Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts principal Krystal Scarbrough, who has led the school for 16 years, is retiring at the end of the current academic year. She will be succeeded by Mary Catherine Gatlin, current principal at Loftis Middle School.
She is retiring with 30 years of service in Hamilton County, including elementary teaching positions at Daisy, Big Ridge, and Alpine Crest schools and administrative positions at Normal Park and Clifton Hills.
Scarbrough originally had her sights set on a career in journalism, but while a student at UT-Knoxville, she was given a field experience in a local school for a child psychology course. She helped a third grader learn to read, describing the experience as “captivating.”
Scarbrough led the drive to build a new school for CSLA, formerly a K-8 school which inhabited a rundown building on East Brainerd Road until 2023 when the campus we relocated to the former Lakeside Academy site. The Lakeside building was renovated with new additions, transforming it into a K-12 facility, and CSLA will graduate its first senior class this May.
CSLA kindergarten teacher Jamie Behler, the lone staff member remaining since the school’s founding in 1991 said, “Krystal has helped CSLA remain true to its founding as a Paideia school. She is a true educational advocate and has challenged students, families and staff to reach their maximum potential. Her Godly leadership and compassion will be greatly missed.”
(Read more about the Paideia philosophy here: https://paideia.org/)
Looking back on her career, she cites special milestones, like “moving the 2nd lowest performing school in the entire state (Clifton Hills) to ‘good’ status, receiving several awards at the local, state and national level and seeing the dream of CSLA becoming a K-12 school realized.” says Scarbrough. “However, my greatest accomplishment is in hiring outstanding teacher leaders. Their work changes lives.”
She cites several mentors who have helped her become an educational leader. She said, “Early on, Mary Carlson (Big Ridge Principal) and Patricia Boston (2nd grade team leader) taught me how to really teach. Later, Susan Swanson (HCS Director) and her work with the Benwood school principals and Ann Kilcher (Public Education Foundation) inspired me as a principal and empowered me to lead our important school reform work. As I transitioned to CSLA, Steve Holmes (HCS Director) helped me grow as a secondary school leader. Along my journey there were many colleagues and community leaders who I credit with my success.”
As she prepares to finish her 16th year at CSLA, she said, “There are fantastic teachers all across our county, but the teachers at our school embrace the Paideia philosophy of education. Collectively they are a force. Combine that with parents who value the work of teachers and take time to volunteer at the school, and success is within reach for all students.”
She is proud of achieving her primary goal. “One only has to walk the halls at CSLA to see a vibrant healthy school community that is ready for the next steps,” she said.
As for what lies ahead, she said her life essentials remain the same. “Grow in my faith, grow in my relationships, be available to my family, be generous, and serve my community. I am not sure what this will look like going forward, but I know I will do something else!”
She concluded, “The question still remains, ‘I wonder what I will be when I grow up?'”
Thousands of Hamilton County students, past and present can testify to the value and positive impact of Krystal Scarbrough’s educational career.