(The Center Square) â The Tennessee Department of Education is spending $30 million in COVID-19 relief to help 21 school districts create new paths to employment for students through its Innovative High School Models program.
The program features community partnerships in aviation, health care, dual enrollment opportunities, STEM-focused curriculum, automotive learning, manufacturing and virtual and workplace-based learning programs.
The grant process began with the state accepting 61 applications for the program in March. TDOE Chief of Programs Jean Luna said there was so much interest in the program she asked to expand it from the more than $14 million originally set aside.
âThe traditional model doesnât fit for every student, so the idea of the innovative high school is to meet lots of different needs,â Luna said, adding that the ideas came from feedback from employers, schools and students. âItâs to give some of those kids jumpstarts into postseco
Bradley, Hamilton, Sequatchie Among 21 School Districts Who Win Grants For Innovative High School Models Monday, May 17, 2021
Bradley, Hamilton and Sequatchie are among 21 school districts that have been awarded grants for the Innovative High School Models program, as announced today by the The Tennessee Department of Education. The grants are intended to foster local community partnerships that boost student readiness and prepare high schoolers for jobs and careers in their local communities. The goal of the Innovative High School Models program is to encourage strong, strategic and innovative partnerships between Tennessee public school districts, postsecondary education institutions and local employers to reimagine how to prepare students for success after high school, officials said.
Kentucky Power has awarded its AEPâTeacher Vision Grants, according to the company.
The AEP Teacher Vision Grant program provides aid ranging from $100 to $500 to classroom teachers.
âThese grants are designed to reward the talents and creativity of Pre-K through grade 12 educators devoted to motivating youth to think creatively, to step into leadership roles and to address the challenges of the future,â said Bob Shurtleff, external affairs manager.
The following people received awards:
⢠Amber Cantrell, Elkhorn City Elementary School; Nearpod/Tech program
⢠Jenny Knipp, Carter County Schools; Conserve sockets in General Technology program
⢠Kari Mayhorn, Phelps Elementary School; Virtual Reality and 360 Camera Project
ELIZABETHTON â One of the most ambitious summer school programs in the history of the Carter County School System is currently being worked out.
On Monday evening, the Education Committee of the Carter County Commission was briefed on the plan by Director of Schools Tracy McAbee.
McAbee said about 600 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade have expressed interest in attending the program designed to provide additional person-to-person teaching in a year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. McAbee said summer school plans for the high schools are also coming along.
McAbee said the summer school program for K-8 will be a month long. The daily school will be 6 hours long and will go from Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays will be reserved as field trip day. The summer school high school program will be specialized, with courses in English, math, science and history. The summer school is set to run from June 7 to July 1.
A northeastern Kentucky middle school teacher was arrested earlier this month after allegedly hiring someone to kill his mother, Kentucky State Police said, according to WSAZ.
Billy G. Reynolds, 41, was a bus driver for Carter County Schools and also served as a special education teacher at West Carter Middle School in Olive Hill, Superintendent Ronnie Dotson said.
Court records say that Reynolds agreed to hire someone, identifies as a cooperating witness, for $10,000 and gave the person a retainer fee.
WSAZ reported that police learned about the plot on January 15, and he was arrested on Thursday. Reynolds is being held on a $750,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday, the Lexington Herald Leader said.