Our Mission
The mission of L. R. Tippens Education Center is to ensure all students have individualized opportunities to learn the skills necessary to be positive, successful, and contributing members of society. The Tippens program takes a “whole child” approach which provides academic, therapeutic, and behavioral supports in an environment that is safe and productive for staff and students. A program incorporating the philosophy and components of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and a variety of research-based therapeutic supports has been designed to help students develop strategies for communication, self-control, and social-emotional learning. Our goal is to develop in our students the skills they need to safely transition to their home school to receive the most typical and positive educational experience possible.
Our Philosophy
Tippens Educational Center consists of a multidisciplinary team of professionals that are committed to providing students with learning experiences that will equip them with the tools they need to reach their highest potential. It is our mission to provide a welcoming, supportive, safe environment where students feel a sense of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. We are committed to helping each student develop their potential academically, emotionally, and behaviorally, using current best practice and research-based interventions.
Program History and General Information
- Arrival begins at 7:45 AM and dismissal begins at 2:10 PM, Monday through Friday, following the Cherokee County School District calendar.
- Tippens serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Cherokee County. Students must have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and the IEP committee must determine that placement at Tippens is the most appropriate placement available. Tippens serves students with autism, emotional behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities, and/or students experiencing mental health crises.
- We are located at 2450 Holly Springs Pkwy, Canton, GA 30115. Our phone number is (770)721-6450.
- Our program is located on the site of the former Holly Springs Elementary School, built in 1956. The LR Tippens program was established in 2010, and the building was renovated in 2015 for our use. Our program is named after Cherokee County native, lifelong educator, and principal of Holly Springs Elementary, LR Tippens.
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LRTippens/
Our Team
Principal Kelly Flat, Ed.S.
Kelly Flatt is the Principal of the L. R. Tippens Education Center in Holly Springs, GA. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, she entered education 21 years ago after working as a social worker/school social worker in a variety of settings in Virginia and Gwinnett County, GA. Those positions included mental health therapist in a self-contained educational setting, group home support staff, alternative school social worker, and gang prevention specialist. She began her educational career in Douglas County as a special education teacher before moving with her family to Pickens County. She served as a special education teacher and special education department chair at Pickens High School; then, over several years in Pickens, she moved into roles of CTI Coordinator, Special Education Coordinator, Virtual/Alternative School Director, and Assistant Principal. Prior to arriving at Tippens, Ms. Flatt served as an assistant principal at Etowah High School in Woodstock, GA. She was appointed to her current position in 2025. Ms. Flatt earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services Counseling from Old Dominion University, a Master’s degree in Social Work from Radford University, and a Master’s degree in Special Education from University of Phoenix. She also completed an Educational Specialist’s Degree in School Leadership from Kennesaw State University. Ms. Flatt and her husband, Chad Flatt, have four children – Jack (20), Ruby (16), Quincy (15), and Gus (11).
Assistant Principal Adam Parker, M.Ed. Adam Parker is the Assistant Principal of the L.R. Tippens Education Center in Holly Springs, GA. Mr. Parker was born and raised in Canton and graduated from Cherokee High School. Mr. Parker began his career in education in 2007 as a special education teacher and basketball coach at Freedom Middle School. At FMS, Mr. he was the Special Education Department Head, awarded Teacher of the Month multiple times, recognized by the CCSD Special Education Department, and completed the Teach21 program. In 2014, Mr. Parker became a Special Education Facilitator for several different schools through 2019. During this time, he served on the Superintendent’s Special Education Ad HOC committee and was a district CHOICE coach. After serving as a facilitator for several years, Mr. Parker became the Assistant Principal at R.M. Moore STEM Academy through 2022. In the fall of 2022, he transitioned back to the role of facilitator at L.R. Tippens and other schools in the county. Since returning to L.R. Tippens, Mr. Parker has received the Support Staff of the Year award multiple times and served as the Interim Assistant Principal until the role became official in the spring of 2026. Mr. Parker completed a B.S. in Biology from Kennesaw State University in 2007, completed the SETWEB program at the University of Georgia in 2010, and earned his Master of Education in Learning and Teaching from Nova Southeastern University in 2013. In addition, Mr. Parker has certifications in various special education areas such as general curriculum and academic content concentrations, biology, professional pedagogy, MindSet, and is currently an MCPP trainer. In his free time, Mr. Parker enjoys attending church and fishing with his son. Mr. Parker and his wife, Neely, have been married over 20 years and have two children, Carolyn (16) and Griffin (11).
