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Alice Bratten

Meet Our 2017 Educators Hall of Honor Inductee: Alice Bratten

Each year, the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences celebrates and honors professionals who already have established themselves in the field of education and who help students who one day will follow in their footsteps. These Educators are inducted into the Educators Hall of Honor. This wall is located in the front entrance hall of the Claxton Education Building and stands as a proud reminder of their impact and legacy that inspires the next generation of Educators.

This year, we have inducted seven new members including: Alice Bratten, Amos Hatch, Debora Hatch, Walter Mencer, John Peters, Steve Reddick, and Robert Webb. We will be highlighting each one. Today, we would like to introduce you to Alice Bratten.

Alice is proud to be a Knoxville native and University of Tennessee alumna. After graduating from East High School in 1959, she earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Education in 1964 and actually began her teaching career before she graduated. Her first preference regarding employment was to teach within the Knoxville City School System. However, she fell in love with a brand new school within Knox County, Sunnyview Elementary, and taught fifth grade there for twenty-seven years.

Due to some restructuring within the school system, Alice moved to Chilhowee Intermediate and resumed her fifth-grade teaching career for another twenty-five years. In all, Alice has served the children and families of Knoxville and Knox County for fifty-two wonderful years. One of her proudest moments came in the early 90’s when she was recognized for her contributions to education by being named Knox County Middle School Teacher of the Year. Alice retired in the spring of 2016 but still volunteers as a Girl Scout leader at Chilhowee and enjoys staying connected to the school and the kids in the community. We are fortunate that Alice pursued a career in education because while she was in high school she once dreamed of becoming a doctor. She later said this, “I’m so glad I didn’t become a doctor because I never would have loved it as much as this. I would teach even if they weren’t paying me”.