East Hamilton School principal Brent Eller is Hamilton County Schools’ 2020 Principal of the Year.
East Hamilton is home to sixth through 12th grade students in the east area of the community. Eller has led the school as it’s responded to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Easter Sunday tornadoes. He has also helped to spearhead the construction of the new middle school, which is scheduled to be completed this summer.
“I’m humbled by this recognition,” Eller says. “We have many outstanding principals in Hamilton County Schools that deserve this honor.”
Eller came to East Hamilton School in the fall of 2018 after spending six years at Loftis Middle School. He has also served as principal of Ooltewah Middle School and assistant principal of East Ridge, Brown and Loftis middle schools.
Eller previously taught at The Howard School and Hixson Middle School.
In Eller’s two years at East Hamilton, the school has earned Level 5 school designation for academic growth. The school is also a Tennessee Reward School – the highest honor for academic excellence in the state.
In addition, the middle grades at East Hamilton achieved their highest academic ranking by reaching No. 23 out of 574 middle schools in Tennessee.
East Hamilton High School also earned AP Capstone School status, a diploma program from the College Board.
The school also added two Future Ready Institutes over the last two years. The Bryan College Institute of Business and Marketing and the Institute of Innovative Engineering are schools within the school.
“The faculty and staff at East Hamilton are dedicated people who constantly put what is best for students at the front of every decision,” Eller says. “The students are also incredible and have continued to challenge themselves to explore their untapped potential.”
Eller has also guided the school’s community involvement. To this end, he started East Hamilton Community Days each fall to benefit the Forgotten Child Fund. The school also organized a disaster relief donation center on its campus for East Brainerd tornado victims.
“The East Hamilton community has been very supportive of the school, and all of us work together, with the same focus and intent, to be the best school possible for the children of our community,” Eller adds.
Eller will advance in the Tennessee Principal of the Year program. Three principals from Hamilton County Schools have won the state award in recent years. Dr. LeAndrea Ware, principal of The Howard School, was named Tennessee’s top principal last year. Robin Copp, former principal of Ooltewah High, earned the recognition in 2018 and Ronald Hughes, principal at Apison Elementary, took the top honor in 2015.
The announcement of finalists for the state honor is scheduled for July, with the winner selected in the fall.
“Great teachers and leaders working with students is the foundation of the excellent school experience in Hamilton County Schools,” says Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. “Brent Eller is one of our great school leaders and is making a difference in the lives of children each day.”
Source: Hamilton County Schools