Staff Photo by Robin Rudd
Orchard Knob Elementary principal LaFederick Thirkill (second from right) and Hamilton County interim superintendent Kirk Kelly (right) watch during the assembly honoring the visiting Brainerd Seniors. The 2016 graduating class of Brainerd High School walked through the halls of Orchard Knob Elementary in their caps and gowns, as a representation of the “vision” for where the elementary students will one day be. The district also announced that long-time principal LaFrederick Thirkill will leave his position at Orchard Knob Elementary School this year. Thirkill will take over as head of Washington Alternative School.
Thirkill has worked in Hamilton County since 1998 and served as principal at Orchard Knob for the past nine years. As principal of the school, Thirkill has been recognized by the Hamilton County Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) as Elementary principal of the Year in 2013 and as Distinguished Administrator by the the Hamilton County Education Association (HCEA) the same year.
In 2014, he received the East Tennessee Distinguished Administrator Award from the Tennessee Education Association. Thirkill was also recognized by the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga for his involvement with the Ed Johnson Memorial project and received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award in 2017. Locally, Thirkill has received honors for his work as an activist, historian, and educator, according to a press release from the district.
“I strongly believe that every child deserves the right to access the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for college and the workforce,” Thirkill said in a statement. “I am eager to begin the work to provide an alternative path to education success for students who struggle in the traditional classroom setting.”
Orchard Knob Elementary is one of Hamilton County’s nine schools first designated as “priority schools” in 2018 and is part of the Opportunity Zone. The Opportunity Zone is made of the lowest-performing schools in the district. Most of the schools, including Orchard Knob, have a student population made up mostly of economically-disadvantaged students and students of color.
LaFrederick Thirkill, a co-chair for the Ed Johnson Project, speaks during a Ed Johnson Project meeting at Green Spaces Thursday, June 22, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. The project committee met with people interested in joining efforts to create a monument honoring Ed Johnson, a Chattanooga man who was falsely accused of rape and lynched in 1906 on the Walnut Street Bridge. / Staff photo by Erin O. Smith In recent years, Orchard Knob has celebrated some successes, such as promising progress from a literacy program piloted at the school, as well as challenges.
Last October, a fourth grader at the school took his own life, sending shock waves through the community. Allegations of bullying swirled after the child’s death, but many school officials called for the need for more mental health supports in local schools. School board member Tiffanie Robinson, of District 4, represents the school and even appeared before the district’s funding body, the Hamilton County Commission to call for better funding and collaboration for dealing with student needs.
Vonetta Maston, current principal of Hillcrest Elementary, will replace Thirkill at Orchard Knob Elementary. Hillcrest is closing at the end of the school year and its students will merge with Harrison Elementary students at a new elementary school slated to open this fall.
Maston has served as principal at Hillcrest since 2015. She began her career at Orchard Knob Middle School in 1997.
Tim Hensley, spokesperson for the district, said Monday’s announcements were not the only principal changes expected for the 2020-21 school year. He anticipates more principals will retire at the end of the year and other changes to be announced by the district.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.