CGLA Impact Report 19-20

ANNUAL I M PA C T REPORT 2019 - 2020

ANYANG AYAI | CLASS OF 2020 CGLA Valedictorian & Freshman at Columbia University

CGLA FORWARD solidified our resolve to ensure CGLA students were safe, engaged, and advancing.

Message from our CEO In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. retreated to the island of Jamaica, seeking a refuge in which to isolate from the social unrest of the present so he could meditate on a direction for the future. When he emerged, Dr. King had produced a collection of related essays that would become the content for “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”, his fourth and final publication. Although written more than fifty-three years ago, this book poses a question that is as relevant today as it was in 1967: where do we go from here: chaos or community?

The answer, which remains the same today as in 1967, is community. And I can think of no better way to articulate Dr. King’s seminal message than to reflect back on the strength of the CGLA community during the last 82 days of the 2019-2020 school year: a time when the real-time realities of the coronavirus pandemic changed how we lived, worked, and learned; when a sense of community

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The most notable moments of community revolve around specific dates and outcomes. On March 12, as COVID-19 silenced campuses, CGLA implemented a plan to transition to online instruction. On March 13, as COVID-19 rearranged life in our city, our county, our state, and our nation, CGLA established new health and safety practices and faculty and students gathered for their first day of remote learning. By March 15, as COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains, CGLA launched Mustang Express, an emergency initiative to deliver food, technical support, critical household supplies and personal hygiene products to students’ homes. And on June 24, as COVID-19 postponed life celebrations, CGLA hosted a formal outdoor graduation to honor the Class of 2020, thirty-two young women who garnered $620,237 in scholarship awards.

No doubt, the principle of community as espoused by Dr. King in 1967 is the foundation of community at CGLA today. We can brave dynamic uncertainties because collectively we are united by our commitment to the CGLA mission. We can overcome and thrive because we are CGLA strong.

Dr. Elaine Swafford Chief Executive Officer

Annual Impact Report | 19-20

GREEN PRIX RACERS | LAKÉ DAVIDSON Green Prix is a hands-on, community-wide STEM program that challenges students to design, build, and race electric-powered race cars. CGLA is home to the only all-girl Green Prix racing team in Hamilton County.

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THE CGLA WAY The CGLA model focuses on changing the narrative, ensuring learning is always relevant, dynamic, and purposeful.

CGLA provides stimulating STEAM project-based learning that awakens curiosity, sparks investigation, and invites collaboration. And when students intellectually engage in exciting, absorbing adventures, ACT scores increase by six points in five years.

CGLA delivers tangible, quantifiable results. Specifically, data verifies an increase in proficiency, designating CGLA as a 2019 Reward School, and an increase in advancing learning, designating CGLA a TVAAS Level 5 school during both 2018 and 2019. And when students are continually learning and attaining proficiency, the Class of 2020 receives more than $620,237 in scholarship awards.

CGLA ensures each student has access to her own Google Chromebook laptop; skilled tutoring in all subjects; free healthcare at an onsite health clinic; meaningful mentoring; organized athletics and extracurricular clubs; leadership development programs; and real-world engagement through robust corporate partnerships.

And when deep learning defines an educational experience, Frida Uwimana, a sophomore at East Tennessee State University, has the skills to maintain a 3.9 GPA as one of a handful of women majoring in construction engineering and says, “CGLA changed my life, and I am here because CGLA prepared me.�

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Annual Impact Report | 19-20

MERCEDES LOPEZ GARCIA | CLASS OF 2025

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BY THE NUMBERS $620,237 SCHOLARSHIP TOTAL EARNED

87.5% COLLEGE ATTENDANCE RATE

96.4% GRADUATION RATE

16:1 STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO

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DESIGNATIONS & CERTIFICATIONS Tennessee Reward School 2014 | 2015 | 2019

Designated by Tennessee Department of Education Measures overall student proficiency during an academic year

TVAAS Level 5 2018 | 2019

Designated by Tennessee Department of Education Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) measures overall student learning during an academic year. Level 5 is the highest designation.

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS Race

African American 59%

Other 2% Caucasian 7%

Hispanic 32%

Tennessee STEM School 2018-2023

Designated by the Tennessee Department of Education

HONORS

+90%

Low-income families

369

Students enrolled

Champion Charter School Award 2019 Presented by Tennessee Charter School Center

Nonprofit of the Year 2018

Presented by Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce

ACT GROWTH (2012-2019) 20.4

School Innovation and Change Award 2018

18.1

Presented by National Principals Leadership Institute

One With Courage Award 2016

Presented by Children’s Advocacy Center

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15.3

19.3

Community Impact Award 2014

17.7

Presented by Urban League of Greater Chattanooga

ACCREDITATIONS Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

13.8 2012

2016

2019

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BEYOND CLASS Inspiration beyond the classroom CGLA is a community asset where intellectually-stimulating, investigative learning is transforming young girls into capable, confident, responsible adults. We are elevating the educational experience to keep pace with the demands of a changing and highly competitive world.

To ensure the development of well-rounded and free-thinking students, we provide learning experiences outside of the classroom.

