Dan Challener, president of the local Public Education Foundation, spoke to a group of teachers, principals and community leaders in East Ridge.
The East Ridge Education Committee hosted the event at the East Ridge Elementary School. Challener highlighted the achievements of East Ridge schools, putting the spotlight on a "schools for a new society" program at East Ridge High. "Schools for a New Society" is based on a Carnegie Corporation grant of $8 million.
East Ridge High School's Construction Academy is one of many "career academies" participating in the "Schools for a New Society" in the Hamilton County school system. Mark Bean is principal of the high school. Mr. Bean said, "The Construction Academy is a great program; we have educators from Portland, Oregon, coming to observe our program this week."
During the hour-and-a-half long event, a video focusing on the turnaround of an East Ridge High School student who entered the Construction Academy at East Ridge High. PEF President Challener also took questions from the group. Challener was optimistic about the future for public schools in Hamilton County.
East Ridge Education Committee is a nonprofit organization committed to "raising the bar" in education in East Ridge.
For more information, contact EREC president Gail Phillips at 624-3732 or email her at info@ereducation.org. Or you may visit EREC's website at www.ereducation.org.