Annetta Ferguson, principal at Hardy Elementary, watches pre-K students walk into a classroom as she makes her rounds at the East Chattanooga school.
ABOUT THE FINALISTName: Anetta FergusonAge: Not givenYears at Hardy: Seven years; principal since 2009; 22 years in educationEducation: Bachelor’s degree in education from University of Cleveland, Tenn. (now Lee University); master’s degree from University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaFamily: Single mother of one adult child”She stands very firm in what she believes in. She doesn’t waiver.” – Karen Hollis, director of elementary operations for Hamilton County SchoolsFUN FACT: “I love gardening. It’s my kind of thing.”
Anetta Ferguson enjoyed early retirement from school administration in the summer of 2009 – for about four months.
To a person less than enthusiastic about their profession, this would be a cruel punishment of the highest order.
But Ferguson, a principal at Hardy Elementary School, is no such person.
To come out of retirement meant Ferguson could once again interact with her students, which is her favorite part of being a school administrator, she said.