ELEMENTS/BY THE NUMBERS
* 50: Sixth-graders
* 25: Ninth-graders
* 7: Teachers
* 16: Charter schools in Tennessee
* 9: Charter schools expected to open this fall in Tennessee
Source: Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy
CHARTER ENROLLMENT
Until recently, the only students who could attend a public charter school in Tennessee were those who had scored poorly on state standardized tests or those from schools on the state's high-priority list for failing to meet federal benchmarks under the No Child Left Behind law. But the Tennessee Legislature recently added that in counties such as Hamilton, students who receive free or reduced-price lunches from the federal government also may attend the schools.
The first day back to school usually is exciting, but rarely does it make history.
Monday, though, was a day of firsts as Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, the city's first charter school and Tennessee's first all-girls charter school, opened its doors on Grove Street for the official start of classes.
Parents, community members, elected officials and teachers gathered at 7:30 a.m. on the steps of the school, the former James A. Henry building, to welcome each student with cheers, handshakes, posters and hugs.
"The story is beginning," said the school's co-director Julie Davidson. "Now that the girls are here, it's real."
Clad in teal, white or chambray polo shirts, the 75 sixth- and ninth-graders spent Monday morning in the school's auditorium as a handful of speakers lauded the girls for starting "a new adventure" at the school.
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Staff Photo by Angela Lewis A crowd of teachers, staff and supporters gather outside of the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy to welcome students to the first day of school on Monday.
Chattanooga City Councilman Andrae McGary, who represents the school's district, said he particularly was proud that the school began in that area of town, surrounded by low-income housing.
"To the first class of CGLA, I have three things to say to you: You are smart, you are beautiful and you have a future," he said. "Who would have thought we'd have the first girls' charter school here, in the Westside, of all places."
Flanked by orange and silver balloons, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield added his congratulations.
"We're a city that has learned to embrace new ways of doing things," he said. "I'm really excited about where we're going and where you'll take us in the future."
As the girls began their first day of classes, teachers already had begun using the gadgets that will be a big part of the school's science, technology, engineering and math theme. After they split up into advisory groups, the students began a digital scavenger hunt, taking pictures to represent words such as "power," "leadership," "sisterhood" and "strength."
When they finished, they uploaded the photos onto laptops and shared the slide shows with their classmates, computer teacher Katrina Keene said.
"We're going to get them blogging, video conferencing, doing wikis, digital photography and Facebook, and incorporating it all into the curriculum," she said.
Despite the hype and hoopla of Monday's festivities, sixth-grader Aubrey Cochran, 11, said she was most excited about her new homework helper: a white Macbook laptop.
"I have to go to classes to learn how to take care of it," she said.
Aubrey's mom, Michelle Lawrence, said her daughter had been struggling last year in most of her subjects at Lookout Valley Elementary, especially math, so CGLA's all-girls learning environment seemed ideal.
"We've always tried to instill in our children that you're gonna go to college, but I was worried she wouldn't be prepared," she said. "Here, they'll all get more of that one-on-one instruction."
For all her enthusiasm, Aubrey couldn't deny her first-day jitters.
"I'm a little nervous," she admitted, before heading off to social studies class.
"Yeah? Me, too," Ms. Lawrence responded, as mother and daughter turned to each other and giggled.
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