Impact Report | 2021-2022

IMPACT

the CEO BEST YEAR YET.

Message

from

In the 2022 issue of our IMPACT report, we celebrate the incredible Team & Family at PREP. Since the founding, we have witnessed a tremendous amount of growth and have achieved many accolades. Our achievements would not be possible without your hard work, commitment to excellence, and your generous support of our scholars and schools.

PREP would not be where we are today without the overwhelming support of our network of donors and supporters who invest their time, talent, and resources to our mission. From local businesses to national foundations, your financial support has enabled us to expand our impact, serve more students and new communities, and provide our students the kinds of opportunities they need to be successful.

Chattanooga PREP and all future PREP schools places so much stock in College because we know a college degree changes a life trajectory. It’s the single-most-important factor in combating poverty in America, and it’s the precursor to achieving The American Dream.

The American Dream – it’s a glamorous notion, but also an elusive one. For me, The American Dream means you can be whatever you want to be, and do whatever you want to do.

PREP Schools is making this a reality for every student we serve and will serve both in Chattanooga and Knoxville. It’s what makes honors like the Level 5 TVAAS accountability rating or our future College Signing Day events so special – they’re reflections of the work we do for our students. We believe that every child, no matter their background race, or income, should be able to dream their most ambitious dreams and then go out and achieve them.

None of this success would be possible without our teachers and leaders. Our people are our greatest asset – we aim to attract, select, train, develop, and retain the best teachers and leaders. Retaining staff members is a top priority at PREP, we are dedicated to ensuring our employees are the healthiest, happiest, best trained, and most supported in the country. This past July, we made additional strides to ensure our organization is a sustainable for our employees by offering paid maternity leave for up to eight weeks to all eligible staff members. We’re proud to be the outlier in a country where private corporations only provide paid leave to 12% of Americans. Not only maintaining, but expanding PREP’s team and family is so important because of our future plans. By 2030, we will educate 2,500 students across East Tennessee. As we grow, we’ve shown no signs of compromising our effectiveness. In fact, as we open more new campuses and instruct more new students, our achievement results only grow. This will continue to be the case as Prep Schools expands to Knoxville and in Chattanooga. Why? Because wherever we go, we take the best educators, the most rigorous curriculum, and an unwavering commitment to every student we serve with us.

Just as every one of our scholars is on the road to college, we too, as an organization, are on the road to maintaining our status as one of the best charter networks in Tennessee. Read on to learn more about our organization’s most successful year yet.

Diem,

CEO

BRAD SCOTT Chief Executive Officer

Carpe

LEVEL5 SCHOOL TVAAS

TN CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE YEAR FINALIST

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.

we opened Chattanooga Prep with a daring vision for local education. As 60 boys walked onto campus as our school’s inaugural 6th grade class, we proclaimed to the world that Chatt Prep could educate, empower and equip young men regardless of zip code, color or circumstance.

Today, we believe this more than ever.

Since 2018, we have witnessed that history-making 6th grade class grow and mature in immeasurable ways. Today? They’re sophomores, leaders and mentors to 323 other Prepsters in grades 6th through 9th. Our students have received national attention, earned perfect AP scores, won chess championships, advanced deep in the state basketball tournament and, above all, gained countless victories large and small.

Our robust faculty of award-winning and devoted educators continues to grow. So does our building, recently renovated into a beautiful, welcoming, state-of-the-art space even as we make plans to expand our downtown campus.

We’re also starting a second school.

In 2024, Knoxville Preparatory will open its doors, meeting the undeniable demand by Knoxville families for the type of education we provide.

We all know the dire statistics. Compared to girls, our boys – especially young men of color – are less likely to graduate high school or attend college and more likely to suffer overall difficulty in school. Yet, day by day, lesson by lesson, mentor by mentor, we are reversing those numbers, telling the world a different, more promising story. Our values – joy, courage and service – are ever-present as we guide, educate and mentor these Prepsters into young men with tough minds and tender hearts. This is no easy time to be a teenager, yet they remain on the path to become gentlemen and scholars.

This is because of you.

As we continue to grow and transform, your support remains vital. Thank you for helping us make history.

With love and gratitude,

TED & KELLY ALLING Co-Founders

Message from our Founders FIVE YEARS AGO... FOUNDERS

SENTINEL SUMMARY

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 2021, Chattanooga Prep launched its fourth school year with 280 young men in grades 6 through 9, and we will continue to add a grade each year until we reach full enrollment of 550 students in grades 6-12.

