Impact Report (2019 - 2020)

IMPACT REPORT 2

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2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

FROM OUR FOUNDERS INVEST IN EDUCATION

As we sit in our home with our children and digest 2020 and all it has brought, we remember those that are facing unemployment, time of uncertainty, losing loved ones in this pandemic, and the inequities that for too long have been covered up and ignored. We strongly hope this letter finds you well and healthy because we know each of you are battling your own version of 2020. Now more than ever, we know one thing is for certain, education is the root that can make or break a community. Chattanooga Prep continues to be the best investment we have ever made in this community, in our children, and in our own lives.

Our teachers and staff are preparing for a new year in the midst of trial, but no matter what the year brings, our students will learn. The safety of our students and staff is number one.

We continue to work on ourselves and our community to build generations of students that thrive on diversity and inclusion.

It is because of donors and supporters like you that the Chattanooga Prep dream has come to fruition. And it is because of the future donors and supporters that it will continue to build on its legacy – a legacy rooted in inclusion, diversity, and integrity.

Join us. Be a part of our family. And give to Chattanooga Prep today.

We are so grateful for your steadfast and faithful support.

TED AND KELLY ALLING Co-founders of Chattanooga Preparatory School

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SENTINEL

SUMMARY

DO MORE. ACHIEVE MORE. Chattanooga Preparatory School is an all-boys public charter school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We believe that our students have gifts and talents that have been underserved and the families and young men of Chattanooga deserve greater opportunity and choice. In August 2019, Chattanooga Prep launched its second school year with 142 young men in grades 6 and 7, and we will continue to add a grade each year until we reach full enrollment of 500 students in grades 6-12.

MISSION Chattanooga Prep engages young men in a rigorous, yet supportive, learning environment that nurtures resilience, promotes academic excellence, inspires leadership, and prepares critical thinkers.

VISION To inspire and empower young men to achieve academically and participate in a collaborative learning community that will establish a trajectory for lifelong learning and success.

PURPOSE The purpose of Chattanooga Prep is to change the lives of young men who potentially face multiple challenges through the attainment of academic success.

2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

98

%

80

%

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS

100

%

% African American/ Black

Hispanic 30.71 Caucasian/White 6.43 Two or more races

RATE OF ATTENDANCE 2019-2020

LOW INCOME FAMILIES

57 MIL

16 : 1

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STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO

ATHLETIC PROGRAMS

With a constant push for improved

We attribute much of our success

We currently offer JV and Varsity

literacy,

have

to the relationships our teachers

basketball,

developed a love for reading. During

are able to build with each student.

country. We will begin a football

the 19-20 school year, they read a

These relationships allow us to meet

program Fall 2020.

combined total of 57 million words.

each student where they are.

students

1.43

STUDENTS THAT TOOK PRACTICE ACT

WORDS READ

our

61.43

soccer,

and

cross

5

2019-2020

33X 38%

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

In Hamilton County, TN, African-American and Hispanic students are 33 times more likely to attend one of the lowest performing schools in TN than their Caucasian counterparts.

Only 38% of Hamilton County residents have some form of post-secondary credential and only 33% of students in public schools are on track to obtain this level of education.

OUR OPPORTUNITY BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY

Chattanooga is a city with a boundless capacity for innovation, transformation, and economic prosperity. Unfortunately, these opportunities are not accessible for all members of our community, especially young men in urban core neighborhoods who are disproportionately impacted by poverty and educational inequity. It is our sincere belief that our students have gifts and talents that have been underserved in education. The families and young men of Chattanooga deserve greater opportunity and choice. Our aim is to build the men of tomorrow in the hopes that their success will create generational change seen in the communities from which they come.

Following the completion of our second academic year, it is evident that our students and school have been embraced by the community. We have seen students not only grow academically, but also improve social-emotional intelligence. From a qualitative perspective, we can conclude that this combined growth has led to students becoming budding leaders throughout the school and in the community. From speaking with parents, coaches, and community members, we can tell that our Sentinels are beginning to set examples for others to follow. And while we know there is still much work to be done, we are confident that we are headed in the proper direction.

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THE CHALLENGES OF 2020 DISRUPTING THE SYSTEM. DEMANDING CHANGE. Just as with many similar events, the actions involving George Floyd's death are inexcusable. As we are reminded of the work that still needs to be done in our community and our justice system, Chattanooga Prep strives to educate our students so that they are not complicit in times like these - but empowered to enact change.