Counselor Kelly Schalliol, Ed. S.
Mrs. Schalliol has worked in the field of mental health and education since 1993. She is certified by the Georgia Department of Education in School Counseling, Special Education Adapted & General Curriculum Consultative P-12, Special Education Language Arts, Math, Reading, & Science Cognitive Level P-8, Special Education Social Science Cognitive Level P-12, and ESOL. She is a member of the American School Counselor Association and the Georgia School Counselor Association. Mrs. Schalliol has a Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University, a Master’s degree in Counseling from Webster University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida.
Therapist Nancy Acevedo
Nancy has worked in the mental health field since 2013. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Kennesaw State University. Mrs. Acevedo is licensed by the state of Georgia as a Clinical Social Worker and is currently working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist. She is also a Certified Anger Management Specialist. Mrs. Acevedo has worked as a therapist in a variety of settings, including juvenile detention centers and psychiatric residential treatment facilities. Mrs. Acevedo utilizes a variety of therapeutic techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, sand tray therapy, and trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Mrs. Acevedo specializes in working with children and adolescents, especially those struggling with trauma, disruptive behaviors, and emotional dysregulation. She has a passion for helping students work through barriers and achieve their full potential. Mrs. Acevedo is a member of the Georgia Society of Clinical Social Work, where she serves on the board. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Play Therapy. She is excited for the opportunity to work with the students and families at Tippens Education Center.
Instructional Technology Specialist Merry Hofmeister, Ed. S.
Mrs. Hofmeister supports teachers and staff using technology with their students and works with students in their classrooms to increase their technology skills. She provides teacher training and staff development on a monthly basis for all staff and helps with special projects as requested.
Facilitator Amy Chestnutt
Ms. Chestnutt chairs the IEP meetings with parents/guardians, teachers, and related service professionals. She ensures that special education services and procedures are in compliance and facilitates discussions regarding students’ Individual Education Programs (IEP). Ms. Chestnutt's additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Serving as a compliance facilitator to monitor for special education procedural compliance; providing support to Case Managers for preparation for meetings and necessary paperwork; guiding the learning process toward the writing of measurable goals that assist in developing a plan to accelerate student learning; Providing specific training, coaching, and mentoring for teachers; completing any assignment that facilitates the provision of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities; assisting with progress monitoring for students to ensure they are receiving FAPE; participating in all required staff meetings, IEP/Eligibility meetings requested to participate and staff development activities; maintaining accurate, complete and correcting records as required by law, district policy and administrative regulation.
Services
Special education services
All previously agreed upon IEP services, including all accommodation and modifications, will be offered at Tippens
Therapies offered
- Play therapy
- Individual talk therapy
- Counseling
- Group therapy
- Social skills training
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
Adapted music
Adapted PE
2 sensory rooms
Sensory walk
3 cool down rooms
Student circles
Breathing and Movement program
Alternative seating options
Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
Each student has a behavior intervention plan (BIP) developed from data collected through functional behavior assessment (FBA) and sometimes functional analysis (FA) if necessary. Students who do not require BIPs have individual safety plans. BIPs are monitored by our on-site Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Transition Program & Step-Down
- TEAM System
The TEAM system is a school-wide level system. Student progress is monitored through levels: Training, Evolving, Achieving, and Mastery. Each level specifies expectations, criteria for moving to the next level, privilege guidelines, and consequence guidelines. As students move through each level, they are learning new ways of communicating, improving self-control, and exhibiting pro-social skills.
Safety precautions
- Completely enclosed fence along the perimeter of the property
- All exterior doors have electronic locks
- All classroom doors remain locked
- We do not allow phones inside the school. Phones must be checked in at the front office.
- We do not allow opened, pre-filled water bottles. Students may bring sealed bottles or open bottles to be filled at our water fountains.
- Staff Training (* Some individual staff trainings differ depending on class placement)
- Marcus Crisis Prevention Protocol (MCPP)
- Applied Behavior Analysis