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GSP Surprises Teachers with $112,000 in TeacherPreneur Grants

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Great Schools Partnership surprised 23 Knox County Schools teachers in October with TeacherPreneur grants totaling $112,399. Great Schools delivered this year’s biggest grant to second grade teacher Amanda Callahan-Mims at Spring Hill Elementary Community School.

Callahan-Mims received $20,000 to fund the creation of an outdoor learning space that incorporates a Music, Art, Science and Sensory Therapy (MASST) approach to encourage student learning and positive behavior. Callahan-Mims’ proposed MAAST approach supports social and emotional learning by providing sensory stimulation through gardening, musical experiences, art stations and areas for large group hands-on learning. This engagement with nature has been proven to lower stress levels in students thus strengthening their readiness to learn. The MAAST approach has been proven to be especially beneficial for students who may be struggling with social/emotional issues.

This is the fifth year that Great Schools Partnership has partnered with Knox County Schools to offer teachers funding to pursue their creative ideas in the classroom through its TeacherPreneur grant program. Since the program’s inception, Great Schools has awarded $541,000 to 68 Knox County teachers.

“Our teachers are always looking for better ways to reach and engage their students. With the TeacherPreneur grants, we’re partnering with teachers to turn their innovative teaching ideas into reality,” said Stephanie Welch, president of Great Schools Partnership. “While teachers are the recipients of the awards, it is Knox County’s 60,000 students who are the true beneficiaries of this program.”

Great Schools received 71 entries for this year’s TeacherPreneur grants. The 23 winning teachers were awarded grants ranging from $1,100 to $20,000 from the Great Schools Partnership. The amount of each grant is based on the winning teacher’s individual request.

TeacherPreneur is a grant award program funded by Great Schools Partnership and administered in partnership with Knox County Schools. It aims to promote KCS teachers as educational leaders and creative problem solvers by encouraging them to use their expertise and creativity to improve the district and the learning opportunities provided to Knox County students. All full-time Knox County teachers are eligible.

14 Teachers Receive $100,000 in TeacherPreneur Grants from Great Schools Partnership

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Green Magnet Academy received TeacherPreneur grant from Great Schools Partnership to purchase Virtual Reality Learning package.

Green Magnet Academy’s Sandy Morris received a TeacherPreneur grant from Great Schools Partnership to purchase Virtual Reality Learning  technology for the school.

Fourteen Knox County Schools teachers received grants totally more than $100,000 from the Great Schools Partnership this month.

This is the third year that the Great Schools Partnership has offered teachers funding to pursue their creative ideas in the classroom through its TeacherPreneur Grant Program

“We received the largest number of proposals to date – 54, so choosing our winners was definitely not an easy task,” said Stephanie Welch, Great Schools Partnership’s interim president. “Each project represents the creativity of KCS teachers in bringing innovative, out-of-the-box thinking to their instruction. Some of the projects are brand new, ground breaking ideas. Others are based on existing ideas or technology, but with a new twist to meet the unique needs of the students in their classroom.”

The Great Schools Partnership worked with Knox County School’s Office of Innovation and a team of teacher/peer grant reviewers to vet the applications, interview finalists and choose this year’s winners.

Two of the winners, Sandy Morris from Green Magnet Academy and Rich McKinney from Vine Middle School, received funding for Virtual Reality technology to use in their schools.

“We really think our students will love this new technology,” said Sandy Morris, the magnet coordinator at Green Magnet Academy. “The Virtual Reality kit allows our students to experience the topics they’re learning. It’s the difference between being told the Great Pyramid is 481 feet tall and standing next to the structure and looking at how high it is.”

The following educators were this year’s TeacherPreneur grant recipients.

Knox County School Educator
South Doyle High School Emily Frei
Dogwood Elementary Nancy Friedrich
Green Magnet Academy Tommie Branscum
Green Magnet Academy Sandy Morris
Vine Middle School Rich McKinney
Beaumont Magnet Academy Cheryl Burchett
Rocky Hill Elementary Jordan Haney
Hardin Valley Academy John Tilson
Hardin Valley Academy Andre Caballero
Hardin Valley Academy Frank Chen
Ridgedale Alternative School Miller Foutch
Northwest Middle School Melanie McCardel
Central High School Jennifer Sullivan

TeacherPreneur is a grant award program funded by Great Schools Partnership and administered in partnership with Knox County Schools Office of Innovation. In alignment with the Knox County School’s strategic plan, TeacherPreneur aims to promote KNS teachers as educational leaders and creative problem solvers by encouraging them to use their expertise and creativity to improve our district and the learning opportunities we provide Knox County students. All full-time Knox County teachers are eligible for the awards. For more information on TeacherPreneur and the Great Schools Partnership, please go to: https://www.greatschoolspartnership.com/teacherpreneur/.

