Gov. Bill Lee and Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn now are noteworthy mile markers on the learning journeys of the emerging scholars at Hanley Elementary School in Orange Mound.
Lee, Schwinn and a various other elected officials dropped in to take a first-hand look at the school’s operations on Friday. Dr. Nickalous Manning, executive director of Journey Community Schools charter system was there to great the distinguished entourage.
“We appreciate Governor Bill Lee, Commissioner Penny Schwinn, State Rep. Mark White, State Rep. G.A. Hardaway and Dr. Lisa Settle for taking the time to visit our Hanley Elementary School campus,” said Manning. “We are proud of all the hard work our faculty and scholars are doing.”
Lee’s tour of Hanley comes days after announcing that $4.5 billion in federal funding will target boosting student achievement across the state. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding is important to Tennessee schools to “set our students up for decades of success,” according to Lee.
Hanley Principal Jennifer Isom posted about the visit Monday afternoon.
“My school had a great visit today from the Governor of TN and the Commissioner of Education,” Isom wrote. “All positive feedback and praises for Hanley Elementary.”
At the beginning of the spring semester, Lee strongly urged that school systems return as quickly as possible to in-person learning. Virtual learning, he said, is reserved for emergency use only.
Isom said at the beginning of the school year that Hanley was “excited to accept the challenge of numerous goals” just prior to the pandemic.
After returning to in-person learning and hosting Gov. Lee Monday, Manning was thrilled about future prospects for Hanley.
“We are right here in the heart of Orange Mound,” said Manning. “It was good for Gov. Lee to see firsthand, how our children are learning and growing. With continued support from the state and our local community, we know that our students will succeed academically, socially and emotionally.”
Journey Community Schools (JCS) is formerly Aspire Public Schools.
Isom said Hanley and all the Journey schools engage “families and community partners in our scholars’ learning journey.”
