CHATTANOOGA (WRCB)- Hamilton County Superintendent Rick Smith announced the appointment of Mr. Lee Sims as interim principal at Hixson High School. Sims, who is currently serving as assistant principal at Hixson High School will assume his new role as principal January 1, 2012, replacing Ms. Christine Couch who is taking a position at Chattanooga State (see original story below).
Sims joined Hamilton County Schools in 2001 after retiring from Catoosa County Schools where he served in several administrative roles at schools and central office, including Superintendent of Schools. While in Hamilton County, Mr. Sims served seven years as a lead teacher for Exceptional Education before transitioning to Hixson High as an assistant principal for the last three years.
ORIGINAL STORY FROM NOVEMBER 7:
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB)- Hixson High principal Christine Couch will leave the school after the December holiday break for a new position at Chattanooga State Community College.
Ms. Couch will become the Director of the Education Program at CSCC. She has served as principal of Hixson High since 2007. Previously she served as assistant principal at Brainerd High School. Ms. Couch originally moved to Chattanooga at age 5.
An English major at the University of the South, Ms. Couch began her career working in the press office for the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. She later relocated to Knoxville for a position with the Better Business Bureau, and later served as executive director of the Knoxville Food Bank.
After staying at home to raise her daughters Caitlin and Chelsea, she pursued her interest in education, getting a teaching job and earning her Master's in School Leadership at UTC. She taught English at the Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences, and later was a change coach at Ooltewah High. She began her administrative career as an assistant principal at Brainerd High under principal Frank Jones. She also became an active participant in school reform efforts on both a local and national level.
Hamilton County School Board member Everett Fairchild, who represents Hixson High in District 3, had nothing but praise for Ms. Couch. "I hate to see her go. Hixson had been sort of a revolving door for principals, and she has brought us some stable leadership. I feel like she has really taken that school in a positive direction."
Ms. Couch said, "I hate to leave, but this is a great opportunity for me. I wasn't looking to leave, but when they knocked on my door I couldn't say no. I get to help train prospective teachers, which is what I love to do."
She will be headquartered in the school's East Campus on Lee Highway in Chattanooga. CSCC is partnered with Tennessee Tech in Cookeville for many academic and career programs. According to CSCC's website, " The Center of Education and Human Services presents students with the opportunity to earn both the AST degree with a K-6 emphasis and the baccalaureate degree in elementary education at its campus. The Center offers all coursework for the AST degree through Chattanooga State and for the baccalaureate degree through Tennessee Technological University (TTU). Therefore, students who are interested in pursuing all four years of their elementary education degree are able to do so at the one Chattanooga State campus location. Additionally, TTU teaches graduate level courses each semester at the center."
