U.S. education secretary visiting Chattanooga to talk about teacher leadership this week

U.S. Education Secretary John King meets with students and administrators at the University of California, Los Angeles on Monday, May 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Christine Armario) U.S. Education Secretary John King meets with students and administrators at the University of California, Los Angeles on Monday, May 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Christine Armario)

By Kendi A. Rainwater September 11, 2016 4 min read

If you go:

Seating is limited and Hamilton County Schools asks that you call 423-209-8448 by Monday afternoon if you want to attend. The event is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Battle Academy.

Teachers huddled around tables in the library at Battle Academy on Wednesday night, tweaking presentations they’ll give next week before the nation’s top education official.

U.S. Secretary of Education John King is stopping at the school Tuesday night as a part of a 12-stop bus tour through six Southern states. In Chattanooga, King will highlight the growing opportunities for teacher leadership in Hamilton County Schools.

But before King speaks, local teachers will talk about the ways they are leading and helping craft the district’s future.

“A lot of teachers don’t realize they are leaders,” said Brittany Harris, a teacher at Hardy Elementary. “I was one of those.”