Chattanooga Prep was founded with a mission to nurture reslience, inspire leadership, and prepare critical thinkers. We find ourselves more focused and determined to commit to teaching in a way that totally disrupts and dismantles the system of oppression while upholding our founding principles.

While our hearts are hurting, the words of James Baldwin remain true; "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." Today we face all that needs to be changed with love and our students at the forefront of our thoughts.

Moving forward, Chattanooga Prep will provide our students with a safe space for conversations as well as a renewed energy to do our part in empowering students to become the voice of their generation.

PROACTIVE DURING A PANDEMIC As the COVID-19 pandemic began its disruption of public health, household incomes, and education in the US, Chattanooga Prep quickly reacted. We distributed chromebooks, ensured families had internet access, and provided access to food and other necessary items. The outpouring support from our community, supporters, and volunteers during this time of crisis was heartwarming. Because of them and our dedicated staff members, we were able to create some form of normalcy for our families by removing barriers to education and basic household needs.

SPEAK LIKE A KING 7th grade student, Cedric, performs a written piece during our 2nd Annual Speak Like a King event in which we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through traditional art, photography, and spoken word among other art forms.

CHATTANOOGA YOUTH MARCH

SPRINTING TO THE RESCUE

Chattanooga Prep students participated in the Chattanooga Youth March - a peaceful protest that provided the area's youth with a platform to speak up against police brutality and other systematic issues plaguing their communities.

Local footballers from the Chattanooga Football Club joined our team to help sort, pack, and deliver meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. These local celebrities brought smiles to the faces of their fans each trip.

FAMILY FOOD DISTRIBUTION As a result of generous donors, our staff was able to coordinate food delivery and food pick-up programs to accomodate families in need during the early stages of the pandemic.

MORE THAN JUST A TEACHER Chattanooga Prep would not have seen the level of academic success it has if it weren't for the team of innovative, caring, and energetic educators that lead our classrooms. In addition to engaging students with exciting and interactive lessons, they also ensure each student is learning through differentiated instruction.

Outside of the classroom, each Chattanooga Prep teacher is a leader and role model. They coach athletics, lead student clubs, teach life skills, build solar-powered cars and more. These multiple points of interaction allow for the creation of strong relationships with their students.

POWERFUL TEACHING.

POWERFUL LEARNING.

2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

BRAD SCOTT HEAD OF SCHOOL

FACULTY

Congratulations to our entire school community on a successful school year! Chattanooga Preparatory continues to lead in college-preparatory education for young men in our community. In 2025 our first graduating class will be entering into college prepared with advanced leadership and academic skills to help ensure their future successes. The growth mindset established in our school community has helped us face challenges and ensured our mission continued stronger than ever throughout the 2019-2020 school year.

Academic rigor and empowering the leaders of tomorrow will continue to build our school community as we strive to prepare our Prepsters for college and beyond.

DIAMOND KELLEY PRINCIPAL

Julien Amorelli | History Katherine Archambeault | Librarian E. Joe Banks | Dean of Students Felix Beasley | Science Molly Brown | Exceptional Education Christoffer Collins | Physical Education Michelle Hassler | Literacy Coach Jennifer Huskins Ed.D | Guided Reading Megan Leonard | Science Virginia Mackey | English Language Acquisition Bryan Mann | Math Megan Miklusicak | Guided Reading Carissa Parker | English Language Acquisition Matthew Rogers | History Tiffany Williams | Guided Math

When asked what draws me to Chattanooga Prep each day, my response is the mission. Everyday, I have the pleasure of working with mission minded individuals. We all strive to bridge the achievement gap for the 140 unique and talented personalities entrusted to us daily. We expose students to a wide range of multifaceted people and places. We give them a safe space to build relationships and synthesize new learning, because of the flexibility for creating and following a mission- driven curriculum. I know that these young men will create the future narrative for the city of Chattanooga.

