Chattanooga-Hamilton County One of Five Sites Sharing $2.6 Million Over Three Years


July 3, 2002
Press Release

CHATTANOOGA, TN - The Public Education Foundation (PEF), an independent non-profit organization dedicated to improving Hamilton County’s schools, has been awarded a three-year, $500,000 grant by Public Education Network (PEN) as part of a nationwide effort to develop programs relating to the recruitment, retention, and distribution of qualified teachers in middle and high schools.

“When it comes to student learning, nothing is more important than having a quality teacher in every classroom,” said Dan Challener, PEF President. “We look forward to working with community-based organizations to develop and adopt an action plan that supports quality teaching and ensures that we have quality teachers in schools throughout Hamilton County.”

As one of five sites nationwide receiving grant money, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County PEF has been rewarded for their commitment to improving the learning atmosphere for both teachers and students. Building on earlier works designed to enhance teacher quality, PEF realizes that there are certain characteristics that determine quality teachers, and are once again taking the initiative to show how skilled teachers yield prepared students. Other cities receiving grant money are New York, Seattle, Charleston, West Virginia and Washington, DC.

“PEN is tackling the problems facing public schools at a grassroots level by improving teacher quality,” said Bill Bowman, President of the Hamilton County Education Association. “We can’t expect student progress in the classroom until advancements are first met in teaching.”

The programs will focus on three critical aspects of teacher quality: upgrading working conditions, enhancing teacher skills and capacity, and providing rewards and incentives for excellent teaching. Including a large cross-section of the county in its community action plan, the PEF will be exploring these critical education issues in partnership with teachers, parents, and community leaders to determine which of these needs is most pressing in Hamilton County, and then collaborate on developing a plan to improve the overall quality of teachers.

In addition to developing a strategic plan for improving teacher quality, the PEF anticipates that a key outcome of this initiative will be the production and distribution of an annual, school-by-school report that tracks the state of teaching in Hamilton County. These reports will primarily consist of data and statistics on issues such as teacher certification, student achievement, and family and community engagement programs.

“Providing school-by-school annual reports on teacher quality will give the public a better understanding of what it takes to have a quality education for all students,” said Warren Logan, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga. “Releasing this information will increase public support and help involve the community in changing the conditions and compensations of our educators.”

Funding for the PEF teacher quality initiative was provided to the Public Education Network by the Carnegie Corporation and Annenberg Foundation, private foundations dedicated to public school restructuring and reform.