The Great Schools Partnership serves as a catalyst, think tank, incubator, start-up funder and operational partner for Knox County Schools. Together, we are working to create the best school system in the South.

2nd Annual Dress for Success at Vine Middle School

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vine-dress-for-success

Vine Middle School’s second annual “Dress for Success” event was so successful, it could be measured in smiles and handshakes.

This is the second year the school has held its Dress for Success event. What started last year has continued and over 35 community leaders, elected officials, parents and teachers came to the school dressed in their best business attire to greet and encourage students as they prepared for their day.

vine-dress-for-success-student“We want to make a profound school-wide impact and send the message to our students that our community cares for them and believes in them,” said Vine Middle School’s Clarence Swearengen. “The purpose is to empower, enrich and encourage our students to be successful as we strive to be committed to excellence. We want to RAISE our kids up — Reignite Ambition Increases Self Empowerment.”

School administrators hold a “Real Talk” group every Tuesday morning at Vine to encourage the students to discuss issues they’re dealing with on a regular basis. The idea for the Dress for Success event came out of that group.

Vine Middle School is one of 12 community schools in the county operated by the Great Schools Partnership. The Great Schools Partnership serves as a catalyst, think tank, incubator, start-up funder and operational partner for Knox County Schools. Together, we are working to create the best school system in the South.

Click here to learn more about our Community Schools Initiative.

 

Knox County Thank A Teacher Week

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Thank A Teacher Week brought to you by
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Official Sponsors

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Thanks For Thanking A Teacher!

Thank A Teacher Week kicked off a series of events across Knox County Schools in honor of our amazing teachers. Great Schools Partnership has provided support for breakfast and lunch receptions for school faculty and staff across the district and will continue to host each week through the end of the 2017 school year. Great Schools will also continue to deliver messages received to current and former Knox County teachers. As we wrap up our fifth year of Thank A Teacher Week, we want to extend thanks to the many community partners and individuals that have helped us celebrate Knox County teachers in the fall since 2011. THANK YOU!

 

To Mr. Jim Friedrich, finance teacher at Hardin Valley Academy:

“…Would like to thank Mr. Friedrich for supporting us along with the banking and finance class at Hardin Valley Academy as the students run their in school credit union The Hawk’s Nest Egg Credit Union…”

-UT Federal Credit Union, community partner

To Mr. Steven Wright, Mrs. Irene Patterson and Ms. Zona Whitson, former teachers at Halls Middle and Halls High schools:

“…Thank you for your encouragement and believing in me…”

-Kim Hansard, former student

To Ms. Kathy Coyne, kindergarten teacher at Hardin Valley Elementary School:

“…Would like to say a very heart full thanks to Ms. Coyne for her role in improvement, encouragement and caring towards my daughter and other kids in the class…”

-Manjunatha, parent of student

To Mr. Sean Blevins, English teacher at L&N STEM Academy:

“…When my 10th grader comes home and he discusses ‘stealing a sentence’, I know Mr. Blevins once again has been inspiring my son. The concepts of stylized writing he teaches, his methodology, and fabulous attitude bring out the best in his students…”

-Ted Hinkel, parent of student

To Mrs. Scarlett Hopkins, first grade teacher at Dogwood Elementary School:

“…Knox County is lucky to have a teacher like her with the love and dedication she has for her students…”

-Adam Householder, spouse

To Ms. Lee Ann Parker, music teacher at Bearden Elementary School:

“…Words cannot express how grateful we are for her passion, leadership, professionalism and constant kindness. With Ms. Parker, there will never be a student in need, because she always does whatever it takes to make sure our students’ needs are met…”

-Mary Martin, parent of student

To Mrs. Elise Dubes, prekindergarten teacher at West Hills Elementary School:

“…Her approach to my son and all students are very kind and encouraging… Many, many thanks to Mrs. Dubes and West Hills Elementary…”

-Melih Aslan, parent of student

To Ms. Lynn Raymond, business teacher at West High School:

“…She continues to be an asset to her students through several financial literacy avenues and UT Federal Credit Union would like to say THANK YOU!…”

-UT Federal Credit Union, community partner

To Mr. Eric Aguilar, third grade teacher at Chilhowee Intermediate School:

“…He jump started my daughter’s excitement on school and learning again…”

-Karen DeBusk Rodgers, parent of student

To Mrs. Kayla Perkins, first grade teacher at Carter Elementary School:

“…We want to say THANK YOU for being such a great teacher… We are so glad we got you this year!!…”

