First row: Dr. Adina Scruggs, Bryan College; Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools; Dr. Stephen Livesay, president of Bryan College; and Vaughn Burger, Bryan College Second row: Austin Thompson; Jenny Phou; Savanna Merciers; Mya Patton; Ryan Hammett; Hillary English; Brian Dunn; and Ashley Cox, business students at East Hamilton
East Hamilton School welcomed the Bryan College leadership and Business Department faculty to the school on Friday to formally announce the partnership that will bring the Bryan College Institute of Leadership, Business, and Marketing to the school. Bryan College is the latest community partner to sign on to a Future Ready Institute in Hamilton County Schools. Future Ready Institutes opened in Hamilton County Schools this week in the districts high schools.
The formal signing of the agreement took place during a special ceremony at East Hamilton on Friday at 9 a.m.
Bryan College will offer curricular advisement in business, leadership, and marketing; externships for students; teacher externships; guest speakers and lecturers; school to college summer bridge programs; student leadership training; dual enrollment opportunities; and scholarships for students. Bryan College has committed at least $50,000 each year for the next five years to the institute at East Hamilton.
“Bryan College is proud to be a part of such a promising new program,” said Dr. Stephen Livesay, president of Bryan College. “Preparing students to be ready for the next chapter in their lives is a natural role for us, and we look forward to how the Bryan College Institute of Leadership, Business, and Marketing will do just that here at East Hamilton.”
Future Ready Institutes will challenge the traditional approach to education in high schools by developing career-themed small learning communities. Themes will include medicine, robotics, forensic science, engineering, hospitality, technology, business, marketing and more. Teachers of all content areas including English, math, science and social studies will work closely with the career theme teacher to provide classroom instruction through the lens of a career. The goal is for students to clearly understand why a lesson is important and how they will use the information in the future.
“It is vital that graduates of Hamilton County Schools are post-secondary ready and prepared to succeed after high school and this partnership with Bryan College is an important step forward,” said Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. “The Future Ready Institutes, through partnerships with community leaders such as Bryan College, will provide opportunity in our schools today leading to exciting possibilities for the future for our graduates and their families.”
Future Ready Institutes began with the new class of freshmen in Hamilton County high schools this week. The Institutes will add another class the following three years to fill out a full four-year program.
“Future Ready Institutes are off to an exciting start for students in our schools with over 1,000 students enrolled in an institute and more being added each day,” said Blake Freeman, director of Future Ready Institutes of Hamilton County Schools. “The addition of partners the caliber of Bryan College with their tremendous resources and opportunities for students will increase the attractiveness of the institutes for students and parents.”