Yvette Stewart, a literacy director at Hamilton County Schools, will lead efforts around preparing educators to teach reading at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the university announced Thursday.

Stewart, who has worked for the school district since 2018, will serve as an assistant professor and literacy director for UTC's School of Education and the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Education. In her role, she will jointly lead the education school and center's initiatives aimed at equipping educators with the skills needed to effectively teach children how to read.

"Education is something I have dedicated my life to," Stewart said by phone. "I think it is such a powerful tool and it is the thing that will change the world. So it is simply my hope that UTC is a flagship university that produces excellent teachers that are ready for the classroom that are prepared to be an excellent teacher and an excellent example for students across the county."

She will begin her new role Oct. 21.

(READ MORE: Chancellor says UTC is 'on the move' at annual State of the University address)

Stewart will teach some literacy courses and assist other instructors in preparing and delivering literacy courses, as well as take the lead in ensuring the university is meeting state literacy mandates, UTC School of Education Director Kim Wingate said.

As the district's director of elementary teaching and learning and K-12 literacy, Stewart said she saw the value of having a foundational knowledge in how the brain learns to read and understanding the science of reading.

"All of those decisions that a teacher makes are critical to the trajectory of learning or skilled reading for students," she said. "You have to have a really good understanding and a background in that to support what you teach and how you teach a student in a classroom."

She plans to emphasize those aspects in her new role.

Stewart also intends to continue the strong partnership between the school system and the university. The majority of students in UTC's educator preparation program end up teaching in Hamilton County, according to a 2023 report by the Tennessee State Board of Education.

(READ MORE: Literacy tutoring program expands to 12 Hamilton County elementary schools)

Wingate said the university was excited about Stewart coming and sharing her knowledge. She hopes the role will help enhance future educators' preparedness to teach students.

"We want them to be amazing teachers and give them all the tools they need to be great teachers," Wingate said by phone. "All of our faculty work really hard at making sure our students are prepared to be teachers, and I think this literacy position can continue to enhance that in making sure that our students are prepared as new teachers and as they continue in their profession to see the importance of professional development and expanding their knowledge."

Stewart's tenure in education began in 1996 as a kindergarten teacher. She spent 13 years in the Durham public and Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) school systems as an elementary school teacher, assistant principal and principal, the news release said.

Before moving to Chattanooga, she spent 10 years working as a project coordinator and assistant director for the Educator Effectiveness Division at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Stewart holds a bachelor's in elementary education and a master's in school administration, as well as both a doctorate and education specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Contact Shannon Coan at scoan@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396.