A Hamilton County Schools investigation revealed that 21 of 45 teachers at Chattanooga Preparatory School lack proper licensure for the positions they hold.
The discovery comes nearly a month after Chatt Prep teacher Kenya White was arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and kidnapping stemming from incidents during his tenure at East Lake Academy. A deeper look into White’s teaching license revealed he did not have the proper credentials to be holding his position.
White’s personnel file with the school, obtained through an open records request, contained an internal email showing the school administration was informed he was not licensed and was under review by the state board, which means he could not be employed by the school. Chatt Prep’s then-CEO, Brad Scott, apparently disregarded the red flags.
“Let’s discuss this before he is terminated,” Scott said in an email to the human assets director, Angelnetta Ulmer.
(READ MORE: Former Chatt Prep teacher arrested again, now facing federal charges)
Through the investigation, Chatt Prep has had an interim CEO, Micah Reed Bess. Bess took the place of Scott on Oct. 2, after Scott resigned, Bess said in an email.
“As CEO, Brad Scott failed to ensure the correct protocol was in place for vetting new faculty members,” Bess said in a statement. “He also failed to act decisively when questions were raised about Mr. White’s background.”
The reason for Scott’s resignation was not made clear in his personnel file at Chatt Prep.
The administration’s handling of White’s case prompted a further investigation into the hiring processes at Chatt Prep, culminating in a letter notifying Chatt Prep that Justin Robertson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, will recommend the school board revoke Chatt Prep’s charter.
“Based upon the HCS investigation, I find that the governing body and the management of Chattanooga Prep have willfully violated Tennessee laws governing the licensure of teachers,” Robertson’s March 12 letter said. “I also believe that the governing body and management have deliberately misrepresented who were the teachers of record in classes actually taught by these unlicensed personnel in order to avoid scrutiny.”
Board member Ted Alling declined to comment through a spokesperson, and board member Edna Varner did not respond to a voicemail.
(READ MORE: Hamilton County Schools begins process to revoke Chatt Prep’s charter)
Leading up to the revocation of Chatt Prep’s charter, the principal, Diamond Kelley, was placed on suspension Feb. 18. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reached Kelley by phone March 11, but she immediately ended the phone call after the reporter identified herself.
This year’s senior class is in jeopardy, according to the letter sent by Robertson. Many of the teachers without credentials are teaching high school courses, which means the students are not accumulating valid credits toward graduation.
“Likely, Chattanooga Prep’s entire senior class is impacted by this licensure issue,” the letter said.
The 2025 senior class should be the inaugural graduating class. The 50 students set to graduate this May includes the group of sixth graders who attended the first school year Chatt Prep was open, beginning in August 2018. Chatt Prep’s social media touts that every student in the class has a post-high school plan and college acceptance.
Hamilton County Schools declined to comment when asked if the Chatt Prep 2025 senior class will be able to graduate.
Chatt Prep leadership has a meeting scheduled with the district Friday morning.
The Unity Group of Chattanooga, a community organization focused on racial equity, issued a statement.
“It is a systemic failure because of how they, and that being some of the powers that be in the state, have pushed for the rash expansion of vouchers and charters throughout the state,” Eric Atkins, co-chair of the organization, said in the statement. “And they’ve done it in such a manner to where you have no transparency and no accountability with these programs.”
In December 2023, Gov. Bill Lee visited Chatt Prep and was taken on a tour by three students. He praised the school and the students he met.
“We’re just looking at your school because it’s different and it’s unique and it’s creating leaders,” he told a seventh grade science class during his visit. “Just coming in and seeing this is inspiring to a lot of us who are very interested in education.”
Lee’s office was not able to be reached for comment on the current situation before press time.
In March 2024, Chatt Prep won the TSSAA Class 1A boys’ basketball championship. Chatt Prep opened a sister location, Knoxville Preparatory School, in 2024, under the same CEO as the original location.
Both schools are tuition-free public charter schools that primarily serve minority and underprivileged boys.
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Gov. Lee visits Chattanooga Prep
Contact Kailee Shores at kshores@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.