Catoosa board honors principal, assistant principal and Ringgold High for safety award; assistant superintendent to leave for Oconee County

The Catoosa County School Board recognized school leaders and a school safety award at its meeting, honoring Anita Gaines as the district's 2025 Principal of the Year and Kevin Terry as 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year, and announced that Ringgold High School received the Ready Georgia Seal of Preparedness. During the same meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Melissa Butler confirmed she will leave Catoosa County to become superintendent in Oconee County. The recognitions acknowledged school leadership and student outcomes. Principal Anita Gaines was cited for improving student achievement and fostering community and staff engagement. Assistant Principal Kevin Terry was singled out for leadership in building relationships, supporting teachers and improving school behavior systems. Ringgold High School was praised for academic and extracurricular achievements including a reported graduation rate of 96 percent and multiple state and regional athletic and extracurricular accomplishments. Under school leadership and a safety management team, Ringgold High earned the Ready Georgia Seal of Preparedness, an award from the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency that requires emergency operations planning, drills, training, behavioral threat assessment, safety technology and data analysis. The presenter said Ringgold was the only school in Catoosa County and one of 134 schools statewide to receive the seal. Board members and attendees offered personal praise and expressed regret at Dr. Butler's departure. Dr. Butler addressed the board and said, "Catoosa County will always be my home and my family," thanking colleagues and noting her appreciation for the opportunity to serve. The board paused the meeting to take photographs following the recognitions. No formal board action related to the personnel transition was recorded during the remarks; the meeting included congratulations and a request that principals and school leaders continue their work for the coming year. The certificates and a letter referencing the Ready Georgia recognition were referenced as being in the meeting materials. Looking ahead, the board agenda included personnel items listed for review and approval later in the meeting (human resources recommendations), but the transcript does not record a separate vote on Dr. Butler's departure or a board motion formalizing next steps for the superintendent transition.