Editorial

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has named Dr. Yvette Stewart assistant professor and literacy director for UTC’s School of Education and its Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education.

Stewart, who has worked for Hamilton County Schools since 2018, will begin her new role Oct. 21. She’ll jointly lead School of Education and Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education initiatives aimed at equipping educators with the skills they need to teach children how to read.

“Reading is an important component of the educational experience for a child,” says Stewart, who’s worked in public education for 28 years. “In this role, I’ll bring various advocates of education and organizations to the table to form a common understanding of how to do that and how to work together to provide that support for students.

“Literacy opens up opportunities. If you’re literate, you have access to and ownership of your future.”

As the director of elementary teaching and learning and K-12 literacy for Hamilton County Schools, Stewart has been responsible for enhancing the effectiveness and fidelity of the literacy curriculum across all grades.

“Dr. Stewart has been an integral part of the district’s early literacy work, and I’m grateful for the opportunities to collaborate with her and UTC,” says Dr. Justin Robertson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. “I look forward to continuing our alignment of early literacy best practices and better preparing upcoming educators to serve our students in Hamilton County Schools.”

Dr. Allen Pratt, interim director of the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education, called the hiring of Stewart a major collaborative effort with Hamilton County Schools.

“Bringing Dr. Stewart to campus gives us someone with the credentials and expertise to not only help guide the university’s literacy work but also to help our community and surrounding areas be the best possible instructor of literacy.”

A North Carolina native, Stewart holds four degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, including a bachelor’s in elementary education, a master’s in school administration and both an Ed.S. and Ed.D. in educational leadership.

Stewart began her professional career in 1996 as a kindergarten teacher with Durham Public Schools in North Carolina. Over the next 13 years, she held various roles in the Durham and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school systems, including elementary teacher, assistant principal at both the elementary and middle school levels and principal.

Before coming to Chattanooga in 2018, she spent 10 years with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a project coordinator and assistant director for the Educator Effectiveness Division.

Dr. Kim Wingate, director of the UTC School of Education, says Stewart’s expertise will be instrumental in furthering UTC’s continued collaboration with Hamilton County Schools and will place the School of Education at the forefront of literacy development.

“Her innovative thinking and insights from K-12 education and beyond will help us shape the future of literacy instruction.”

In her new role at UTC, Stewart will be involved in helping future teachers learn how to teach literacy.

“I can give prospective teachers firsthand experience and early exposure to students, and I hope to use my relationships with Hamilton County Schools to support new teachers as they prepare for the classroom,” says Stewart.

In addition to her K-12 background, Stewart has previous higher education experience as an adjunct professor for the University of Phoenix and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Mayor Kelly hires Foster as public works PIO

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has hired Brewer Media’s Eric Foster as the new public information officer for the city’s Public Works department.

“Eric has spent decades serving our community on our airwaves, and his media background, dynamic personality and marketing and promotion skills will complement the Department of Public Works well,” Kelly says. “Most Chattanoogans’ experience with city government – from fixing a water main to paving a street and picking up garbage – are with Public Works, yet the hard work of our crews is not often visible. Eric’s extensive knowledge of Chattanooga and his great communications skills will help spread awareness of all the great things Public Works is accomplishing.”

Before joining the city of Chattanooga, Foster was the program director and on-air personality at Brewer Media for over 25 years.

“In the media, it was my intention to not only entertain but also to inform and empower our community,” says Foster. “Now I have an exciting opportunity to serve my city in a different capacity, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter.”