Chattanooga, Tenn (Oct. 7, 2021) -- The third Leadership Hamilton County Schools (Leadership HCS) cohort held its first session on Thursday, September 2nd.
Leadership HCS seeks to create opportunities for a diverse group of community stakeholders to experience HCS in a unique way. Participants experience both the successes and challenges of how HCS supports its students.
Participants will attend seven monthly sessions running from September to April, with each focusing on a different action area of the
Future Ready 2023 strategic plan. The 2022 cohort began learning about the Accelerating Student Achievement action area and governance in public education during the program's first session. In addition to exploring the four remaining action areas, participants will experience being "principal for a day," ending with a deep dive into how the school district budget is created and implemented.
“We are committed to building strong advocacy and support of public education across our county,” said Dr. Nakia Towns, Hamilton County Schools Interim Superintendent. “By offering these unique engagement opportunities, we hope to cultivate better-informed public servants and community leaders.”
The 2021-22 cohort consists of 22 community leaders, including Brittany Lockwood of United Way of Greater Chattanooga. "I would love to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between our education system and local community by diving into how they both impact and drive each other forward,” said Lockwood. “I want to know how the local nonprofit sector can better support our education system and what I can personally be doing to drive impact. I hope to become a better partner and future advocate of Hamilton County Schools."
Leadership Hamilton County Schools 2022 Cohort:
Katie Wells, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society & Foundation
Dr. Tracy Beasley, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga
Terran Anderson, American Heart Association
Jared Pickens, Boy Scouts of America, Cherokee Area Council
Jennifer Andrews, Chattanooga 2.0
Ryan Fugate, Four Bridges Creative
Fance Brannock, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga
Kimberly Appeldoorn, EPB
Shawnice Beard, Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN
Austin Corcoran, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Linnea Ryan, Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians
Mari Bland Smith, Chattanooga Moms for Social Justice
Erica Kramer, Hudson Cook LLP
Brittany Lockwood, United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Megan McClain, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices & Local Business Owner
Elizabeth Davis, The Bright School
Elijah Cameron, Bessie Smith Cultural Center
Sherese Williams, UTC Honors College
Pablo Mazariegos, Family Justice Center
Katherlyn Geter, Hamilton County Commissioner District 5
Joda Thongnopnua, Office of the Mayor of Chattanooga
Krissa Barclay, Hamilton County Schools Foundation
Visit
here for more information on Leadership Hamilton County Schools. Graduation for the Leadership Hamilton County Schools Class of 2022 will take place in April.