Veteran Educator Ken J. Daugherty has qualified and announced as a write-in candidate for superintendent of Cherokee County Schools.

A native of Fort Payne, Ala. Daugherty graduated as an honor student from Sand Rock High School.

He is also a graduate of Jacksonville State University and Ole Miss where he earned a B.S. and a Masters in Elementary Education, Masters and Specialist in Education Leadership, Master in Guidance and Counseling and Specialist Certification in SPED and Inclusion in K-12.

Daugherty taught elementary school for five and a half years and high school for 18 years. He taught grades K-6 in Georgia and Alabama in all subjects and Grades 9-12 in Mississippi as Special Education and Inclusion.

He also taught three years at the University level and six years with the CETA program.

The son of Junior and Sue Daugherty, his hobbies include writing, reading, photography, horticulture and meditating. He also has several pets, including dogs, cats, chickens and goats.

Candidate Daugherty’s five year goal is “to live a healthier life each year and accept myself as I am instead of what others might want me to be...and to help teachers to cut out some of the red tape that adds stress their lives. I might consider running for public office, again...and to always respect the Great Spirit...

“I feel confident that we as a team can help Cherokee students to achieve career success, health, happiness, and enlightenment. Happiness is a state of mind,” said Daugherty.

Daugherty also quotes a few Indian Words of wisdom as follows:

“I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings are, but rather how well its people relate to their own environment and fellow man,”-Sun Bear of the Chippewa Tribe.

“With all things and in all things, we are relatives,”-Sioux.

“I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy--myself,”- Indian

And there is also a need for prayer, Daugherty said.

“We need to get away from greed and power and move towards peace and happiness and loving all things and respecting all things,” said Daugherty.

Daugherty is also an avid sports fan, playing football at both Sand Rock School and Jacksonville State University.

“Sammy Clanton, former superintendent of education for Cherokee County, was my football coach at Sand Rock,” said Daugherty. “I have taught at Centre Elementary and Gaylesville, too. I would do my best to help Cedar Bluff and Spring Garden achieve academic excellence, too. Since I am close to retiring from teaching, I will have more time to be an administrator ‘For the people”’.