Hamilton County Schools

Elaine Harper, principal of Red Bank High School, is the new executive director of the North River Learning Community in Hamilton County Schools. Harper moves into the position formerly held by Dr. Neelie Parker, who took over as chief schools officer for Hamilton County Schools in December. The North River Learning Community includes Hixson High, Sale Creek Middle/High, Sequoyah High, Soddy Daisy High, Hixson Middle, Loftis Middle, Soddy Daisy Middle, Soddy Elementary, Daisy Elementary, Hixson Elementary, Allen Elementary, Big Ridge Elementary, DuPont Elementary, McConnell Elementary, Middle Valley Elementary, and North Hamilton County Elementary.

Hamilton County Schools has enjoyed historic success in the past year for academic growth and academic performance. The school system had a district record 32 schools earn Reward status from the Tennessee Department of Education. Principal Brent Eller and students from East Hamilton in the Missionary Ridge Learning Community display the new banner from the state recognizing their accomplishment. Reward schools are those improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and student groups. Reward designation is the highest honor for academic achievement in Tennessee.

Hamilton County Schools has enjoyed historic success in the past year for academic growth and academic performance. The school system had a district record 32 schools earn Reward status from the Tennessee Department of Education. Assistant Principal Meghan Moss and students from Soddy Elementary in the North River Learning Community display the new banner from the state recognizing their accomplishment. Reward schools are those improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and student groups. Reward designation is the highest honor for academic achievement in Tennessee.

Today, “I am Hamilton” spotlights Chloey Green, a fifth-grader at Allen Elementary. Chloey presented an idea to her school leaders to help encourage a young child she knew who had been affected by bullying in another state. She wanted children at Allen to write letters of encouragement to the child to show there is kindness in the world. The fifth-grade students at Allen responded by sending more than 60 letters to the young man to help him through a difficult time.

Today, “I am Hamilton” spotlights Adam Scales, a retired engineer from TVA and a pilot who filled in as the instructor for the Future Ready Institute of Aviation at Brainerd High School at the beginning of this school year. Scales is a retired engineer but he also runs two businesses and holds a pilot’s license as part of his work with the businesses. Still, he found time to work with the teens at Brainerd in the aviation program. Scales had served on the program’s advisory board and knew of the school’s need when the program lost its instructor at the beginning of the year. Scales was able to step away from the instructor position recently as the program found a new instructor.

Before the holiday break, representatives from Kelly Subaru visited Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy to deliver science books donated through the Subaru Loves Learning initiative. Kelly Subaru has selected Calvin Donaldson as its partner in their local efforts for Subaru. The automaker partners with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to broaden the world of children through the study of science, engineering, and innovation.

Hamilton County Schools is one of six districts in the state selected to participate in the Tennessee District Science Network (TDSciN). The network, which launched in April 2019, is a collection of six Tennessee school districts helping to improve science teaching and learning of the new Tennessee Academic Standards for Science. The five districts selected along with Hamilton County Schools include Anderson County Schools, Kingsport City Schools, Knox County Schools, Oak Ridge Schools, and Rutherford County Schools. According to a release from TDSciN, the districts selected represent a variety of district sizes and perspectives and have made science standards implementation a priority. Achieve, a nonprofit education organization supporting states and districts to develop solutions to policy and implementation challenges, launched TDSciN.

Today, the “I am Hamilton” video feature spotlights Bill Laubscher, a grandparent and volunteer at Wolftever Creek Elementary School. Laubscher loves volunteering at Wolftever Creek to spend time with his grandchild and make a difference in the school.

Hamilton County Schools has enjoyed historic success in the past year for academic growth and academic performance. The school system had a district record 32 schools earn Reward status from the Tennessee Department of Education. Big Ridge Elementary in the North River Learning Community displays its new banner from the state recognizing the accomplishment. Reward schools are those improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and student groups. Reward designation is the highest honor for academic achievement in Tennessee.

Little Debbie is not just the name of a road in the community or the well-known brand of snack treats found in lunch boxes. Little Debbie is also helping students at Ooltewah High learn new languages. McKee Baking Company, distributors of Little Debbie, provides grants for local schools and awarded a $1,000 grant to Ooltewah High.

Nikki Russell, STEM teacher at Orchard Knob Elementary School, was awarded the Outstanding Technology Teacher of the Year award from the statewide Tennessee Educational Technology Association. The recognition is awarded to only one person in Tennessee each year. With over 15 years as an educator in the Chattanooga and North Georgia areas, Russell’s work as an educator has touched children in numerous elementary schools. Last year as a STEM teacher and science leader at Orchard Knob Elementary School, She orchestrated over 60 learning exploration field trips for students to give them hands-on experiences in STEM. Not only is Russell certified as a Google Educator, Apple Teacher, Ozobot Certified Educator, and Microsoft Educator, she is also a graduate of the Public Education Foundation’s Leadership and STEM Fellows programs.

Over the first two weeks of December, the annual Christmas at the Courthouse concert series showcases student ensembles from twenty Hamilton County Schools. The performances continue next week.