Press Releases
The Hamilton County Department of Education generates press releases periodically to announce large activities, celebrations, student and staff recognitions and announcements of community interest. Press releases are posted chronologically as they are generated. We archive one year of press releases on subsequent pages.
For more information or to suggest a press release topic, please contact the Superintendent's Office at 209-8600.
Chattanooga, TN -- Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith is pleased to announce that the following individuals have accepted administrative positions for the 2012-2013 school year. These administrators will begin their new assignments on July 1, 2012.
Mayor Coppinger will recognize the winners of the annual Hamilton SHINES Billboard Art Contest next week. (See schedule below.)
The Mayor will present each winning student artist with a county plaque and pin, and a poster-size print of their billboard. Full-size billboards will be posted by Fairway Outdoor near the school of each winning artist later next week.
Chattanooga, TN -- Hamilton County Department of Education Superintendent Rick Smith is pleased to announce that the following individuals have accepted principal appointments for the 2012-13 school year. The majority of principal vacancies for next year are due to the impending retirement of current administrators. Principals will begin their assignments in their new schools and / or positions on July 1, 2012.
Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts has received an $8,950 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga (CFGC) to go towards replacing damaged library books. “We are thrilled to receive this gift from the Community Foundation. It will go a long way toward purchasing new books for our students,” stated CSLA principal Krystal Scarbrough.
Chattanooga, TN -- Superintendent Rick Smith is pleased to announce the selection of the leader of the new STEM High School. Mr. Smith announced today that Tony Donen will serve as the new school’s first principal. Dr. Donen has worked in education for over fifteen years, nine of which as a high school principal. He holds an undergraduate degree in engineering from Virginia Tech University and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. He has presented on various topics at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Donen has also consulted with teachers, schools, and school systems on educational best practices and authored works on grading and assessment practices.
Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) -- Chattanooga is proud to host Miss Tennessee’s visitation to eight area elementary schools.
Chattanooga, TN -- The top academic seniors in Hamilton County Schools will be honored on Tuesday, April 10, at the 31st Annual Superintendent’s Honors Banquet.
CHATTANOOGA, TN – Three Hamilton County teachers reign as royalty this week, as they are honored as the 2012 Hamilton County Teachers of the Year. The teachers and their principals will be recognized at a special lunch at the Chattanoogan Hotel on Friday, March 30 from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Chattanooga – Twenty-nine students from Hamilton County Schools joined approximately 400 of their high school peers in Nashville on March 9 to express their views on public education in Tennessee at the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE). The event took place on the Avon Williams Campus of Tennessee State University.
Chattanooga, Tennessee – January 19, 2012 – Ten Hamilton County teachers, from a variety of
disciplines, earned National Board Certification in December pushing the number of Board Certified teachers in the district to 32.
Chattanooga, TN -- The Hamilton County Department of Education is pleased to recognize six 2012 National Merit Semifinalists from Hamilton County schools. These six seniors will be recognized during the October 27th School Board meeting.
On Sunday, November 21, the Hamilton County Department of Education was featured on the local NPR affiliate WUTC, 88.1 FM. From 12-1 p.m. the station aired American Radio Works podcast Testing Teachers which looked at improving achievement through teacher quality. The program focused on efforts in Washington, DC and in Hamilton County through its Benwood Initiative.
Chattanooga, TN -- Schools in Hamilton County have received a Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation grant for the second year in a row. Today, Lowe’s announced a $100,000 grant to Hamilton County Schools to install lighting upgrades in four schools: Woodmore Elementary, Lookout Mountain Elementary, Tyner High School and Orchard Knob Middle School.
CSAS, CSLA, and the Hamilton County Department of Education value the passionate interest our parents have for the education of their children. It is this passion from parents partnered with the hard work of our educators that make our schools successful.
Superintendent Dr. Jim Scales welcomed back the staff of Hamilton County Schools at an Employee Convocation on August 3 at McKenzie Arena.
Unum invests $50,000 in Hamilton County classrooms through the Strong Schools Grants Program