Hamilton County Schools

Today, the “I am Hamilton” video feature spotlights Bill Laubscher, a grandparent and volunteer at Wolftever Creek Elementary School. Laubscher loves volunteering at Wolftever Creek to spend time with his grandchild and make a difference in the school.

Hamilton County Schools has enjoyed historic success in the past year for academic growth and academic performance. The school system had a district record 32 schools earn Reward status from the Tennessee Department of Education. Big Ridge Elementary in the North River Learning Community displays its new banner from the state recognizing the accomplishment. Reward schools are those improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and student groups. Reward designation is the highest honor for academic achievement in Tennessee.

Little Debbie is not just the name of a road in the community or the well-known brand of snack treats found in lunch boxes. Little Debbie is also helping students at Ooltewah High learn new languages. McKee Baking Company, distributors of Little Debbie, provides grants for local schools and awarded a $1,000 grant to Ooltewah High.

Nikki Russell, STEM teacher at Orchard Knob Elementary School, was awarded the Outstanding Technology Teacher of the Year award from the statewide Tennessee Educational Technology Association. The recognition is awarded to only one person in Tennessee each year. With over 15 years as an educator in the Chattanooga and North Georgia areas, Russell’s work as an educator has touched children in numerous elementary schools. Last year as a STEM teacher and science leader at Orchard Knob Elementary School, She orchestrated over 60 learning exploration field trips for students to give them hands-on experiences in STEM. Not only is Russell certified as a Google Educator, Apple Teacher, Ozobot Certified Educator, and Microsoft Educator, she is also a graduate of the Public Education Foundation’s Leadership and STEM Fellows programs.

Over the first two weeks of December, the annual Christmas at the Courthouse concert series showcases student ensembles from twenty Hamilton County Schools. The performances continue next week.

Today, “I am Hamilton” spotlights Cathy Jennings, the coordinator of school health for Hamilton County Schools. The Jennings nomination lauded her work, helping schools get walking tracks as well as her work to secure pajamas for children to wear to school on PJ Polar Express Day. On this special day, children wear their pajamas to school to celebrate the winter holidays. She helped Wallace A. Smith and North Hamilton Elementary get a walking track earlier this year, and one is in the works for East Side Elementary.

Two proven leaders with many years of experience in Hamilton County Schools are taking on new challenges in the district for the children of the community. Dr. Justin Robertson, chief schools officer for the system for the past two years, will move to chief of operations, and Neelie Parker, the executive director of the North River Learning Community, will become the new chief of schools. The two will begin their new roles immediately. Both Robertson and Parker have deep family roots in the community, and they have experience at the school and district level for Hamilton County Schools.

Kyla Curry, an eighth-grader at East Hamilton Middle/High, knows how to chop, measure, and prepare some great dishes, and her cooking ability helped her rise to the top to win the Chopped Jr. cooking reality show last night. The show aired on the Food Network series at 8 p.m. The show Kayla appeared on was recorded over the summer in New York.

School safety is a top priority for Hamilton County Schools, and a veteran police officer who has worked at the national level to improve safety in schools has been selected to coordinate safety efforts for the school district. James Corbin, PH.D., a director in the area of school safety with Corbin and Associates, is the new student security coordinator for Hamilton County Schools. Corbin has also spent more than ten years teaching in the classroom during his career.

Wendy Jung will be the principal at the new Harrison Elementary School when it opens next fall. Jung is currently the principal of Harrison Elementary and has served as the school’s leader for the last four years. The new Harrison Elementary is under construction and will be completed for the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.

The Thanksgiving feast is finished, and the holiday shopping frenzy is underway, so Tuesday will be an excellent day to pause and help a local classroom in Hamilton County Schools with a donation. Tuesday, December 3, 2019, is GivingTuesday with an opportunity for you to bring the classroom dreams of teachers and students to life. On Tuesday, every donation to teacher requests on DonorsChoose will be matched 50% to take a classroom dream closer to the goal. Visit the Hamilton County Schools section of the DonorsChoose site to browse projects of teachers in Hamilton County Schools to find the perfect project for you to back with a donation, and your donation will be matched. The match begins at 7 a.m. tomorrow on the DonorsChoose website.

Over the first two weeks of December, the annual Christmas at the Courthouse concert series will showcase student ensembles from twenty Hamilton County Schools. “This decades-old tradition for Hamilton County Government recognizes public servants and elected officials with sounds of the season provided by students from elementary, middle, and high schools in Hamilton County Schools,” said Claire Stockman, arts director for the school district.