Chattanooga Students Foster Collaboration and Understanding Through Leadership Exchange Program

Chattanooga Students Bridge Gaps Through Leadership Exchange

CHATTANOOGA, TN – Have you ever wondered what life is like at other schools? Well, students from Howard School and McCallie School are doing just that! They’re coming together to learn from each other, and let’s just say, it’s turning out to be quite an enlightening experience.

Dr. Charles Mitchell, the Assistant Principal at The Howard School, is all about fostering connections between different educational environments. He shares, “We’ve done multiple leadership exchanges. We just came from Germantown, Houston, and out at Memphis with them, but again, it’s important because we let our kids know that they have to be contributing members of society. It’s just not about Howard; it’s also about schools in Nashville, schools in Memphis, and Knoxville.” How cool is that?

Both campuses have their unique vibes, and students are diving deep into what makes each one special. Sawyer Hazlewood, a 10th grader at McCallie, remarked about his experience, saying, “I think it’s definitely good to see other schools and kind of just see how they differ from each other to get a good perspective on it.” It’s all about appreciating different learning atmospheres!

Even students from Howard are excited about the exchange. Adoria Thomas, a senior at Howard, noted, “Most of these schools we have a lot in common, and then some it’s like we don’t. So, we just get to share all the different things that we do at school.” It’s like finding common ground while celebrating differences—what a perfect cocktail for growth!

McCallie sophomore Maxim Lee also shared a refreshing viewpoint. Coming from Illinois, he stated, “I just want to see what public schools look like, see the community right here.” It’s evident that these students are eager to expand their horizons and explore the educational melting pot they find themselves in.

With such exchanges, the understanding of what unites different educational communities is further enriched. Vanessa Moss, the Schoolbase Lead for the Future Ready Institute at Howard, shared, “It’s important because it helps us better understand how we’re similar across the state. It helps us respect our differences so that we can learn from each other and grow from each other.” And who doesn’t love a little mutual respect, right?

Mac Dean, who teaches Algebra 2 at Howard and is also a McCallie graduate, emphasized the closeness of academics. He expressed, “We, all across all high schools, learned the same thing. I mean, you pick up a book here, you pick up a book in McCallie, they’re going to have the same content in them.” It just goes to show that no matter where you go, the fundamentals of education remain consistent.

Another senior from Howard, Daisi Perez Gomez, added, “Most of the schools that visit us are as diverse and they have different institutes and programs that one can participate just like ours, and we all have a lot in common more than we think we do.” It’s like peeling an onion; there’s more beneath the surface when you begin to scratch the surface.

Dr. Mitchell wrapped it up perfectly, saying, “The importance in life is always to get every student, every individual, to understand that we got to see the value in everybody. When we can get everybody to see that, we have a better society.” It’s all about building future leaders of our communities and making a difference wherever possible!

As these two schools gear up for future exchanges, there’s a growing sense of excitement. The work is not done, and the door is open for even more schools to join in on this inspiring leadership collaboration. Who knows where the next exchange will take them?

So, if you’re a student, a parent, or just someone who appreciates the importance of education, this leadership exchange program is proving to be a recipe for successful social learning and understanding. Stay tuned, Chattanooga; the future looks bright with young leaders paving the way!