Hamilton school board members to meet legislators
On Monday, Feb. 17, and Tuesday, Feb. 18, Hamilton County school board members Kathy Lennon, of District 2, and Jenny Hill, of District 6, will attend the Tennessee School Boards Association's legal and legislative session in Nashville.
While in Nashville, Hill and Lennon will meet with members of Hamilton County's state delegation, including state Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson; Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah; Rep. Yusuf Hakeem, D-Chattanooga; Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain; and Rep. Esther Helton, R-East Ridge, according to a meeting notice from the school district.
A request to meet with Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, has been made as well, but as of Friday the board had not received a response from their offices, according to the district.
East Ridge Elementary named "Leader in Me Lighthouse School"
Hamilton County's East Ridge Elementary School is one of just five schools in Tennessee recently certified as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by Franklin Covey Education thanks to the school's use of the leadership program.
The Covey recognition is evidence that the school has produced outstanding school and student results implementing the Leader in Me process, which teaches children leadership principles through direct lessons that encourage students to think critically, according to a news release.
"We are honored to have been certified and named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School," said Juan Moreno, principal of East Ridge Elementary, in a release. "Since starting our Leader in Me journey, we have seen a schoolwide increase in positive climate and culture and large growth in our students taking ownership of their education. We also find that more students are practicing their soft skills, including making eye contact, shaking hands, using please, and thank you."
East Ridge Elementary will maintain its Lighthouse Certification for the next two years. At the end of the two years, the school will be eligible to re-certify. Only 300 schools nationwide have received the designation.
For more information about the Leader in Me program, visit www.theleaderinme.org.
Chattanooga State launches Rising Chefs Lunch series
Chattanooga State Community College's culinary program has launched a new program featuring food prepared by the program's students based on what they are learning in class.
The Rising Chefs Lunch Series will feature a three-course menu created and prepared by one of the chefs-in-training every Thursday at the school's main campus at 4501 Amnicola Highway. Example of meals include crab ceviche, shrimp carbonara or grilled beef tenderloin and strawberry chocolate mousse cake.
Seating will take place between 11:30 a.m. and noon in the Hennen Center in the CBIH Building. Tickets are $12 per person and should be purchased in advanced online. The series will run through May 30.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: www.chattanoogastate.edu/hospitality-culinary-center.
Cleveland State event to discuss death penalty, mental illness
Cleveland State Community College is hosting the event, "Too Ill To Execute: A Film Viewing and Panel Discussion About the Death Penalty and the Mentally Ill," on Feb. 19.
The event will feature panelists and students discussing the film and the criminal justice system. The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Alliance for the Severe Mental Illness Exclusion Coalition, which consists of mental health advocacy groups, criminal justice reform organizations, and others, including: Tennessee Mental Health Consumers' Association, Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee, NAMI Tennessee, Tennessee Psychiatric Association, and Tennessee Disability Coalition.
The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 5 p.m. and will be located in the Humanities Building Room H127 on Cleveland State's campus at 3535 Adkisson Drive, Cleveland, Tennessee.
For more information, contact Cleveland State's criminal justice instructor Marcus Easley at 423-472-7141, ext. 332.
If you have news about local schools you'd like included in Class Notes, email Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com.