5 area teachers selected as educator fellows

Five of the 38 educators selected for the upcoming class of the Tennessee Educator Fellowship are from the Chattanooga region, the State Collaborative on Reforming Education announced Thursday.

Four educators are from Hamilton County: Ranita Glenn, of Hardy Elementary School; Aleisha McCallie, of East Brainerd Elementary School; Jen Semanco, of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy; and David Sneed, of Soddy-Daisy High School.

A fifth is from Marion County: Lynn Cooper, of South Pittsburg High School.

The fellowship is a yearlong program that helps teachers, counselors and librarians learn about education policy and equips them to advocate for their students and their profession.

“The fellows’ diverse perspectives and experiences are invaluable as they work both inside and outside the classroom and participate in state conversations on preparing all students for postsecondary and workforce success,” SCORE Executive Chairman and CEO Jamie Woodson said in a statement.

The 38 educators chosen this year have a combined teaching experience of 479 years and represent elementary, middle and high schools in 24 districts across the state. Forty-two percent of them identify as educators of color.

“[ The fellows] bring unique perspectives to the table — from different backgrounds, grade levels, subjects and regions of the state — to focus on ensuring greater academic achievement and growth for all Tennessee students,” SCORE educator engagement associate Leigh Cooksey said in a statement.

Since 2014, the fellowship has supported nearly 150 teachers to engage in the discussion about education policy by speaking at public events, inviting policy makers into their classrooms, writing about their experiences in state and national publications, creating regional professional networks and serving on state-level policy committees.