Our Vision
Our vision is to see parents, teachers, and community members connected and empowered to make the best decisions for all our children.
Nuestro vision es al ver padres, maestros, y miembros de la comunidad conectados y apoderados para hacer los mejores decisiones para todos nuestros niños.
Our Mission
We strive to make this a reality by creating space for conversations and relationships that build trust between parents, teachers, and community members, unity around caring for every child, academically, physically, socially, and emotionally.
Queremos crear un espacio de conversaciones para crear confianza entre un al otro, entre padres, maestros, y miembros de la comunidad. El motivo de estar unidos por un cuido completo de los niños academicamente, fisicamente, social y emocionalmente.
About East Lake
There's a Fire Down Here
We are a network of parents, teachers, educators, and community members who are fierce, who have fought hard to get where we are, and who will do anything it takes to help our children thrive in life. We are diverse, creative, innovative, hard-working, determined, and UNIFIED. Yeah, we’ve faced some difficulties, had some set-backs. But NO, that’s not going to stop us. We are banding together for our kids, and we have big dreams. And we’d love for you to join in with us. Because no matter what our circumstances are, amazing things can happen when we come together.
Our Values
Respect/Respeto y Equality/ Igualdad
We want to model respect for one another for our children. We want them to see us respecting one another as parents with different beliefs, practices, and cultures working together for what's best for our children.
The Whole Child/El Niño Completo
We, as parents, are concerned about the whole development of our children- academically, socially, physically, and emotionally, and are insterested in working with families and community partners to be able to care for all aspects of our children's growth and health.
Meet The Team
Jamison Shimmel
Hi all, my name is Jamison Shimmel and I am thrilled to be the East Lake Community PTA president. In Chattanooga, I work as a bilingual life coach in a program called Building Stable Lives, under the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. Additionally, prior to my role as a Life Coach I worked for 5 years as a teacher and loved it! Now I am dedicated to guaranteeing opportunities for all members of the East Lake community as well as the students in Clifton Hills, East Lake Elementary, and East Lake Academy. Together we can accomplish our goals! Thank you for your time and support this year
Maddison Carver
My name is Maddison Carver and this will be my third year teaching Kindergarten at East Lake Elementary. I am very excited to be a part of the PTA and learn how to better serve our families and community. I think in order to create the most successful environment for students, it is the duty of the school, community, and families to work collaboratively to ensure all needs are being met for each child.
Abbie Smallman
My name is Abbie Smallman, and I work as a staff accountant at The Generosity Trust. I also serve on the finance committee at New City Fellowship East Lake. My husband, Paul, and I have two children, Myra and Wesley, and a dog, Marlin. I am looking forward to partnering with community members to serve the children of East Lake.
Hailey Brooks
Hello! I’m Hailey Brooks. I have lived in the East Lake community for 7 years. I have two boys who attend East Lake Elementary. I am very excited to be a apart of the East Lake Community PTA and represent parents to better serve our children
Emily Clegg
I work at East Lake Elementary as the Parent/Volunteer Coordinator. I am excited to be a part of PTA because we are better together! The East Lake community is full of vibrant people, beautiful cultures, and diverse backgrounds, and we can learn so much from each other. I am looking forward to collaborating with our PTA members to advocate for all of the children in our community.
