Angela Cass’s first day as principal at Ooltewah High School was in the middle of homecoming week last October. She was appointed after Robin Copp, the 2017-18 Tennessee Principal of the Year, took a position with the Tennessee Department of Education.
Besides homecoming at the school of 1,600, Cass’s first thought was the first graduation she would oversee as the school’s leader. Seven months later, she has to check her emotions as she talks about the senior class that graduated last week.
“They took me in immediately, and I got super-attached to this senior class,” said Cass, who came to OHS from East Ridge High School. “They are the most loving, caring, hard-working group of kids I have ever worked with.”
Cass, a 22-year veteran with Hamilton County Schools and longtime assistant principal at schools across the district, said the senior class did all it could to immerse the rookie principal into the traditions of the school and senior class.
“It’s been busy,” she said. “I love their level of acceptance of me. It’s special.”
Email Davis Lundy at davislundy@aol.com.