Posted November 19, 2007

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee -- AT&T, Inc., today announced a $49,811 contribution to the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Education Initiative and the Coalition for Mathematics and Science Excellence to help fund an interactive web site for Hamilton County schools.

The site will facilitate communication and resource sharing between Hamilton County math and science teachers and the area’s business community.

“AT&T is pleased to join the chamber’s Education Initiative and the Coalition for Mathematics and Science Excellence by making this investment in our public schools,” said Patsy Hazlewood, AT&T regional director. “Strengthening our schools will result in a better prepared workforce, which will generate more job growth and a more prosperous community.”

The web site will provide professional development opportunities for more than 2,600 teachers in the school system, offer classroom resources from the business community and provide field-placement opportunities, internships and entry-level jobs for students, according to Dr. Kay Andrews, director of the Education Initiative.

The initiative’s goal is for the web site to be operational by January, including the appointment of two business-community liaisons to work on this project and web site training for teachers and principals. In addition to the contribution from AT&T, a contribution of $35,382 will be made by the Chamber’s Chattanooga CAN DO investors. “We expect this project to be instrumental in the overall improvement of area students’ scores in the mathematics and science curriculums,” said Andrews.

The Coalition for Mathematics and Science Excellence, formed in 2000, includes 28 volunteers from business, industry and higher education. Mosunmola George-Taylor of Chattanooga State Technical Community College, the acting chairman of the coalition, has committed coalition resources and college faculty to the latest effort.

“The Chamber of Commerce and the coalition are to be commended for developing the interactive web site project with support from AT&T,” said Rep. Gerald McCormick, a member of the Tennessee House Education Committee. “This tool will be a resource for businesses, educators and students to learn from one another. It is a great example of how collaboration between business and education can help move our community forward.”

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