-Brandy & Ronald Wilson, parents of student

To Mr. Rob Kaminsky, chemistry teacher at Austin-East High School:

“…He has restored my faith in public school systems. Thank you so much for listening and thank you Austin East High School and Rob Kaminsky for your ongoing support and dedication…”

-Regina Perkins, parent of student

To Ms. Dance, former school librarian:

“…She fostered my love of books by sitting the book she was going to read that day on her rocking chair and letting us anticipate what it would be about before she began. To this day, I love reading…”

-Beth Blevins, former student

To Mrs. Tami Luttrell, first grade teacher at Farragut Primary School:

“…Several of her former students have chosen careers as teachers and have said she is a reason why!…”

-Andrew Luttrell, spouse

To Ms. Connie Wilkes, history teacher at Central High School:

“…The strength of conviction that she instilled in me has remained. We all need to stand up and speak out when we see an individual or group of people being mistreated…”

-Becky Clabough, former student

 

 

 

Fulton Student-Athletes Inspire Lonsdale Students

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Thank you Fulton High School!

Thank you Fulton High School!

Assistant High School Football Coach Justin Long brought two Fulton football players to meet with the Boys 2 Men club at Lonsdale Elementary to talk about what it takes to participate in Fulton Athletics, and to go on to play sports in college.

Players KJ Roper and DJ Williams shared with students the honest truths about the responsibilities of being a student-athlete. Many students in Boys 2 Men attend Fulton football games and know who KJ and DJ are. Hearing advice from existing role models inspired Lonsdale students to really listen to the obligations and sacrifices necessary to be a student-athlete.

“I could not have been more impressed by (Fulton’s) young men,” said Adam Fritts, site resource coordinator at Lonsdale.

After speaking with students, KJ, DJ, and Coach Long challenged the students to a game of dodge ball. I’m sorry to report they didn’t measure up, and the Lonsdale students got the better of them!

Thank you Coach Long for your commitment to facilitating mentorship between high school and elementary students as a College and Career Access Coach at Project GRAD, and for sharing your expectations of what it means to grow from boys to men.

AVID Student Earns State Recognition

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Hanna Hayles has participated in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) since her days at Northwest Middle School, where she produced a documentary about The Freedom Riders for her eighth grade social studies class that continues to gain recognition into her high school career.

Lyric Rice and Hanna Hayles.

Lyric Rice and Hanna Hayles. Photo courtesy of Knox County Schools

The film titled “If Not Us: The Rights and Responsibilities of America During Segregation”, recently received state acclaim and was featured in the Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture in February 2015.

Hanna is now an AVID freshman at Karns High School, and she traveled to Nashville for the conference in February to watch her film debut and to be recognized with fellow student filmmaker Lyric Rice. The experience has taught Hanna first-hand what it means to personally advance.

“I learned that hard work pays off. Now coming back to middle school and seeing all my old teachers and them being like, hey you’re famous! And that’s really cool. I like everyone saying that about me. It makes me feel really good,” Hanna said.

AVID is a national college-readiness system designed to increase the number of students who successfully enroll in and graduate from college. During the school day, AVID is a regularly scheduled elective class that meets and empowers students to achieve academic excellence.

Great Schools Partnership has helped fund AVID in Knox County since fall 2007. Now a proven system, AVID is set to fully transition to Knox County Schools starting fall 2015.

 

Hardin Valley World Language, TeacherPreneur Grant

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Our students are benefiting from the generous TeacherPreneur grant! The iPad Minis arrived and were loaded with tracking software and several apps. Micki Daniels, Technology Specialist for Knox County, provided a PLC training for HVA’s World Language teachers, and students are now using them.

iPads connect world languages

iPads connect world languages.

One class is using the iPads to research famous Latinos and create a presentation. Students record their presentation and share it for peer editing. Post feedback, they re-record the presentation and place it in their digital portfolio, which is maintained on Canvas.

Another class is using the iPads to address the challenges of education in Spanish speaking countries. Through research, the students gain understanding of the disparities in many Spanish-speaking countries. They are designing a campaign to illustrate how the private sector in Latin American schools can enrich student learning and will demonstrate how investing in children means investing in future productive adult citizens. They will produce a commercial, interview, or radio spot and send their message to contacts abroad. The goal is a school-created product that can be applied in the real world to make a difference.

In French I, the devices are saving so much class time, as students can upload speaking interviews all at once. Before, the teacher had to listen to individual students or groups in the hallway while the other students did a writing activity in the classroom. AP students are thrilled to practice their interpersonal and presentational speaking with the iPads, and HVA’s AP Coordinator is considering use of the iPads during exams. Practicing with the software prior to the exam will remove the fear of the unknown for students – and perhaps will make taking exams more fun!