I Am Hamilton - Daphne Penn, a graduate of The Howard School
Posted on 09/04/2019
Penn is presented an I Am Hamilton ShirtToday, the “I am Hamilton” video feature spotlights Daphne Penn, a 2004 graduate of The Howard School. As a student, Penn was very involved at Howard. She was in the National Honors Society, on the Chattanooga Youth Council, participated in the Passport Scholars program, and she was valedictorian of her class. Penn is a doctoral candidate in education at Harvard University and plans a career in education. She spoke recently at the 30th-anniversary luncheon for the Public Education Foundation (PEF).

“I am Hamilton” spotlights the contributions of alumni, teachers, parents, students, support workers, and community members in providing opportunities for children in the classrooms of Hamilton County Schools. Better opportunities for children today mean a brighter future filled with possibilities for our graduates, their families, and the community.

“One thing I would say about my time at Howard is that my teachers and counselors were very dedicated to my success as a student,” said Penn. “They often pushed me beyond what I thought that I could do to move past my own expectations.”

Penn wanted to give back to the school and the community that encouraged her, so she spent time speaking at The Howard School and several middle schools in the community while she was in Chattanooga.

“It was important to invest in a system that invested in me,” added Penn. “If we don’t invest in public schools, we are not investing in the common good. If we abandon the students in public schools, we are dooming ourselves, our city, and businesses because public schools – they create the talent.”

To nominate someone for “I Am Hamilton,” send an email to [email protected] with the name of the person you would like to nominate, the school the individual is connected to in Hamilton County Schools, the person’s title, and what makes the individual a valued contributor to Hamilton County Schools. You can nominate a graduate, teacher, parent, student, support worker, community member, or anyone playing a role in a school in the district. Also, include your name, school or location, and title.


Photo: LeAndrea Ware, principal of The Howard School, presents an I Am Hamilton shirt to Daphne Penn


Video Links to “I am Hamilton”

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g-bSbVbMds&feature=youtu.be

Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/a/hcde.org/file/d/18Df74bFhGlE8l-gnHWdgnoRC9B0NZ_5x/view?usp=sharing


NSPRA awardThe I Am Hamilton series won a 2019 NSPRA Golden Achievement Award for school district communications from the National School Public Relations Association.