Mustang Leadership Partners (student equestrian program) Choir Ensembles Guitar Classes Robotics Teams Athletic Programs (basketball, softball, volleyball, track & field, soccer, and lacrosse) Community Service Opportunities Green Prix Racing Team National Beta Club Student Government Chess Several Student-led Clubs & Organizations

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STEM PROGRAMS Afterschool STEM activities complement classroom learning and strengthen academic success in STEM-related subjects as well as interest in STEMrelated careers. CGLA boasts three robotic programs, a Green Prix electric car club, and math and science Olympiad teams.

MUSTANG LEADERSHIP PARTNERS Mustang Leadership Partners (MLP) is a hands-on equestrian program through which students learn about and interact with horses, a process that helps develop critical life skills such as confidence, respect, and cooperation.

ATHLETIC PROGRAMS As a part of the TSSAA and Hamilton County Athletic Conference, CGLA fields both middle and high school teams for basketball, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball. In addition, CGLA also has a competitive high school lacrosse program.

CHOIR, MUSIC & ART CGLA provides an afterschool roster of arts-related activities.

Students can join one of CGLA’s award-winning choirs, participate in a visual arts program, or take guitar lessons.

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MENTORING MENTORING MATTERS Research validates that the consistent presence of caring adults in the lives of young people can profoundly impact how they develop. Through meaningful relationships, mentors help mentees overcome adversity, persevere toward academic achievement, and build critical life skills.

For these reasons, CGLA places a great deal of importance on creating pathways by which these relationships can be developed. Through our multi-tiered mentoring program, we have witnessed continued growth among our students while at CGLA and even beyond graduation. CGLA offers the following mentoring programs:

In-house Mentoring - CGLA dedicates time each week for in-house mentoring. Teachers and staff

mentor small group of students throughout the school year so that students always have a CGLA adult on campus for support.

Peer to Peer Mentoring - High school students mentor middle school students to build big sister/little sister relationships. Peer-to-peer mentoring sessions occur twice each month.

Workplace Mentoring - CGLA partners with local businesses to develop workplace mentoring opportunities. This initiative introduces students to real-world work environments while also accommodating the schedules of busy professionals. Partnerships include Truist, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Hutton, TVA, EPB, Unum, Tennessee American Water, The Patten Group, and UTC. Community Mentoring - CGLA encourages volunteers from the community to consider becoming a mentor. CGLA provides supports for individual mentors, helping them to develop and establish meaningful relationships.

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Mentoring a CGLA student has been one of the most worthwhile experiences of my life.

My mentee is an incredible young woman who inspires me. Her future will be shining with the intensity of thousand blazing suns.”

Hazel Bell

| Former Board Member & Mentor

Annual Impact Report | 19-20

WORKPLACE MENTORING | HUTTON Since 2016, the employees of Hutton, ardent ambassadors of the CGLA workplace mentoring program, have been working with students inside the Hutton work environment. Our partnership with Hutton and other supporters served 141 students during the 19-20 school year.

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OVERCOMING OBSTACLES As 2020 brought about its many challenges, our small and adaptive school community stood tall and helped to address the needs that followed. Our faculty, staff, students, families, and supporters all pitched in to ensure students were able to academically persist without having to worry about access to basic necessities.

MUSTANG EXPRESS food

| internet | supplies

Funded by the Backpack for Success Campaign, Mustang Express was a special initiative to support students and their families during the coronavirus shutdown. This project not only delivered food, household supplies, and mobile internet service to families who were unable to leave their homes but also was a channel through which CGLA remained connected and involved in the lives of students.

GOLF CLASSIC funding our future

With great attention to safety practices, CGLA hosted the 8th Annual Golf Classic on June 4. A signature CGLA event, the tournament welcomed twenty-two teams for a day of entertaining, socially-distant competition. Wearing face masks and carrying hand sanitizer, golfers raised more than $45,000 to support quality education during a time of uncertainty.

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Annual Impact Report | 19-20

COMMENCEMENT | CLASS OF 2020 The Class of 2020 voted to celebrate their accomplishments on June 24 during an in-person, outdoor graduation ceremony on the campus of Chattanooga State Community College.

COLLEGES ATTENDED BY GRADUATES Agnes Scott College Austin Peay State University Chattanooga State Community College Columbia University Emory & Henry College Fort Valley State University Hampton University Middle Tennessee State University Mississippi Valley State University Nashville State Community College Tennessee State University University of Tennessee at Chattanooga University of Tennessee at Knoxville

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i am

Annual Impact Report | 19-20

PREPARED. WELL-ROUNDED. I AM CGLA.

HAWA BARRIE | CLASS OF 2020 Freshman, Hampton University

My family immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone, which does not have a strong educational system. I feel very fortunate that I am attending CGLA because I know I am going to be prepared for college.

Teachers care and want us to work hard. They help us think about being leaders.

I really, really love history and English. I feel like I am always learning something new and interesting. I also love to write, especially poetry.

Poetry is writing with no rules. I can express myself as I see myself. Poetry lets me do me.

