CCSD Honors Retiring Employees at 2024 Retiring Legends Ceremony

The Cherokee County School District this week honored retiring employees as legends at a new ceremony and reception.

One hundred and thirty-five retiring employees, including teachers, support staff and administrators, were celebrated at the CCSD Retiring Legends Reception and Recognition Ceremony presented Thursday evening in the school board auditorium.  The room was filled with retirees and their family members, principals and school district leaders in attendance to thank them for their service.

The event included recognition of all retiring employees, who each were individually thanked by Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis and School Board members for their years of service.  As each retiree made his or her way through the receiving line, both their years of service with CCSD and total years in education were announced.  

“Whether you are a teacher, bus driver, School Nutrition worker, maintenance employee, administrator, technologist – whatever capacity you served in – you made a difference and touched the lives of many!” School Board Vice Chair Patsy Jordan said in her remarks on behalf of the board.  “We thank you for the sacrifices you have made, the wisdom you have shared and the love you have shown to the students and your colleagues.”

The event was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation.  Each retiree received an engraved CCSD Legends insulated metal Yeti cup, as well as an official retiree badge for free access to CCSD high school athletic events and activities.  

The retiree with the most years of service – CCSD Preschool Centers paraprofessional Darlene Cochran, with 36 years of dedication service to CCSD – received additional gifts … and was celebrated by the audience with a standing ovation.  She received a hand-crafted cutting board personalized with her name and years of service, $120 gift certificate given by Practically Perfect Day Spa, $50 gift certificate given by J. Michael’s Prime and a $25 gift certificate given by Riverstone Corner Bistro.

Ms. Cochran began her career with CCSD as a bus driver for Ralph Bunche Preschool Center followed by 25 years as a paraprofessional.  Throughout her career, she served students at Cherokee HS, Liberty ES, Indian Knoll ES, Little River ES, Ralph Bunche Preschool Center, and most recently at Holly Springs Preschool Center.  While serving at Liberty, Indian Knoll and Little River, she also worked at the After School Program.

The program also included messages of congratulations and appreciation from CCEF Executive Director Lisa-Marie Haygood and Cherokee Retired Educators Association President Leslie Shelley.  Ms. Shelley encouraged the retirees to continue to serve the community’s children by volunteering in CCSD schools.

Congratulations to CCSD’s 2023-24 Retiring Legends:
Lori Ann Albee
Renee Baker
Ginny Baldwin
Christine Baldwin
Kim Barajas
Cynthia Baxter
Kristine Beane
Jerry Bennett
Dawn Benton
Stanley Blalock
Dr. Keith A. Bryant
Tammy Buice
Teresa Elaine Carnes
Dr. Richard Carnes
Laurie Carroll
Rita Clementi
Chris Cochran
W. Darlene Cochran
Leslie Coleman
Patty Corneillie
Anne Cross
Marianela Curbelo
Pamela Davis
Carlos Delanuez
Dianne DeLauder
Karen Denham
Aurelio Alan Diaz
Michelle Dilworth
Greg Dirst
Silvy Doolin
Beth DuLong
Laura Dunlap
Trish Eckberg
Kim Eidson
Virginia Elder
Beth Endicott
Beverly Ernst
Casey Eubanks
Damaris Ferrante
Andrea Forrester
Denise Forward
Donna M. Fox
Karen Frank
Debbie Garner
Connie Garrison
Vickie Ghorley
Mollie Guy
Kim Hagood
Carole Haley
Dixie Harper
Terri Harris
Michelle Harris
Pam Hatchett
Karen Hawkins
Jennifer Hingsbergen
Debra Hord
Lisa Horne
Tammie Hunter
Kimberly James
Heather S. Johnson
Cameron Johnston
Laurie Kelly
Sally King
Christopher Kliemt
Lucy Kloppenburg-Murphy
Barry Lakes
Ilona Lambert
April Lee
Bernadette Lewis
Christine Schuvart Long
Katharine Lynam
Kim Manus
Cindy Mauldin
David McFerrin
Debbie McMichen
Kathy McNamara
Karen L Mervis
Bettina Miller
Maureen K. Miller
Angie Millwood
Angela Mitchell
Scott Montz
Debra Murnan
Lisa Naliwajka
Cindy Neese
Michelle Nevis
Cathy Newbury
Joseph Nodzak
Scott Nolan
Henry Oglesby
Ricky Padgett
George Parton
Curtis Partridge
Pebbles Pence
Allyson Phillips
Becky Price
Karen Read
Mary Rich
Angie Stump Rillera
Alex Rowin
Melanie Rump
Susan Rundquist
Elsita Sacarello
Penny Schroeder
Andy Schultz
Robin Scott
Mark Sellers
Nancy Sharpe
Dian Shaw
Nancy Sherry
Lisa Shull
April Simmons
Patty Sloan
Xarvia Smith
Robert Smith
Tina Stubblefield
Sharon Sullivan
Rene Swanson
Christine M Sweeny
Gordon Swordsma
Dr. Vanessa Tossie
Debbie Trammell
Penny Valle
Linda Warner
Willis Waters
Rebecca Welchel
Lauren Whitaker
Haley Whyte
Marveda Wilbur
Tracey Williams
Robyn Wilms
Anita Wilson
John Woszczynski
Pamela Zambito
Penny Zullo

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