Every once in a while, there comes along an educator who makes an impact on the school and the community. Principal Keith Ball happens to be one of those educators.
Ball has worked hard in advancing Etowah. Etowah has the highest graduation rank among Cherokee High Schools, highest AP scores, and highest SAT and ACT scores.
“It’s not me who has done this. It’s because of all of you, the students. I didn’t take the ACT. I didn’t take the AP tests. You guys did that,” Ball said.
Etowah has improved drastically thanks to Ball. The campus got cleaned up with his help, and had a little redesigning. A Language Lab and Robotics Lab were added, as well as Cherokee County’s first Writing Across the Curriculum Center.
“I also hope to implement an Afterschool Snack Program here. Everybody here would be able to participate in it, and since we have Polaris evening school, those kids have the opportunity to participate as well. I just want to make sure students are fed and get to do what they do,” Ball said.
The school has done a complete 180 and has a much better reputation thanks to him. Because of his tireless efforts, Ball was nominated as a finalist for the 2016-2017 Principal Ambassador Fellowship Program.
According to the Department of Education’s website, the PAF program is one way the DOE can better allow local leaders to contribute their knowledge and experience. It recognizes the critical impact principals have on students, the school and the community.
The possible future for Ball consisted of seven to ten hours a week being an ambassador, along with his 12-14 hour days being principal of Etowah.
“My goal was to take some of the things that we have done and help other schools find success. At the same time, I wanted to learn from other schools,” Ball said.
While Ball did not win, the nomination is a great achievement. Ball hopes to improve Etowah every year, whatever way he can. But not just Etowah. He wants to help every school.
“I have been a principal for ten years, and it’s exhausting. But only if it’s done right. What I have learned makes me better suited to help other principals out there struggling with the same challenges I have gone through,” Ball said.
He might even write a book to help guide other principals. Whatever he has in store, Ball wants to continue learning and helping others.