Emma Wright | ESOL

STAFF Emily Aikins, LMFT | Counseling Coordinator Montrell Besley | Dir. of Community Engagement Kelsey Cannon | Staff Accountant Ingrid Martinez | Administrative Assistant Angel McGee-Ulmer | Human Resources Specialist Micah Reed | Operations Coordinator Colten Romans | Information Technology Specialist Kate Thompson | Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Williams | Director of Development

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

CHRISTOFFER COLLINS

VIRGINIA MACKEY

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2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

GRIT SPEAKER SERIES We recognize that if we are really looking to create strong leaders, we must provide additional opportunities for inspiration and insight. For this reason, we created the GRIT Speaker Series. This series brings in leaders, innovators, and changemakers to speak to our students and motivate them to become the best versions of themselves.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS COLLEGE BOUND

Our students have shown academic improvement from the 2018-19 school year to now.

Following each in-house comprehensive assesment we administer, we see more and more students scoring higher and demontrating mastery. Their success on these benchmark assessments shows that our students are on pace to score well on state administered standardized testing. This is a testiment to the rigorous teaching that occurs each day.

Beyond state assessments, we administer ACT testing for all students. While we know they are only in middle school, we want to push our students to become acquainted with college preparatory testing early. This builds our college-bound culture in addition to teaching resolve, persistence and discipline.

2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

+57 MILLION WORDS READ BY STUDENTS IN 19-20 ACADEMIC YEAR Reading is a culture at Chattanooga Prep! To boost literacy, the school created the Royal Readers program which

celebrates

reading

milestones

for

individual

students. During the 19-20 academic year, 30% of our students read more than 2 million words, and our top reader for the year read 5,033,460 words.

STEM FOCUSED PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS Chattanooga Prep believes in the power of STEM education. The incorporation of science, technology, engineering, and math in our curriculum promotes crtical thinking and improves a student's ability to solve problems creatively. Outside of the traditional math and science classes, Chattanooga Prep offers programs in electric car building, coding, and a new rocketry program launching in 2020-2021!

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AFTERSCHOOL ENGAGEMENT Statistics have shown that a student's participation in afterschool activities significantly improves their academic success. For this reason, Chattanooga Prep offers a robust afterschool program that provides opportunities for involvement beyond the normal school day. 57% of our students regularly participate in our program which includes tutoring, homework help, chess, art, guitar, choir, book club, athletics and more.

2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

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CHESS MASTERS Since Chattanooga Prep opened its doors, our founders knew that having a competitive chess program would have a profound impact on students. Our program has evolved from having first time players to hosting our own local tournaments and sending several successful competitors to state competitions.

Chess has become so popular that it is looked at as a sanctioned athletic team by our school community. Our competitors don their chess apparel with pride and are celebrated because of their competitive intellect.

1. Soccer | We completed our first full season of competitive middle school soccer as a part of the Hamilton County Athletic Association.

2. Art Club | Students participated in an afterschool art program as they prepared to reveal their creations during our annual Speak Like a King event in honor of MLK Day. 3. Green Car Club | Sponsored by corporate and nonprofit partners, students and mentors teamed up to build an electric car to race in a local competition.

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REAL RELATIONSHIPS.

IMPACTFUL OUTCOMES.

A COMMITMENT TO CHATTANOOGA When a mentor signs up to become part of our program at Chattanooga Prep, they are committing to more than providing guidance, leadership, and insight for our students. They commit to transforming Chattanooga's youth and thus the future for our city.

We ask our mentors for an initial three-year commitment, which can turn into a relationship that lasts a lifetime. As of July 2020, we have over 170 diverse mentors who have committed to serving our prepsters. These mentors are sources of strength, guidance, and links to resources that would otherwise be unavailable to many of our students. The mentoring program is one of the keys to achieving the audacious expectations that have been set for our students; fulfilling their promise and leading them to college graduation and beyond.

2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

DAVID NICHOLS MENTOR TO LUIS

"Making a commitment to mentor Luis was no different than making a commitment to my own children.

I see them in him. Whether it's parenting or mentoring, it's not a chore. It is a privilege. Any of us would sacrifice for our own. It's critical that we do the same for others. Our children are the future in a world that needs love and compassion more than ever. To feel like I can be a part of that legacy means more to me than anything else.

The pandemic has been a challenge. We have maintained contact through curbside visits and some FaceTiming, but we have definitely missed our time together. The distance has really shown just how strong our relationship has become."