Juan Aguinaga | Chief Academic Officer

Ingrid Ambrocio-Martinez | Administrative Assistant

Riley Arendt | Social Studies

Eugene Banks | Dean of Students

Felix Beasley | Science

Montrell Besley | Dir. of Community Engagement

Brianne Birdsong | Development Intern

Kelsey Cannon | Finance Manager

Christoffer Collins | Physical Education

Veronica Green | Special Education

Michelle Hassler | Dean of Instruction

Aldo Heredia | ESOL

Michael Howard | Creative Arts

Santino Jerke | Academic Tutor

Diamond Kelley | Principal

Joshua Leonard | Math

Megan Leonard | Science

Bryan Mann | Math

Russel McBride | AP Human Geography

Laura Moon | English Language Arts

Sarah Moon | Afterschool Coordinator

Brandie Morgan | Special Education

Garrett Morris | Biology

Cassidy Mullis | Math

Cynthia Neal | Exceptional Education

Mary Nelson | Bible Hiistory

Jennifer New | Social Studies

Haile Nottage | Guided Math

Micah O’Hara | History

Abigail Ortega | Spanish

Carissa Parker | English Language Arts

Oliver Parks | Math

Kelly Pennell | English Language Arts

Micah Reed | COO

Colton Romans | IT Director

Lauren Pruitt | Physical Education

Madison Stewart | Science

Micah Wilkins | Guided Reading

Emma Wright | ESOL

Bradly Scott | CEO

LeBron Stinson | Math

Kate Thompson | Director of College Advising

LaKesha Thompson | Science

Angel McGee Ulmer | Human Resources Specialist

Katherine Warwick | Guided Reading

Kevin Wilkes | English Language Arts

Micah Wilkins | English Language Arts

Elizabeth Williams | Director of Development

Emma Wright | ESOL

OUR TEAM

For many schools across the country, the 2021-2022 academic year was framed as a rebound from the effects of COVID-19. Now, more than ever, teachers, administrators, and communities learned the importance of coming together to close the widening opportunity gap exacerbated by the pandemic. Early in the year, through MAP testing, we identified that many of our Prepsters were coming back with significant gaps in math and English language arts. Regardless of the hurdles, we were happy to see our Prepsters back on campus and eager to learn.

Despite nationwide pandemic learning losses, teachers focused on moving forward by providing students with grade-level rigorous academic work and filling key foundational concepts when needed. It was not always easy this past year, but even when teachers and staff were exhausted, they continued to be present for their Prepsters. Seeing them in class collaborating, articulating ideas, and engaging with rigorous academic work, further ignited our inspiration and belief that together we could accelerate learning. In return, our Prepsters stepped up, showing us time and time again that they’re willing and eager to meet and exceed the goals and expectations we have for them. Together with their teachers, Chattanooga Preparatory earned the highest TVAAS ranking awarded by the Tennessee Department of Education - level five, indicating our Prepsters showed more growth than expected!

We cannot express how proud we are of our Prepsters and teachers for their accomplishments. Moving into this year, remember that no journey is straightforward; success requires sacrifice, struggle, and a devoted team. Congratulations, Chattanooga Preparatory team, family, and community, on another banner year, and we look forward to continued success.

CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER

JUAN AGUINAGA Chief Academiic Officer

COMMON PURPOSE

This Annual Report showcases some of the outstanding ways in which students, teachers, and staff members at Chattanooga Preparatory School are acting out our common purpose. Their achievements are evidence of the consistently improving state of CPS. One student at a time, we are bringing about change by using our mission as a basis for everything we do and the SENTINEL spirit as a compass to direct us. Literacy instruction in EVERY class; college preparatory experiences for every student; social justice and student voice education; and an upbeat atmosphere for both teachers and pupils are our four priorities. We are prepared to face new challenges. We are focused on establishing ways of living and working that are more sustainable. Together, we are bringing into existence a world with no limits.

I am proud to lead a team that is committed to:

Fostering an atmosphere that conveys a high regard for students through encouraging the professional development of faculty

Impact positively on student outcomes through the adoption of research-based approaches that have been demonstrated to provide academic growth opportunities for students of all levels, including those who require remediation.

Incorporating chances for self-reflection and interpersonal relationships into our daily experiences so that kids feel valued and valuable to the school community and to one another.

Continue the establishment of community collaborations that give additional opportunities for high school students and young adults to explore college and career options.

Empower students to play a leadership role within the school community that extends into the Highland Park neighborhood.

