Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn speaks during a Partnership Network Advisory board meeting at the Hamilton County Department of Education board room on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Chattanooga, Tenn.Tennessee Education Commissioner to keynote college access conference
High school students and their families are invited to join the Public Education Foundation for a free, half-day conference offering workshops on college success.
Local and national experts as well as numerous partners will be available to offer on-site assistance for students with the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) an other workshops that will cover financial aid, interview skills, college application recommendation letters and mental health.
Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn will serve as the keynote speaker for the conference.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Penny Schwinn, Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education, as our featured speaker. Dr. Schwinn comes from a family of educators and understands the importance of high-quality public education and students’ opportunities to explore productive career pathways,” said Stacy Lightfoot, vice president of college and career success for PEF, in a statement.
The conference on Saturday, Oct. 19 is from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s University Center at 615 McCallie Avenue. The event is free and open to high school and college students, parents and educators. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Participants can register online at surveymonkey.com/r/CGTN2019RegistrationForm.
To encourage eligible adults, Chattanooga State Community College will hold weekly information sessions for those interested in the TN Reconnect Grant.Chattanooga State to host construction career event
Chattanooga State Community College will host Build Chattanooga on Oct. 17 to provide an opportunity to learn about the construction industry, identify potential careers in construction and learn about the training and education programs that support those careers.
The construction industry and job market is expected to grow 11 percent in the next nine years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, especially for positions including carpenters, construction laborers, construction managers, electricians and more.
Local businesses will be present at the event to demonstrate equipment to visitors and guests, including representatives from Branch Technology, UTC, WACKER, Masonry Institute, American General Contractors, ACE Greenspaces, Southern Spear Ironworks, Wright Brothers, Stowers, Adman and ASCE.
Chattanooga State’s Engineering and Information Technologies division offers more than 45 educational degrees or credentials in these areas.
The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 on the lawn of the Center for Engineering, Technology, Arts & Sciences building on Chattanooga State’s main campus at 4501 Amnicola Hwy.
Six Georgia public schools earn National Blue Ribbon recognition
Last month, six Georgia public schools were named 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The Georgia schools named 2019 recipients are: Sope Creek Elementary School and Tritt Elementary School, both of Cobb County Schools, Daves Creek Elementary School of Forsyth County Schools, Marietta Center for Advanced Academics of Marietta City Schools, Pierce County High School of Pierce County Schools and CT Walker Traditional Elementary School of Richmond County Schools
“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to these six excellent public schools on this national recognition,” Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods said in a statement. “And my gratitude to each educator within them who has worked hard to open up opportunities and create an environment where every student can learn.”
Four Georgia private schools also received the National Blue Ribbon recognition, including Hancock Day School in Savannah, Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Atlanta, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School in Atlanta and Queen of Angels Catholic School in Roswell. The selection process for private schools does differ from the process for public schools.
If you have news about local schools you’d like included in Class Notes, email Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com.