Mentor Ken Jones & Mentee Cameron

BRENDON WILSON MENTOR TO THE SALES BROTHERS

"Mentoring has been a great experience. As a father to a 6 and 4 year old, I have involved them in the process. It has been so nice to see how everyone interacts. When we get together, we usually hang out and just have a great time. Trey and Vardis are such little gentlemen. They treat my kids as if they are sisters and vice versa.

The afterhours events like game nights that the school puts on are a great idea. Those are a lot of fun. The most memorable time so far was our night at the aquarium together! We all enjoyed working together as a team to find all of the items during the scavenger hunt.

Overall, I am so glad I chose to mentor. It's taught me things about myself. It has also presented several teaching opportunities that have taught lessons to them and my kids. This program is a terrific idea and I am thankful to be involved."

Mentor Armando & Mentee Eugene

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YOU CAN TRANSFORM LIVES. BE OUR PARTNER. SECURE THEIR FUTURE.

We believe education has the power to transform lives.

Our school doors are open thanks to the generosity of people who fully believe in the transformative power of education to create a brighter future for our students, their families, and the city of Chattanooga. Destiny is calling for our boys. And as we add more students each year who share our values and aspirations, we need your help to continue to provide access to a worldclass public education, regardless of background or zip code. Will you become a Chattanooga Prep donor, and partner with us to inspire a new generation of young men to be leaders?

ATHLETIC UNIFORMS Our athletic program provides safe spaces for our students to grow as well as add to our overall school pride. We look for your support as we add sports such as our football program beginning Fall 2020.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

CLASSROOM LIBRARIES

There should not be any barriers that provide a roadblock to a great education; uniforms being one. When our students wear their shirt and tie along side their peers, they do so with pride and excitement.

Our students have developed a love for reading. Keeping our classroom libraries stocked with new, diverse and challenging books is a responsibility we embrace.

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT We would not have a school if it wasn't for our ability to provide a building, utilities, safety equipment or any of the most basic needs many take for granted.

WHY WE GIVE. “Hannon and I were there when Ted and Kelly Alling decided to start Chatt Prep— ok, maybe we weren’t there for the lightbulb moment, but I assure you we heard about it within 24 hours! We knew this school would be special, and have seen their vision manifest into the remarkable change agent for education that it is today. Jaelen Banks, my mentee has become a dear friend and is an enormous blessing for our family. Watching him grow up in the Chatt Prep environment has given us so much joy, and we can’t imagine a better place to prepare him for college.”

Cam & Hannon Doody

2019-2020

ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT

OUR WORLD. OUR FUTURE. BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY

The 2020-2021 school year will be full of challenges and opportunities. While we don't know exactly what it will look like, we stay committed to our values and mission. As a school, we will be onboarding a new class of incoming 6th grade students and their initial experience will certainly be different than our previous classes. But we are here to ensure we provide the same energy, innovation, and attention to detail for this group of students just as we have for our rising 7th and 8th grade students during their first years as Sentinels.

As we increase our student population to more than 210 for the upcoming school year, one thing is certain: Chattanooga Prep will be ready. Ready to teach virtually, operate hybrid classrooms, and continue to teach leadership skills that will be essential in our current social climate.

TECHNOLOGY We will harness technology such as 1 to 1 device distribution to ensure all students have the tools necessary to continue learning while minimizing contact with others not in their households.

INSTRUCTION Our teachers will make use of innovative and appropriate instructional methods such as live virtual teaching to encourage student engagement and maximize academic outcomes.

RESOURCES Support staff will work to eliminate barriers to instruction by ensuring each family has internet access. They will also continue the coordination of food and resource deliveries/pick-up.

PHYSICAL ADDRESS 1849 Union Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37404

MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 3809 Chattanooga, TN 37404

TELEPHONE 423.602.7737

EMAIL info@chattanoogaprep.com

WEBSITE chattanoogaprep.com

SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram | @chattanoogaprep Facebook | @chattprep Twitter | @prepchattanooga

BOARD MEMBERS Ted Alling | Chair Kelly Alling | Vice Chair David Caines | Treasurer Edna Varner, EdD | Secretary Ashley Atkins Wonjen Bagley, LMSW Moise Baptiste, PhD David Bhattacharya, MD Ward Davenport Shewanee Howard-Baptiste, PhD Natalie Jackson, MEd Susan Maclellan Joe Martin, EdD Daniel Pack, PhD David Rice, MD Armando Rodriguez Aaron Webb, JD Sue Anne Wells, PhD