Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of the Hamilton County Schools, presents John Echols with the I Am Hamilton T-shirt
John Echols, a teacher at Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts, received an “I Am Hamilton” T-shirt for pouring his energy and personal time in the school’s Destination Imagination teams. The district presents the special shirts to individuals for efforts that positively impact Hamilton County Schools and the children it serves.
Mr. Echols is a sixth-grade teacher at the Center for Creative Arts by day, but after school and on the weekend he works with more than 100 students to prepare them for Destination Imagination competitions. He also runs the Region 6 tournament for students across the eastern part of the state.
Mr. Echols stays after school every day of the week, coaching and supervising students. He even spends several Saturdays each semester working with students at the school. As a result, CCA has more kids participate in Destination Imagination than any school in the region. Destination Imagination is a team-building, innovation-inspiring, creative problem-solving, collaborating and fun opportunity for young people to work together and develop skills that will serve them into adulthood, said officials.
“I have worked with John at CCA for many years and served as challenge master at the Regional DI tournaments he has run, so I have a good idea of how much he works to make our students and this tournament a success,” said Kelley Kuhn, a teacher at the Center for Creative Arts. “He has been doing this work for close to a decade now and has made a huge difference in thousands of students’ lives.”
“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, said officials.