Last August, I began my professional studies in education policy at Vanderbilt with two primary purposes: to increase inclusion of teachers in the policymaking conversation and to elevate the teaching profession across Tennessee. Quickly, I learned that there are myriad opinions, outlets, and limitations for accomplishing these goals. One approach to elevating the teaching profession…
The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) announced today that it is expanding the Tennessee Educator Fellowship and currently accepting applications for the 2016-17 class. Over the course of a year, Tennessee Educator Fellows learn about, reflect upon, and advocate for policies, practices, and systems that improve educator effectiveness and student achievement. Teachers selected for the…
Breakfast is a social time at Andersonville Elementary, a 2015 SCORE Prize finalist school. Volunteers from a nearby church – many of whom are retirees – stop by first thing each morning to eat breakfast with the kids, open cartons of milk, and chat about the day ahead. “It’s the easiest thing to do. It…
Five years ago, Christy Free was a middle school math teacher interested in taking on a bit of work beyond the walls of her classroom. Flash-forward to this summer. Ms. Free has just finished her first year as head principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School, part of 2014 SCORE Prize-winning district Kingsport City Schools…