Two Girls Preparatory School educators spent last week exploring one of the world's most exciting emerging technologies.

Physics teacher Joe Lyons and Dean of Teaching and Learning Katye Adams Couch '92 were among 23 educators selected for Chattanooga and Hamilton County's inaugural Quantum Educator Cohort, a weeklong professional learning experience designed to introduce K-12 teachers to the fundamentals of quantum science and technology.

Hosted locally by Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, EPB, and other regional organizations, the program is part of QCamp, a national initiative developed by Sandia National Laboratories to help educators bring quantum concepts into their classrooms.

Chattanooga and Hamilton County are one of just 20 communities nationwide selected to host a QCamp cohort.

Participants spent the week learning foundational concepts in quantum mechanics and quantum technology through a combination of lectures, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning experiences. While instruction was delivered by experts from Sandia National Laboratories, educators gathered together at UTC to engage with the material and discuss how it can translate to K-12 classrooms.

The cohort is part of a broader effort to prepare students for a future in which quantum technologies are expected to play an increasingly important role in computing, communications, sensing, and other industries.

According to Danna Bailey '89, Strategic Planning and Communications for Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative, the goal is not to turn teachers into physicists.

"We wanted to start getting teachers more comfortable with and familiar with some of the content associated with quantum mechanics and quantum technology so that they can start taking it back to their classrooms," Danna said.

Interest in the program exceeded expectations. Although organizers initially planned for 13 participants, more than 30 educators applied, prompting community partners to secure additional funding and expand the cohort to 23 teachers.

For GPS, participation in the program reflects the school's commitment to preparing students not just for today's opportunities, but for tomorrow's.

As Joe and Katye explore this rapidly evolving field, they join educators across the region who are helping ensure Chattanooga students have access to the knowledge and skills that will shape the future.

And with Chattanooga emerging as a leader in quantum technology—with EPB's commercially available quantum network, a new quantum computer coming online this summer, and growing research initiatives at UTC—that future may be closer to home than many realize.