Student government has been great. I am learning to be a leader, and I am learning to help other students. My dream is to attend Hampton University and, one day, become a lawyer.

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i am

PASSIONATE. INSPIRING. I AM CGLA.

KELSEY FOWLER | MATH TEACHER On the first day of school, I invite students to join me on a journey: an adventure I describe as beautiful, majestic, and exciting. I let them know our excursion will be safe yet challenging. The wrong turns, bumpy roads, steep hills, and sharp curves we encounter will be the fuel that pushes us forward. Detours improve our navigation, and a flat tire hones our skills. We are embarking toward our destination of becoming mathematicians.

I approach teaching by promoting the idea of a growth mindset. Developed by Carol Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, growth mindset is the belief that anyone, regardless of ability, can continually improve and develop her/his intelligence. During class, I am always encouraging students to believe that they can grow their intellectual abilities, that mistakes are opportunities to learn, and that challenges will build their skills and confidence. I want them to learn and experience math without fear or anxiety.

For me, the best part of teaching is watching as students revel in the satisfaction of their academic success. When they complete a goal and understand a new concept, students feel empowered. This achievement will then fuel the next achievement. Linear growth becomes exponential. They are developing confidence, skills, and intellect. It all begins with a growth mindset.

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Annual Impact Report | 19-20

% OF STUDENTS TESTING PROFICIENT AND/OR MASTERED CGLA [FOWLER’S STUDENTS] HAMILTON COUNTY

75%

MAY 2019 TNREADY ASSESSMENT 53.6% 33%

35%

25%

26%

STATE OF TENNESSEE GEOMETRY

ALGEBRA II

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STUDENT 1 | CLASS OF 2020 STUDENT 2 | CLASS OF 2020 SUE ANNE WELLS | CGLA CO-FOUNDER (from left to right)

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i am

Annual Impact Report | 19-20

CONFIDENT. DETERMINED. WE ARE CGLA.

SUE ANNE WELLS PHD | CO-FOUNDER None of us knew that fresh ideas would emerge from the “forced pause� that occurred on March 12. Rather than stagnate our spirits, the coronavirus pandemic renewed our commitment and accelerated our energy. The challenges we faced were not barriers but pathways that led toward the new. I am awed by the resilience and courage exhibited by the entire CGLA community: the wisdom and generosity of the faculty, staff, and administration coupled with the perseverance of students. I am assured that CGLA is stronger than ever.

We enter the 2020-2021 school year informed by pedagogical and operational experiences of the 2019-2020 spring semester. I am confident because I know CGLA is grounded in nimble preparation. I am determined because I know our mission has never resonated more powerfully than today. I am grateful because I know that tomorrow brings great promise and infinite hope. We can overcome and thrive because we are CGLA strong.

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OUR FUNDING CGLA provides the extras...

Those extras include Google Chromebook laptops; skilled tutoring in all subjects; free healthcare at an onsite health clinic; afterschool and summer enrichment programming; meaningful mentoring; organized athletics and extracurricular clubs; real-world experiential learning experiences; and leadership development programs.

For the 2020-2021 school year, CGLA will receive $9026.28 per student from the Basic Educational Program (BEP), a system that calculates and distributes state and local funds to public schools. However, CGLA anticipates that operational costs will be at least $16,026 per student, creating a shortfall of $6999.72 per student or $2,449,902 for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2021.

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Annual Impact Report | 19-20

BREUNNA AH-RAHMAN | CLASS OF 2021

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HOW YOU CAN HELP “CGLA, my favorite charity. Best investment with returns that are off the charts. There are very few opportunities to be part of real progress and positive change. Thanks to CGLA for impacting lives that benefit the community.�

Greg Smyth | CGLA Supporter

Realizing the true potential of every CGLA girl ensures we are making Chattanooga, our community, a better place to live and work. Excellence in education is the key to preparing the next generation of innovative and committed leaders who are prepared to leverage knowledge and cultural competence to inspire and change the world.

Your financial support of the CGLA mission is an intentional investment in the future of our city. Specifically, a donation to CGLA aligns your generosity with quality education, creating meaningful change for today with far-reaching benefits for tomorrow. With your endorsement, CGLA can activate your philanthropy into educational programming that transforms the lives of deserving girls. Today, more than ever, your gift is a missioncritical investment that will build better opportunities, better tomorrows.

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Annual Impact Report | 19-20

MARIA REYNOSO | CLASS OF 2020 YESENIA PEREZ VASQUEZ | CLASS OF 2020

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GOVERNANCE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Sue Anne Wells | Chair Meredith Perry | Vice Chair Edna Varner | Secretary Rickie Pierce | Historian Virginia Anne Sharber MEMBERS AT LARGE

CONTACT US 1802 Bailey Avenue PO Box 3859 Chattanooga, TN 37404 423.702.7230 cglaonline.com

Lulu Copeland Gordon Davenport Chris Evans Marj Flemming Tom Glenn Cheryl Godwin Martina Harris Mandy Hickey Larissa Huskey Stacy Lightfoot Mary Gray Moses Margaret Nelson Erskine Oglesby Jr. Lynnette Smith Charley Spencer