Hamilton County Schools

At Orchard Knob Middle School, Mikele Suman is shaping the lives of her students by fostering an environment of learning, inclusion, and support. As an English as a New Language (ENL) teacher, Suman’s work helps students adapt to their new academic environment while embodying the true spirit of what it means to be a Yellow Jacket.

Snow Hill Elementary hosted retired NASA educator Billy Hix, who brought his portable planetarium for a day of awe-inspiring astronomy lessons. Students explored constellations, the solar system, and more, all from their school gym. Billy travels all around the country, mostly focused on rural schools, similar to the one he himself grew up in.

Owiin Merritt, an 11th grader at Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts (CCA), embodies dedication, passion, and a profound appreciation for the arts. Starting ballet at three years old, Merritt has become an impressive dancer– one of CCA's first students to receive a professional role with Chattanooga Ballet.

As a district, Hamilton County Schools knows our female teachers of color have unique experiences and challenges in the workplace. As part of our strategic plan and intentional commitment to every employee feeling valued, the talent department has expanded its Male Teachers of Color initiative and created Female Teachers of Color (FemTOC). FemTOC brings together teachers from all over the district to find mentorship and a sense of belonging and support with their peers.

Transitioning from middle to high school can feel overwhelming, but Freshman Academies make this leap more manageable. These academies provide a smaller, supportive community where students can build confidence, explore their interests, and develop skills to succeed both academically and personally. Tyner Academy’s Freshman Lead Teacher, Trevor Wilson, and The Howard School’s Freshman Academy Administrator, Dr. Genise Evans-Fletcher, provided insight into how Freshman Academies help students thrive.

East Ridge High School has various Future Ready Institutes to help students figure out what they want to do after high school. These programs, or pathways, let students explore different careers and get experience while still in school. We talked to the College & Career Advisors, Emily Earwood and Lee Ann Samuels, and Whitney Clark, the Future Ready Institute Lead, to learn more about how these programs work and why they’re so great.

Glenda Mendez Perez never planned on becoming a medical assistant. In fact, she didn't even know what a medical assistant was when she first started taking health science classes in high school. But as she continued to take classes and eventually earned her certification, she realized she now had a great foundation, even if it wasn’t intentional.

When Leanne Weiler, a first-year kindergarten teacher at East Ridge Elementary (ERES), began her career in August, she set out to build lasting relationships with her students, positively impact lives, and embrace the unexpected. Now, in late November, Weiler has found her rhythm as an educator and has become a trusted guide and friend to her kindergarten students.

Konstantine Vlasis, a 2009 graduate of Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences (CSAS), is combining creativity with science to improve our understanding of the world–specifically, Iceland’s glaciers. A 2024 Fulbright-National Geographic Award recipient, Vlasis is blending his passions for music, science, and environmental conservation through his project, “When Glaciers Sing.” As an environmental composer, percussionist, and audio researcher, Vlasis is crafting an immersive audio story that explores the health of Iceland’s glaciers through the lens of sound. His innovative approach involves listening to the glaciers themselves and examining how traditional Icelandic songs have traced the human ecology of these icy landscapes throughout history.

Edward Potter, a dedicated math teacher at Central High School, has made it his mission to transform how students perceive their mathematics abilities. Math has long been frustrating and a subject of self-doubt for many students entering his classroom. They believe they are inherently “bad at math” and success in math is beyond their reach. However, Potter sees this as his opportunity to change that narrative. His goal is not just to teach math but to help students have a successful year where they realize that they can master any obstacle they may face in life. For Potter, the reward lies in witnessing students gain confidence and recognize their potential.

We are excited to announce the expansion of the Literacy First tutoring program, which started at East Side Elementary School during the 2023-24 school year.

Hamilton County Schools (HCS) hosted its biennial Partners in Education Awards Breakfast at the Read House on Friday, November 15, to celebrate the power of partnership and honor the unwavering commitment of community partners who help to ensure all children thrive.