One of the most memorable experiences from high school was the summer that I spent building trails in Denali National Park, Alaska. Not only was the work itself challenging and rewarding, but it also gave me a unique opportunity to learn about local ecology and culture outside of a traditional classroom setting. I didn’t realize…
The Loudon County School System plays an active role in changing the culture of education in the state. All facets of the system, from county administrators to principals and teachers, are dedicated to improving outcomes for students, no matter the challenges they face. The district’s work has contributed to improved levels of student achievement and…
SCORE sought out students to write essays about innovation happening in their classrooms across Tennessee. We received many inspiring stories about schools and teachers rising to the challenge to improve student achievement and narrowed the list down to five semifinalists. More than 2000 people voted in the Facebook semifinalist poll, and three finalists were selected:…
The Williamson County School System shows that hard work pays off in education. Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney describes the district’s outlook as an “urgency emergency” that is guided by student achievement data. The results speak for themselves. The county has made strides in narrowing the achievement gap and improving college-going rates. By raising expectations and…
When the term gap closure first came on the radar in a big way this summer, responses ranged from: “Show me the data” to “Gap is closing…where will I buy my jeans?” It was a semi-foreign concept to many educators because overall achievement and growth have always been our aim—not who is out performing whom…