Second Lady Usha Vance paid a special visit to Cherokee Classical Academy (CCA) in Canton on Thursday, Aug. 21. During her visit, Ms. Vance read to students and encouraged them to participate in her Summer Reading Challenge, which asks students to complete 12 books by Sept. 5 and gives them an opportunity to meet her at the White House.
Vance read “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to students in grades 4–6. Sixth-grade students performed a Shakespearean poem for her, and she toured K–3 classrooms to see CCA’s classical curriculum in action, which emphasizes reading physical books over using electronic devices.
The visit was hosted by the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC), Liberty Classical Schools, and the Georgia Charter Schools Association (GCSA). Attendees included State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick; state Reps. Brad Thomas, Jordan Ridley, and Charlice Byrd; State School Superintendent Richard Woods; State Board of Education Vice Chair Phenna Petty and SBOE members Courtney Dove, Lisa Kennemore, and Melanie Stockwell; SCSC Commissioners Buzz Brockway and Scott Sweeney; Cherokee County School Board Chair Janet Read Welch; SCSC Executive Director Donovan Head; 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year Rachel Kinsaul; and Rahn Mayo, GCSA Vice President of Policy and Advocacy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Vance to a Georgia charter school,” said Bonnie Holliday, President and CEO of GCSA. “This is an unforgettable opportunity for students to hear directly from her, and we are grateful for the chance to showcase the value that high-quality charter schools bring to our state.”
“It was an honor to welcome Second Lady of the United States Usha Vance to Cherokee Classical Academy, one of Georgia’s newest charter schools. Her passion for students, reading, and service to families was evident throughout her visit, said Donovan Head, Executive Director, State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia. “The students and staff were inspired by her words and grateful for the opportunity to share their learning with her. We are also thankful to our partners, community leaders, and law enforcement who helped make this visit a success.”
CCA opened its inaugural school year on Aug. 6, serving students in grades K–6, and plans to add one grade level each year until reaching a full K–12 program. The state-authorized charter school is part of the Liberty Classical Schools network.
“Liberty Classical Schools is proud to showcase the excellent work that the students and teachers in our three schools are doing every day,” said Matthew Kirby, CEO of Liberty Classical Schools and Superintendent of CCA. “Great books exercise the imagination, promote wonder and discovery, and foster knowledge and virtue. We are thrilled to partner with Ms. Vance to promote the importance of reading.”
CCA opened to full enrollment and already has 400 students on the waitlist. “This demonstrates that parents are seeking educational options that best suit their children,” said Matt Stone, Head of School at CCA. “We are grateful for the vote of confidence the SCSC has given us by inviting our school to host Ms. Vance.”
CCA is tuition-free and serves students in Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow, Fulton, Pickens, and Paulding counties, as well as the cities of Marietta, Cartersville, and Atlanta. The school offers a rigorous liberal arts curriculum rooted in classical education and character development, emphasizing a calm, professional learning environment, low-tech classrooms, and strong teacher support.
