Golden Apple: Andrew Jones, East Side Elementary

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Andrew Jones knows that communication is key for exceptional education students. He just started at East Side Elementary last August, but kids in his class are already making great strides toward independent learning. Jasmine Farrow is the Assistant Principal. She says, “Mr. Jones is fantastic. He joined our faculty this August, and he has revamped our…

Golden Apple Award: Claire Millsaps, Big Ridge Elementary

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – The pandemic forced teachers to adapt. Virtual learning is typically not ideal. Claire Millsaps took on that challenge in style, and her second graders at Big Ridge recently scored very well on their Benchmark Tests. Her virtual learning program earned Ms. Millsaps the Golden Apple Award. Jeana Johnson is the Principal at Big Ridge. She says,…

Hamilton County will lift mask requirement after one more month

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Mayor Jim Coppinger is extending the mask mandate for Hamilton County for one more month. Masks will be required through April 28th, but then it will finally end. The county mayor first imposed the mask requirement back in July. The largest counties in Tennessee have all had mask requirements at different points. But none of Hamilton County’s…

Remembering Chattanooga’s Republican groundbreaker, Bill Brock

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Bill Brock, a former Tennessee senator and Republican chairman who rebuilt the party after the Watergate scandal, has died. A family friend says he passed away this morning. Brock was a Chattanooga native who graduated the McCallie School and Washington and Lee University. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1962 and the Senate in…

Lee University on LGBTQ+ and the church

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- Lee University administration is clearing the air after they faced some backlash from a chapel service. Lee University students go to chapel twice a week, either online or in person. However, two of the services, in the month of March, have raised some concerns for some alumni and some members of the LGBTQ community. On March 2nd,…

Golden Apple Award: Barger Academy of Fine Arts, Kathy Gordon

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) -When teachers truly connect with their students, they can spend less time on discipline and more time on learning. Kathy Gordon makes it a priority to find each child’s learning style. The Barger Academy of Fine Arts teacher is great at coming up with lesson plans that leave no child behind. Roxanne Anthony is the Principal at…

Chattanooga creates new 311 app and website for residents

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Thanks to a new app developed by the city of Chattanooga, residents will be able to request city services and report incidents like potholes right from their own smart phone. “This is just the first portion of it. It’s actually what we call the “My Chattanooga” experience. “My Chattanooga” app. So we start with 311, but…

University of Tennessee Planning Full In-Person Campus Experience This Fall

Knoxville, TN (Press Release) – The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has announced plans to return to a fully in-person campus experience this fall. Planning includes teaching in classrooms at capacity, returning to normal campus housing, reopening dining halls, fully staffing campus student services, offering a comprehensive slate of student events and programming, and allowing more fans at athletic events. “As case counts…

Special effects worker sentenced for illegal explosives on Travolta movie

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – A special effects worker has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing explosives while working on a movie starring John Travolta and Morgan Freeman. A U.S. District Court judge in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday sentenced Robert Christopher Bailey to 30 months in prison. Bailey pleaded guilty in 2019 to providing pyrotechnic effects for the movie…

Golden Apple Award: Sarah Leeseberg, Soddy Elementary

SODDY-DAISY, TN (WDEF) – Keeping first graders on track is hard enough in ideal conditions. When you add a virtual element, the degree of difficulty can be staggering. Sarah Leeseberg met that challenge and more. Meaghan Moss is the Assistant Principal at Soddy Elementary School. She says, “Sarah Leeseberg she is one of our first grade teachers. She just pours…

Golden Apple Award: Hardy Elementary Sarah Tortora

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Music has to power transform us. It’s a subject that Sarah Tortora is passionate about. She shares that passion with more than 400 students at Hardy Elementary. Robin Bambrey is the Principal at Hardy. She says, “Miss Tortora is our music teacher here at Hardy elementary school. She serves all of our students, pre-K through fifth…

Golden Apple Award: Leslie Miller, Chattanooga Valley Elementary

FLINTSTONE, GA (WDEF) – Teaching first and second graders is a hard enough job in ideal conditions. Add a virtual element to the mix, and a tremendous amount of patience is required. Chattanooga Valley’s Leslie Miller met that challenge and so much more! Heather Culverson is the Principal at Chattanooga Valley. She says, “Ms. Miller is a wonderful teacher. She…