I expect our pupils to put forth their utmost effort in order to achieve their educational objectives. I anticipate that our educators will support these initiatives by making themselves available to educate beyond the standard by utilizing student outcomes to design classroom experiences. I anticipate that my administrative staff will provide instructional leadership to our teachers in a collaborative effort to enhance student performance and academic advancement.

I adhere to the African adage “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” and strive to instill this philosophy in all those who interact with our students. I support the CPS mission. Our most precious asset, our students, best exemplifies our objective.

Thank you for allowing us to share our annual report card with you and for supporting our efforts to provide our students with an elite education. We believe that our accomplishments will continue to increase during the school year 2022-2023!

PRINCIPAL

DIAMOND KELLEY PRINCIPAL

AP FOR ALL

From the moment a family enrolls their child at Chattanooga Preparatory, a powerful commitment is formed; we call this the PREP Promise. We guarantee that all our Prepsters will graduate high school and attend a college or university.

Our Prepsters are expected to take AP courses, succeed, and flourish in college preparatory experiences that will equip them for college. Starting in middle school, Prepsters are exposed to Pre-AP level coursework and opportunities to prepare and practice for the ACT exam. Some, starting in eighth grade, even participate in their first Advanced Placement (AP) class, AP Spanish Language and Culture, and take the exam in May for free. Once a Prepster reaches high school, their AP courseload incrementally increases to a full AP schedule during their junior/senior year - there are no differentiated tracks for students at Chattanooga Preparatory.

This past year, our founding sixth-grade class launched the high school, and 100% took their first-ever AP class and exam for free. One student, Theo Orozco, and his family were excited to learn he passed his AP Human Geography exam with a perfect score - a five.

Chattanooga Preparatory’s AP for All Program challenges students and holds them to collegiate-level expectations. Students who take a single AP course and pass the exam are six times more likely to graduate from high school and three times more likely to graduate from college. PREP will always be committed to doing what is best for students, not creating ceilings on what students can accomplish.

9TH GRADE

THEO OROZCO

“Passing the exam helped me realize that I can do high-level work and earned me college credit,”

TH GRADE

DENNIS LOPEZ

“I used to think college was strict, but being there showed me that we have to learn how to manage our own life. Accomplishing that showed me I belong in these spaces I did not previously think I did.”

COLLEGE FOR ALL

Since our founding, we have channeled our students’ and families’ hopes and dreams every day in pursuit of our mission - ensuring every child attends a college or university. Before reaching that milestone in their life, Chattanooga Preparatory takes all Prepsters on yearly trips to local, state, and nationally recognized colleges or universities.

Not only do Prepsters participate in college tours, but they are also required to apply and attend a college summer away program before senior year. This summer, seven freshmen were accepted to Explorations in Engineering and Computing Summer Camp, a week-long program at Tennessee Tech University. Dennis Lopez comments, “I used to think college was strict, but being there showed me that we have to learn how to manage our own life. Accomplishing that showed me I belong in these spaces I did not previously think I did.” Lopez will be the first in his family to attend and graduate college. Lopez is eager to find a college summer away program focusing on computer science at the University of Tennessee.

When we visit a college campus, we want our Prepsters to envision themselves as future proof points of the community and nation that anything is possible. Our collaborative work is not just about getting Prepsters to and through college - it is about transforming Chattanooga and Hamilton County.

Devin Love, an eighth-grader at Chattanooga Preparatory School, recounts his most recent visit with his peers to the University of Tennessee, “The environment I was around when I was there was encouraging. I saw myself studying some type of science or art. Being able to go and see these things encourages me to pursue those fields, pushes me to go the extra mile and reach what I want to achieve”. Love’s passion for the arts led him to launch and runs his Podcast, where he has interviewed celebrities and politicians.

STUDENT

INVOLVEMENT

Providing students with meaningful extracurricular opportunities continues to serve as a vital part of a Chattanooga Prep education. Extending the school day allows for students to feel more connected to our faculty and staff, all while building and

pride within our school and within themselves. With more than 60% of our students participating in afterschool activities, we feel as though it is safe to say they are also having fun!

Counseling Services

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.

GAIGE & COREY MATCHED FOR 2 YEARS

“Having Corey as a mentor has benefited my life tremendously. Since he’s been in my life, he’s helped me improve physically, emotionally, and mentally. He has placed opportunities in front of me that no one else has, and I am proud to have a mentor like Corey.”

