U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige Highlighted Partnership With Hamilton County Schools


Staff Report
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Chattanooga Times Free Press

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige has recognized a public-private partnership aimed at improving teacher quality in nine of Hamilton County’s lowest-performing elementary schools, school officials said Tuesday.

In a report to Congress last week, Mr. Paige highlighted the partnership between Hamilton County Schools, the Benwood, Public Education and Weldon F. Osborne foundations and the city of Chattanooga to promote recruiting, training and retaining highly qualified teachers.

The secretary’s third annual report on teacher quality highlighted the best practices of school districts around the country to meet requirements of the federal 2002 No Child Left Behind Act.

'The report recognizes the good work done by the leaders and teachers in these schools and is another indication that the school system is doing good things for young people,' Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Jesse Register said.

The nine schools, dubbed the Benwood Schools for the local foundation that began the effort with a $5 million grant four years ago, have shown 'exceptional improvement,' Mr. Paige said. Together the schools have shown gains in reading higher than 90 percent of all Tennessee elementary schools, records show. This year one of the nine Benwood schools, Hardy Elementary, was one of only three elementary schools in the state to move off of probationary status.

The original goal of the Benwood Foundation’s gift was to have all students reading at or above grade level by the third grade. The grant provided funds for teaching training and for before-, after- and during-school tutoring for students. Schools officials reconstituted the staffs at the schools and replaced six of nine principals, Dr. Register said. Assistant principals were added to the schools and the district created an office of urban education.

Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker allocated city sales tax for a salary incentive program for teachers at the Benwood schools and coordinated with other agencies to offer low-cost loans for teachers to buy homes in communities where the schools are located. The Osborne Foundation funded a master’s program for teachers working in the Benwood Schools.

Student performance and teacher retention improved 'dramatically' because of the tremendous support of the community, Mayor Corker said. 'We are pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has recognized our efforts.'

Benwood Foundation executive director Corrine Allen attributed the schools’ success to the joint effort.

'The Benwood Initiative demonstrates that extraordinary things can happen when vision, focus and commitment to quality instruction for children come together.'