Principal Leadership Academy Graduates Second Class of Aspiring Leaders
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Ten aspiring school leaders in Hamilton County recently celebrated a year of intense training and mentorship. As the second class to graduate from the Principal Leadership Academy, these assistant principals have spent the last year learning from business mentors and education experts in preparation for running a school in the future.
“I am excited to see another class of assistant principals graduate from the Principal Leadership Academy,” says Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith. “As a former principal in Hamilton County, I understand the enormous responsibility of running a school. I am so pleased that we are able to offer our aspiring leaders one of the most innovative leadership development programs in the country that combines instructional leadership with business mentor support. In my opinion, leadership development is one of the most important areas for us to invest.”
Launched in the summer of 2010, the Principal Leadership Academy is the result of a partnership between Hamilton County schools, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Public Education Foundation and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Academy works to help prepare aspiring principals for the rigors of successfully leading a school. The program focuses providing future school leaders with training in how to achieving high academic standards, but also includes a significant business component to help principals with tasks such as finances, human resources and management. Each Academy participant is assigned a business mentor who provides input and advice on leadership issues over the course of the year.
Thomas Loafman, director of purchasing for Volkswagen Group of America, is a mentor to Hamilton County Middle/High School Assistant Principal Chrissy Easterly. “Helping to develop leaders is an important part of my job at Volkswagen, so I was pleased to be asked to be a mentor to an aspiring principal. I have enjoyed spending time in the building with Ms. Easterly and getting a firsthand look at the challenges and rewards of running a school. The experience has reinforced what I know from the business world – we must help develop and support leaders in our schools if we want to continue improving public education,” says Loafman.
As Director of the Principal Leadership Academy, Bill Kennedy has seen the impact of the Principal Leadership Academy firsthand. “These 10 graduates join the 13 graduates from the first cohort who are using the knowledge gained from the Academy to help transform schools. It has been truly inspiring to watch these future leaders grow over the course of this year. I can’t wait to see how they impact the teachers and students in their buildings.”
The 2012 graduates and mentors of the Principal Leadership Academy include:
| Participants |
Business Mentors |
|
Kelly Coffelt
CSLA
|
Jim Weigert
Comcast
|
|
Chrissy Easterly
East Hamilton Middle/High
|
Thomas Loafman
Volkswagen of America LLC
|
|
Cheri Grant
Red Bank Elementary
|
Kathy Owen
Unum
|
|
Vanessa Harris
Orchard Knob Elementary
|
Kim White
RiverCity Company
|
|
Jacqueline Hauth
Westview Elementary
|
Sydney Crisp
Unum
|
|
Tommy Helton
East Ridge High
|
Monique Berke
Unum
|
|
Andrea Johnson
Lakeside Academy
|
MaryStewart Lewis
AT&T
|
|
Kimberly Roden
Battle Academy
|
Van Wardlaw
TVA
|
|
LeAngela Rogers
Hunter Middle
|
Rosemarie Hill
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C.
|
|
Greg Wilkey
Tyner Middle
|
Robert Main
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation
|
Funding for the Principal Leadership Academy includes support from Unum, Joe Davenport of Pointer Management, an anonymous donor, Hamilton County Department of Education and the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
About the Hamilton County Department of Education
The Hamilton County Department of Education is a diverse school system, providing roughly 42,000 students with a world-class education. The system is nationally renowned for urban school success as well as middle school and high school reform. The district offers a variety of educational programs for all students including magnet schools, career academies and gender-based classes, as well as a focus on individual student success and the goal of preparing all students to compete in the global economy.
About the Public Education Foundation
The Public Education Foundation (PEF) is a local non-profit that works closely with Hamilton County schools and other partners to improve student achievement. PEF has been a major partner in designing and implementing the elementary Benwood Initiative, Middle Schools for a New Society, High Schools for a New Society, the Leadership Initiative for school administrators and teacher leaders, the College Access and Success Initiative and TEACH/Here, a teacher residency initiative designed to recruit and train highly qualified math and science teachers.
About the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the region’s leading business association. With more than 1,600 member companies employing more than 10,000 people, the Chattanooga Chamber is the spearhead of the local business community, acting as a catalyst, convener, representative and resource for ensuring that the Chattanooga area achieves its outstanding business potential.
About the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the region’s leading business association. With more than 1,600 member companies employing more than 10,000 people, the Chattanooga Chamber is the spearhead of the local business community, acting as a catalyst, convener, representative and resource for ensuring that the Chattanooga area achieves its outstanding business potential.
About the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a national model for metropolitan universities. In collaboration with our many regional partners, we offer our students an experiential learning environment graced with outstanding teaching scholars in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs.
5/4/2012