- Gaige Smith (8th Grade)

JAELEN & CAM MATCHED FOR 5 YEARS

“I met my mentee Jae when he was 11. Watching him grow up over the last 4 years and being there to root him on is one of the coolest and most impactful experiences of my life, and I’m thankful for that.”

- Cam Doody (Mentor)

KEVIN & PAUL MATCHED FOR 2 YEARS

“Mentoring is one of the best things that could’ve happened to me. Mentoring has helped me stay positive and get on the right path. My mentor Paul has also pushed me to set goals and finish strong in life. Chatt Preps mentoring program has provided the extra push we need in the classroom and in life.”

- Kevin Reynoso Valasquez (7th Grade)

MENTORING MAKES A DIFFERENCE RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONSHIPS

MENTORING MAKES A DIFFERENCE

“Having Mr. Ellis as my mentor has impacted my life. He has been with me through my lowest and present during my highs. Mr. Edward has been in my life since I was in the kindergarten, and has been active. He talks to me, spends time with me, and asks me how my day has been. We need more people like him around.”

- Zaire McCrary (10th

“My life drastically changed when Matt entered. Things like college ideas, more sports opportunities have come into play. Overall Matt is more than just a mentor, he is family.”

“Mentoring Keyon Evans has been such an incredible experience because he’s so smart, curious and eager to soak in new experiences. I’m excited to watch him continue to grow as a student and a man -- the sky’s the limit for him!”

- Akeem Brit (10th Grade)

- Mickey Cloud (Mentor)

Grade)

FAMILY AFFAIR

Far too often we think about organizations and schools that do great work and applaud their efforts from a distance. But at Chattanooga Prep, our mission is more than simply providing another educational option for families in Hamilton County. We work hard each day to provide the academic rigor and student involvement opportunities found at the highest performing schools in the country. Not only are we grateful for the parents and families that entrust us with the education of their young men, we are invigorated by our own faculty and staff members that believe in the work they are doing each day and have, subsequently, enrolled their own students.

This level of trust reinforces the testament that we provide a high level of education for all students in our building. Our teachers, staff, and community work hard every day for the common good of providing an education ANY parent or family can be proud of.

Joe Banks (Dean of Students) and son Jaelen Banks (10th Grade)

Christian & son Cadence Collins (7th) with brother/uncle Christoffer Collins

Brandie Morgan (Ex. Ed Teacher) and nephews Jamari Whiteside (6th grade) and JaCory Patton (8th grade)

Veronica Green (Ex. Ed Teacher) and son Morgan Green (8th Grade)

Montrell (Director of Community Engagement) and son Sean Besley (10th Grade)

KNOX PREP

GROWING OUR MODEL

Over the past 5 years, Chattanooga Prep has been able to serve students and families in the Chattanooga community at a high level. Our innovative practices and pronounced student outcomes have led to an expansion of our school model to a city in need of an additional public school option for families in search of something more effective for their students.

Knoxville is a city with a rich history and a bright future—a community with boundless capacity for innovation, transformation, and economic prosperity. Unfortunately, these opportunities are not accessible for all members of our community, especially in urban neighborhoods where young men are disproportionately impacted by poverty and educational inequity.

Knoxville Preparatory School (Knox Prep), opening fall 2024, has unique positioning to offer Knox County families school choice with the county’s first all-boys public school aimed to “build the men of tomorrow. ”Knox Prep will meet the unique educational and social/emotional needs of young men who have faced a multitude of challenges in a rigorous yet supportive environment that nurtures resilience, promotes academic excellence, inspires leadership, and prepares critical thinkers.

GROWING OUR LEGACY

As we look to continue our growth locally with the transformation of our gymnasium into a multiuse facility and into other cities with the opening of Knoxville Prep, we are in need of your support. The great deal of success we have experienced to this point can be attributed to the immense support we have receieved from our families, community members, those who hold public office, and donors. This community of team members has helped to provide our students with resources and opportuniities that will help them to reach their full and limitless potential.

As we reflect upon the previous school year and kick off a new one, we ask for your continued support. We need your help pushing foward with the goal of providing a world-class education and life-changing opportunities for all of our students. Help spread our message that all students deserve a rigorous education and supportive environment that nurtures resilience, promotes academic excellence, inspires leadership, and prepares the next great wave of critial thinkers.

MATT PATTERSON

“Being involved in Akeem’s life has been such an honor for my family and me. Witnessing this wonderful kid turn into a young adult with great grades, a job, participating in sports has been nothing short of incredible and he’s enriched our lives watching him stay on the right path and poised for success.”

BOARD