Charlie Baker, a sixth-grader at Signal Mountain Middle/High, and District 2 Board Member Kathy Lennon present Jonathan McKenney with the I Am Hamilton t-shirt.
Jonathan McKenney, a bus driver for schools on Signal Mountain, received an “I Am Hamilton” t-shirt for keeping children safe on the bus ride home from school. The district presents the special shirts to individuals for efforts that "positively impact Hamilton County Schools and the children they serve."
A parent wrote Hamilton County Schools to commend Mr. McKenney for his quick thinking that kept her son safe on his way home from school recently. The parent wrote that it was an afternoon like most when it was time for her son to get home from school. The dogs were “going nuts” because it was time for their boy to get home. On this day, the bus stopped, but a car did not and passed the bus where the child would normally be when getting off the bus.
“Mr. McKenney told Charlie to wait because he saw the SUV coming,” the parent wrote. “If Jonathan McKenney had not been watchful or if he had been too rushed, Charlie would have been in the road when the car passed the bus.”
The parent wrote about how Mr. McKenney rewards the children weekly for good behavior and encourages them to look out for each other and to do great things at school. “Words are not adequate to express how thankful our family is to have this dedicated man as our bus driver,” the parent wrote.
“I am Hamilton” spotlights the contributions of alumni, teachers, parents, students, support workers and community members, providing opportunities for children in the classrooms of Hamilton County Schools.
"Better opportunities for children today mean a brighter future filled with possibilities for our graduates, their families, and the community," officials said. "If you know someone worthy of recognition in the 'I am Hamilton' series, let us know. Send a short message that describes the difference the person makes in the lives of children each day in Hamilton County Schools. Include the person’s name, connection to Hamilton County Schools, your name and your connection to Hamilton County Schools. Send the nomination to communications@hcde.org. Your nomination could be the next 'I am Hamilton.'"