Hamilton County Schools’ Equity Task force is proceeding with bringing in national consultants to help the district and community partners create a plan to tackle inequities within district schools.
The task force’s meeting Wednesday morning, which was not open to the public or the media despite a request by the Times Free Press, was its third meeting since it was announced in March.
Equity Task Force members
Ashley Conrad, UnifiEdAlexa LeBoeuf, UnifiEdElenora Woods, president of the NAACPJennifer Woods, education chairwoman of the NAACPWarren Logan, president of the Urban LeagueSherman Matthews, Unity GroupBill Kennedy, Public Education FoundationJeffrey Wilson, pastor at New United Baptist ChurchMatt Busby, Camp House directorRon Harris, vice president of diversity and inclusion at Blue Cross/Blue ShieldH. Maria Noel, director of diversity and inclusion at Chattanooga Chamber of CommerceCarmen Ware, attorney at The Ware Law FirmJared Bingham, executive director of Chattanooga 2.0Gladys Pineda-Loher, director of international community outreach for Chattanooga State Community CollegeJennifer Ellis, associate professor and STEM education director at the University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaJames Tucker, UTC chair of excellenceEdwin McPherson, assistant Chattanooga city police chiefLt. Shaun Shepherd, school resource officer administrator for Hamilton County SchoolsRob Philyaw, Hamilton County Juvenile Court judgeShawn Kurrelmeier-Lee, chief reading officer for Hamilton County Read20 ProgramDan Liner, president of the Hamilton County Education AssociationCale Horne, member of the Chattanooga Inclusive Education Working Group and faculty member at Covenant CollegeRachel Gammon, CEO of Northside Neighborhood HouseLuronda Jennings, special education teacher at Brainerd High SchoolDebbie Smith, principal at Chattnooga Center for Creative ArtsFinley King, principal at Central High SchoolGarfield Adams, exceptional education director for Hamilton County Department of EducationJulie Legg, ESOL Services program director for HCDESteve Highlander, chairman of the Hamilton County school board
It was also the first time members of group had come together since the school board approved the district’s efforts to seek private funds to bring in the Howard Group, a consulting firm, to provide cultural competency training to county educators and develop a framework for an equity plan.
First though, the district plans on engaging with the Massachusetts-based firm, Alves Educational Consultants Group, to develop a plan for what the task force hopes to accomplish, said T. Nakia Towns Edwards, the district’s chief of staff.