Dr. Megan Foster
Susie Okerblad
Ashanta Posey
Karen Reeves
2022-2023 | CLASS ACT 37
the knowledge, skills and
techniques she brings to
the kitchen as she prepares
the meals for our students
… it is the heart she brings
and shares with the students
who come through
the service line every day
for their meals,” her administrator
said.
Ms. Tippins, who
retired at the end of the
school year, has 15 years of
service with CCSD, including
eight years in her
current role.
“She has always sought
to learn as much as she
could about the intricacies
of Special Education to
successfully address the
needs of all stakeholders as
quickly as possible,” Special
Education Executive
Director Charlette Green
said. “The Department of
Special Education has
thrived and become much
more efficient due to her
professionalism.”
School Nurse of the
Year: Nadia Jones, Oak
Grove ES STEAM Academy
The Cherokee County
School District celebrated
its school nurses with the
presentation of the first-ever
CCSD School Nurse of
the Year Award.
The new awards program
was developed with
Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta, a CCSD Partner,
and the inaugural winner
was Oak Grove Elementary
School STEAM Academy
School Nurse Nadia Jones.
Ms. Jones is in her sixth
year as a school nurse, with
all of her service at Oak
Grove, following work as a
pediatric nurse for a pediatrician’s
office. She earned
her practical nursing
diploma from Chattahoochee
Technical College and a
bachelor of science in
nursing degree from Indiana
State University.
“Nurse Nadia, as
everyone affectionately
calls her, is the heart of Oak
Grove Elementary School,”
Principal Penny Valle said.
“Our students, their parents,
and our staff trust her
skills, sound judgment, and
loving care. Everyone
appreciates her expertise
due to her wealth of knowledge
and varied experiences.”
Ms. Jones last year also
was honored by the Governor
with the prestigious
Georgia RISE (Recognizing
Inspirational School Employees)
Award! She was
one of only two Georgians selected by
Governor Brian P. Kemp for the
award, which honors school support
staff.
Special Education Staff of the
Year
Four members of CCSD’s Special
Education department received top
honors during the annual Special
Education Staff of the Year Awards
ceremony.
They are: CCSD Occupational
Therapist/Physical Therapist of the
Year Karen Reeves; CCSD School
Psychologist of the Year Dr. Megan
Foster; CCSD Special Education
Facilitator of the Year Susie Okerblad;
and CCSD Speech Language Pathologist
of the Year Ashanta Posey.
“We’re deeply grateful for all you
do to support our students and their
families,” Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “Every
day, you serve our students with the
greatest needs, and your peers have
recognized that you do so with the
greatest expertise and care. You are
making a positive difference in the
lives of our students. Congratulations
and thank you!”
Ms. Reeves, who joined CCSD in
2010, serves as CCSD’s senior physical
therapist, providing services to students
with special needs at multiple
schools and supporting her therapist
colleagues.
Dr. Foster, who started her tenure
with CCSD in 2019, serves as the
school psychologist for Arnold Mill ES
and Mountain Road ES.
Ms. Okerblad, who joined CCSD in
2003, serves as the Special Education
facilitator for both Tippens Education
Center and the ACTIVE Academies
Nadia Jones, holding plaque, CCSD Nurse of the Year, is congratulated
by School Operations Chief Dr. Debra Murdock, her Prinicpal
Penny Valle, School Board Chair Kyla Cromer, Janet Read with
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Brian Hightower.
campus, which includes ACE Academy, Cherokee College
& Career Academy, i-Grad Virtual Academy and Transition
Academy.
Ms. Posey began her tenure with CCSD in 2013, most
recently serving as the speech language pathologist for
Clark Creek ES STEM Academy.
Coach of the Year: Jeff Brown, Woodstock HS
Woodstock High School’s Jeff Brown was selected as
CCSD’s 2022 Coach of the Year by a panel of outside
judges who honored the Wolverines Baseball coach for
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