Fond Farewell to Charter Principal

The end of the school year at Cherokee Charter Academy also means goodbye to the school's founding principal.  Principal Vanessa Suarez is leaving CCA to take over the new Renaissance Charter School at Hunter's Creek near Orlando, Florida. 

Suarez departs with a legacy of achievement that includes successfully guiding Cherokee Charter through a tumultuous start.  

In 2011, CCA received a charter from the Georgia Charter Schools Commission after several rejections by the Cherokee County Board of Education. But in May of that year, the state Supreme Court declared the commission unconstitutional, voiding CCA's charter.  In late June, the school then got permission to open with a Special School charter from the state BOE.  That left the principal scant weeks to hire a complete staff and turn the old American Heritage facility into the county's first (and still the only) public charter school.  Under Suarez's leadership, CCA (K-7) opened its doors on August 15, 2011 with 825 students but no local funding. 

In 2012, CCA added 8th grade and Georgia voters would bring back the Charter Schools Commission.  The commission granted Cherokee Charter a five-year charter and permission to add a high school. 

In two years under her direction, CCA’s test scores rose and Suarez oversaw implementation of the Cambridge Program for middle school students.  The Cambridge Program is an international pre-university curriculum which offers a rigorous, relevant program of studies and is sponsored by Cambridge University in England.  CCA is the only Cambridge school in the state. 

Suarez will be greatly missed.

PE Coach Jonathan Serrano praised Suarez’s confidence and sense-of-humor,  “What impressed me most is her thoughtfulness and her ability to appreciate the big and the little things the people in the building are doing...her with-it-ness.”

Music teacher Rachel Bloemer said, “Vanessa was such a big help to me as a first-year teacher. She supported me and was patient when I had difficulties and always had a word of advice when needed.”

“I was most impressed by Ms. Suarez when she came around at the beginning of the school year asking if anyone needed anything," said Fourth Grade Teacher Tiffany Harris. "What an awesome principal, I'm sure she had a million things to do!  She has such a kind heart and truly cares for us. The CCA family will definitely miss her!”

Suarez's return to Florida is a homecoming of sorts. She began her educational career in south Florida as a high school English teacher, later an assistant principal.  She came to Cherokee County in 2007 where she was assistant principal at Woodstock High School before taking the helm at Cherokee Charter. 

“It was a bittersweet decision to make a move back to Florida,” said Suarez. “I will miss my CCA family dearly and am so proud of all of the hard work and dedication of the faculty and staff.  Go Tigers!”