Guidance
- Kennisa Martin, Instructional Coach
- Caitlin Bishop, Instructional Coach
- Charlette Duncan, Student Support Coach
- Altonesha (Nesha) Weddington, School Counselor
- Mariah O’Bryant, Certified School Social Worker
- Phyllis Smith, Truancy Specialist
- Tonya Turman, Community Forward Schools Coordinator
- Jamell Ramsey, Behavior Specialist
- Jerry Short, Behavior Specialist
- Leticia Chatman, Behavior Specialist
Open House & Title I Information
Orchard Knob Middle is a Title I School. What does this mean?
Title I is the largest federal assistance for our nation’s schools. Its purpose is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. Title I is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and is the foundation of the federal commitment to closing the achievement gap between low-income and other students. Nearly 14,000 of the 15,000 school districts in the nation conduct Title I programs. The original purpose of Title I was additional resources to states and localities for remedial education for children in poverty. The 1994 reauthorization of Title I shifted the program’s emphasis from remedial education to helping all disadvantaged children reach rigorous state academic standards expected of all children. Title I funds can be used for instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, and program improvement.
Title I funds flow to states and school districts on a formula basis. The formula takes into account the number of low-income children and the statewide average per pupil expenditures. Resources within the state are targeted to the districts and schools with the greatest need.
Title I funds generally are used to improve academic achievement in reading and math, but the resources can be used to help students improve their achievement in all of the core academic subjects. Title I funds are flexible, and can be used to provide professional development for teachers; support hiring additional teachers and classroom aides; improve curriculum; enhance parent involvement; extend learning time for students who need extra help; and provide other activities that are tied to raising student achievement. In return, school districts and states must meet accountability requirements for raising student performance.
For more information about Title I in Hamilton County:
Community School
Vision
The vision of Community Forward is to ensure that students and families thrive and experience opportunity by design.
Mission
The mission of Community Forward is to remove barriers to learning by assessing strengths and needs, cultivating intentional and collaborative partnerships, and aligning supports to ensure every student, every family, and every neighborhood thrives.
Orchard Knob Middle School is staffed by the City of Chattanooga with a Community School Coordinator to help connect students and families to resources through the OKMS Family Resource Center.
For more information about our Family Resource Center, contact:
Tonya Turman, Community School Coordinator
tturman@chattanooga.gov | turman_t@hcde.org
(423)774-5108
