On Wednesday, during a field trip to The Enterprise Center, The Company Lab, and TechTown at the Edney Innovation Center, 7th grade students and faculty from Ivy Academy– winner of Chattanooga 2.0’s ‘Thank a Principal’ contest– learned about career pathways, entrepreneurship, and how technology is shaping Chattanooga.
During the field trip, students were prompted to think innovatively about a number of topics, including reimagining Chattanooga and what the next 20 years look like at The Enterprise Center. Ideas ranged from trees on top of parking garages, homeless centers with daycares, and stacked parking. Co.Lab taught students about entrepreneurship and how to take an idea and turn it into a business. Students also explored possible tech careers by experimenting with the green screen in the video recording and editing studio, computer controlled robots, and a 3D printer at TechTown.
“The Enterprise Center, The Company Lab, and TechTown were inspiring and really showcased how anyone can make a business if they try,” said Isobel LaRose, 7th grade student at Ivy Academy. “I really loved learning about all the history and the people behind the Edney Innovation Center and would love to go back.”
In honor of National Principals Month, during the month of October, Chattanooga 2.0 received over 750 ‘Thank You’ note submissions as a part of a campaign to thank Hamilton County principals from students, teachers, parents, and community members.
Teachers who submitted ‘thank you’ notes were entered into a raffle to win a field trip, donated by community partners, for their classrooms and principal. Ivy Academy 7th grade teacher Matt Raper submitted a note thanking Principal Scott Grisar and won the field trip for his students.
“Chattanooga 2.0 provided an incredible opportunity for my students through the Thank a Principal Contest field trip,” said Matt Raper, 7th grade teacher at Ivy Academy. “Students participated in informative activities at the Edney Innovation Center and also led a discussion afterwards about how the work taking place at the Edney Innovation Center relates to what they have been learning in their classes.”
Chattanooga 2.0’s initial report in 2016 highlighted the importance of empowering school leaders in the district, prioritizing work to support these great leaders and put great teachers in each classroom.
“Thank you, Chattanooga 2.0, for this amazing field trip,” said Zikeria Johnson, 7th grade student at Ivy Academy. “The Edney Innovation Center was so fun to visit and I really enjoyed learning about the history. It inspired me to create a business in the future and I would love the opportunity to go back.”
“Through meeting the employees at the Edney Innovation Center, I am inspired to come up with something good to help people,” said Julie Herd, 7th grade student at Ivy Academy. “The center was awesome and made me want to make a business. I want to go back.”
