Parental involvement in education “the greatest gift you can give your child”

Welcome to the 2009-10 school year. It is going to be another tremendous year in Hamilton County Schools!

We have so many successes to celebrate this year. Our students performed well on standardized tests and continued to learn rigorous and relevant curriculum every day. We saw more students graduate from high school this year and more students continue their education beyond high school, enrolling in two- and four-year colleges. We decreased the number of students who dropped out of our schools and helped more students stay in school through intensive attendance and truancy programs.
We also boasted amazing writing scores at several elementary schools this year, saw more students score 25 and above on the ACT, documented an increase in parent involvement across the county, and had only five schools listed on the state’s high priority list—the fewest of any of the large urban systems in Tennessee.
Last year our students also stretched their philanthropic and community service wings, raising close to $25,000 to fund the first Goodwill service dog, to be named “Hamilton.”

And we are on track to continue these successes this coming year.

This year we remain focused on implementing the school system’s strategic plan and moving our students forward in their achievement while creating a positive school climate at each campus. We are dedicated to supporting parent and community involvement in education, as we know that public education is the backbone of our democracy and the foundation of the community’s future. We continue to invest in our future, providing our students with the tools and skills they need to be successful in the 21st century.
Throughout the summer, our principals and administrative team members worked collaboratively to prepare for another great year in Hamilton County Schools. Teachers attended training on the new, more rigorous state standards that students will begin to learn this fall, and scores of parents rolled up their sleeves and worked to give many of our schools cosmetic renovations.
It is going to be an exciting school year, and I urge everyone to make the most of each day at school. Our students are the future of this community, our great state, our nation and the world. The job we do today will affect all of our tomorrows.
I encourage all parents to get involved in their child’s education and support student achievement and participation in school. This is the greatest gift you can give your child.
Together we can propel our students forward and take our system from good to great to exceptional!

Sincerely,
Jim Scales, PhD
Superintendent, Hamilton County Schools