the
application, supporting
evidence and impartial
review team’s report is
made up of national educational
experts and leaders.
“Having our governance
team recognized in
this manner truly shows
our dedication to providing
the emerging generation
with an outstanding education
while setting policy
and developing a budget
that is responsive to our
community,” School Board
Chair Kyla Cromer said.
“We are so grateful for the
opportunity to serve!”
Ms. Cromer, who lives
in BridgeMill, is a former
elementary school teacher
and learning center director
who served as a school,
county and state PTA
leader before beginning her
service on the School
Board. Now in her ninth
year on the School Board
and her sixth year as the
countywide-elected Chair,
Ms. Cromer, in addition to
leading School Board
meetings and serving as the
spokesperson for the
School Board, is known
locally and statewide for
her service to public education.
Both of her daughters
are CCSD graduates.
Vice Chair Robert
Rechsteiner of southwest
Cherokee, known by his
nickname Rick Steiner
from his career in professional
wrestling, has served
for 17 years on the School
Board. A Realtor and
longtime youth sports
Scan the QR code to link to the
School Board website with meeting
information such as agendas
and minutes.
Leadership: For the Kids
Front row, from left, Kelly Poole,
Chair Kyla Cromer, Patsy Jordan;
Back row, Clark Menard, John
Harmon, Mike Chapman, Vice
Chair Rick Steiner and Superintendent
Dr. Brian V. Hightower.