Chattanooga, Tenn. (Jul. 19, 2021) - The Hamilton County School Board voted to appoint Dr. Nakia Towns as Interim Superintendent following the resignation announcement of Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson. Dr. Towns currently serves as Deputy Superintendent and has worked with the district since 2018.
"Dr. Towns has been instrumental in our district's growth over the last three years. I'm confident in her ability to lead our district through this transition and to continue our progress toward brighter futures for all children," said Dr. Bryan Johnson, current superintendent of Hamilton County Schools (HCS).
Dr. Towns will begin her tenure as interim superintendent on August 18th and will lead HCS until the Board of Education hires a permanent superintendent. Dr. Johnson’s last day with the district will be August 17th.
"My top priority is to ensure a smooth transition for our families as we prepare to return to school in less than a month," said Dr. Towns. "We are on track to open on time with all students on campus for learning on August 12th. I know our teachers, bus drivers, nutrition workers, and so many other HCS staff are excited to welcome students back to school."
The Board of Education will meet for a specially called session on August 12th to outline the process for selecting the next superintendent of HCS.
"As a Board, we are thankful to have District leaders with the expertise and experience to step into the interim superintendent role as we work to identify the next leader of Hamilton County Schools," said Joe Wingate, Chariment of the Hamilton County School Board.
Over the last four years, HCS has seen a 433% increase in schools that received state Reward School status, the state's highest academic rating for schools. HCS has also experienced a steady increase in graduation rates, expanded its Future Ready Institutes program, enhanced professional learning for staff and received many state as well as national awards.
"We have a tremendously talented senior leadership team, educators, and staff who have made HCS the fastest improving district in Tennessee," said Dr. Towns. "We will continue to strive for excellence in service to families across Hamilton County. I want to thank the Board of Education and our community for their unwavering support of public education throughout these unprecedented times. Our commitment as a district remains the same – that all children thrive and experience a future without limits."