Dr. Marthel YoungEast Brainerd Elementary principal Dr. Marthel Young has been named the 2018 Principal of the Year for Hamilton County Schools.
“I have always possessed a love for learning,” Young said in a news release. “I want to share this passion with others as I continue the work in the field of education.”
Young has been the principal at East Brainerd Elementary for two years. She started her career in education as a kindergarten teacher where she introduced children starting their educational journey to the joy of learning.
In 1999 she was selected to join the first cohort of Leadership Fellows, a collaborative leadership development program of PEF and Hamilton County Schools. After 16 years in the classroom, Young became the assistant principal at Orchard Knob Elementary. In 2004, she moved up to the principal’s office at the school. Young has also served as the principal at Rivermont Elementary.
“It is an honor and a joy to work with both students and teachers daily,” Young said. “I do believe that when we tap into our strengths and share our gifts and talents, we as educators can positively impact the lives of children and unleash their potential to soar to excellence beyond expectations.”
The schools Young has led as principal have been recognized as successful and earned honors. In her time at Rivermont Elementary, the school had one of the highest percentages of highly effective teachers in Hamilton County. In 2016-2017, East Brainerd Elementary earned a school-wide composite of Level 5 on the Tennessee Value-added Assessment System (TVAAS). TVAAS measures the impact schools, and teachers have on their students’ academic progress by measuring how much students grow each year. Level 5 is the highest level of growth measured.
“Dr. Young has a notable reputation for driving the work, challenging the status quo, and raising achievement,” Karen Hollis, director of elementary operations for Hamilton County Schools, said in a statement. “She is truly an inspirational leader.”
Other honors earned by Young include Hixson Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Teacher, Hamilton County PTA Elementary Principal of the Year, and the Education Consumer’s Foundation award for 3rd highest TVAAS scores in East Tennessee while at Orchard Knob Elementary. She has served as president of the Hamilton County Principals Association, mentor for aspiring administrators with UTC, and as a Common Core leadership coach for East Tennessee.
“I am truly honored and humbled that my colleagues nominated and voted for me as Hamilton County Principal of the Year,” Young said. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such stellar administrators and educators.”
Young will represent Hamilton County Schools as she advances to the state competition.