OFFICIAL ALUMNI ORGANIZATION FOR WHITES CREEK HIGH SCHOOl

  It was during a season of social unrest in America (i.e. the killing of Mr. George Floyd of Minneapolis Minnesota), COVID-19 pandemic, and talk of closures and consolidations of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) in the Whites Creek Cluster - School District-1 that Loretta Parson ‘86 and Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82 invited key people to meet and address the issue of school closures/consolidations with Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry, MNPS School Board Representative for District-1. Due to the pandemic, the meeting convened virtually on Zoom platform hosted by Catherine Miller-Bowers at the request of Loretta Parson on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Alum Parson contacted and invited Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry to address an assembly of invited Whites Creek High School alumni around the growing concerns that Whites Creek High School could be the next school to close. This was the issue and topic for the meeting of which 15 people attended: Loretta Parson ’86, Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry, Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90, Bonita Fields ‘85, William Gilmore ‘79, Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall ‘88, Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Cathy Anderson-Jobe ‘85, Angelia Otey ‘86, Ben Jordan ‘85, Attorney Spruell Driver ‘82 and former WCHS administor Dr. Reva Chatman-Buckley. Due to his unanswered concerns about the closure and consolidation of Robert E. Lillard Elementary School (a feeder school to WCHS in MNPS District-1 named after his grandfather, Judge Robert E. “Bob” Lillard), after the meeting, Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85 contacted Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82 about the prospect of hosting a follow up meeting. The purpose of the meeting would be to discuss the current MNPS ReimaginED initiative (i.e. among other things, an initiative that would change the academic requirements and organizational structure of Whites Creek High School). Alum Miller-Bowers liked the idea and encouraged Alum Glatt to set up and host the meeting. 

On Friday, June 19, 2020 at 5:00pm the follow up meeting convened virtually on Google Meet.  There were 12 WCHS alumni who attended:  Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90, Bonita Fields ‘85, William Gilmore ‘79, Loretta Parson ‘86, Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall ‘88, Cathy Anderson-Jobe ‘85, Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Angelia Otey ‘86 and Ben Jordan ‘85.  This meeting was designed to provide an orientation to the group of attendees regarding the essence of the ReimaginED initiative and how it impacts WCHS.  Alum Miller-Bowers chaired the meeting and Alum Glatt presented information and answered questions about the MNPS ReimaginEd initiative.  The meeting went well and another meeting was scheduled.  Alum Miller-Bowers requested Alum Glatt to chair the next meeting.

On Friday, June 26, 2020 at 5:00pm the same alumni who attended the previous meeting convened virtually on Google Meet.  The meeting was hosted and moderated by Alum Glatt.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming Whites Creek ReimaginED Cluster Townhall Meeting, that Alum Glatt requested of MNPS to give the community sufficient time to ask and have questions answered, on Monday, June 29, 2020.  The ReimaginED initiative was thoroughly reviewed and discussed.  In his presentation Alum Glatt concluded with a challenge to formalize an organization to represent and protect the interest of WCHS.  This challenge was adopted with unanimous consent by alumni attending.  Alums Barbour and Fields were tasked with researching the names associated with previous attempts to formalize an alumni association and to report their findings at the next meeting. The meeting was a success and ended with each alum calendaring the next meeting.  Following the meeting, Alum Glatt set up a GroupMe for quick communication and named the GroupMe, WCHS Alumni Network.  

On Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 5:00pm nine alumni convened virtually on Google Meet:  Dr. Roderick J. Glatt ‘85, William Gilmore ‘79, Perrion Barbour ‘90, Dr. Iris Colette Olige ‘90, Dr. Karen Beard ‘97, Bonita Fields ‘85, Catherine Miller-Bowers ‘82, Cathy Anderson Jobe ‘85, and Dr. LaSheryl Jones-Hall ‘88.  Among other things, the official name for the organization, Whites Creek High School Alumni Network (hereinafter referred to as “ the network”), was adopted.  This is when the journey to incorporate began.