Jenny Hill
Jenny Hill officially launched her campaign for Hamilton County Board of Education Monday, vowing to elevate the conversation around education and access to great opportunities for all students in public schools.
“Hamilton County is overdue for a public education renaissance,” said Ms. Hill. “All of the development we’ve witnessed in our community over the past two decades is worthless if our children cannot read and our graduates are unprepared to enter the workforce. Our schools should be the preferred educational option for our community - so good that our own county and city leaders choose to send their children to public schools.
“We have strong leadership in Superintendent Johnson, and with growing community support, we’re beginning to see progress in improving educational outcomes in our schools. There is no doubt that great things are happening in our schools - I’ve seen it in every school I’ve visited and heard it from parents, teachers, principals and students. However, I've also heard concerns about the lack of investment, the strain on teachers, and the need for better supports for our most vulnerable students. I am committed to helping sustain the progress and ensure that it benefits every school and every student in our community.”
Ms. Hill is owner of Papercut Interactive, a local web development company, with her husband, Jason Hill. Under their leadership, the 16-year-old company was a 2018 finalist for the Chattanooga Chamber Small Business of the Year award, which honors fiscal continuity and growth, challenges overcome, and community involvement. Ms. Hill’s pragmatic approach to business challenges is a cornerstone of her leadership. She is known for her ability to see a realistic and goal-focused way through corporate red tape, historic struggles, and diverse stakeholder groups, said officials. Her children attend Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences.
Standing in front of Normal Park Museum Magnet Lower School, a magnet school located in District 6, Ms. Hill referenced her own experience with Hamilton County Schools. “I am fortunate that my two children are able to attend a wonderful public school - a magnet school - in Hamilton County, but the opportunity for a great education shouldn’t depend on chance, a lottery, or where a child happens to live. Every zoned school should be a school parents can trust to prepare their children for the future.”
Ms. Hill is a member and trustee of Hixson United Methodist Church. She is committed to poverty alleviation and supports Metropolitan Ministries (MetMin) as board chairperson. She is a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga and serves as vice president of Programming for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce North Chattanooga Council.
Her campaign said, “Jenny has established her reputation as a smart business owner, a skilled strategic communicator, and a leader with a heart for this community. Over the next six months, Jenny will continue to meet with stakeholders from across District 6 to help craft a strong vision for the future of Hamilton County public schools.”
Hamilton County District 6 includes parts of Lookout Valley, North Chattanooga, Downtown, St. Elmo, and Lookout Mountain. District 6 schools include the Center for Creative Arts, the Dawn School, Lookout Mountain Elementary, Lookout Valley Elementary, Lookout Valley Middle/High, Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper and Lower Schools, and Brown Academy.
The election is nonpartisan. Election day is Aug. 2.
Standing in front of Normal Park Museum Magnet Lower School, Jenny Hill announced her candidacy for Hamilton County Board of Education on Monday