Private funding from community partners makes the HCS COVID-19 Fellowship possible to assist the school system in carrying out the district-wide COVID-19 response. The individual selected will work alongside the district's leadership in implementing the Continuous Learning Plan to keep children in the community safe while learning and moving forward in their academic and personal growth, said officials.
The privately funded one-year Fellowship will be hosted by Chattanooga 2.0, Hamilton County's cross-sector partnership dedicated to developing and improving cradle-through-career opportunities for youth. The Fellow's placement at Chattanooga 2.0 will enhance the collaboration between HCS, 2.0, and the greater community. The individual selected will be a leader in Hamilton County School's COVID-19 response. The Fellow will work as the Hamilton County Schools COVID-19 Team leader with in-person visits to schools across the district a part of the daily routine. The Fellow will report directly to the Superintendent's Office.
The individual will provide a continued assessment of the HCS Reentry and Continuous Learning Plan to ensure it is a living document able to effectively serve the students, staff, and families of Hamilton County. The position will work closely with the Hamilton County Health Department and all local, state, and federal organizations to be knowledgeable regarding health guidelines and recommendations. The Fellow will also lead engagement with the HCS Reopening Task Force to involve the group in adapting the plan as the pandemic evolves to continue to serve students and staff.
Long-range effects of changes related to COVID-19 that could assist the district in improvements beyond the pandemic will also be considered in the Fellow's work. Strategies involving remote learning opportunities, instructional technology, equitable access to the internet, closing the digital divide, and community engagement in student learning will impact district performance and student learning in the future.
Ideal candidates for the Fellowship are current or recent masters or higher graduate students living in the metropolitan Chattanooga area. Preferred graduate study areas include public health, education, social work, data analysis, business, or public administration, but other study areas could be considered.
The Fellowship will be full-time from November of this year to November 2021. The Fellowship's role will design and implement adaptive operational protocols to maximize equitable educational learning opportunities while keeping health and safety a top priority. The individual will also monitor evolving health and academic guidelines and ensure district updates to address changes.
Interested candidates can apply by visiting the Hamilton County Schools website at https://careers.hcde.org under "District Wide" positions. The COVID-19 Fellowship application will be open through Sunday, Oct. 18. Selected candidates will advance to a performance task and interview phase the week of Oct. 19. The final selection of a candidate will occur the week of Oct. 26, with work beginning the week of Nov. 9.