http://www.blounttoday.com/news/news/education/k12/?partner=RSSblounttoday.com Stories: Education K-12en-usnews/education/k12http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/oct/10/inkys-message/?partner=RSSInky Johnson had plenty of opportunities to give up in his life: as a youngster growing up in inner city Atlanta, as a teenager trying to earn better grades while working to get a scholarship to play Division I college football and after a hit in the University of Tennessee - Air Force Academy game that left his right arm paralyzed and dashed dreams of an NFL career. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19227-734420news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNInky’s messageblounttoday.cominkys-messageurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19227-734420Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/28/union-grove-middle-and-william-blount-high-running/?partner=RSSTwo Blount County schools are in the top 100 in a nationwide contest that will give $150,000 to the school with the most votes of support. William Blount High School is at 53 and Union Grove Middle is at 78 on the Top 100 list for Calling All Communities this week. Seymour Primary School in Seymour was ranked number 1. The contest is sponsored by U.S. Cellular. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:18:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19197-734408news/education/k12From press reportsMaryville, TNUnion Grove Middle and William Blount High in the running for $150,000blounttoday.comunion-grove-middle-and-william-blount-high-runningurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19197-734408Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/21/townsend-tigers-get-new-technology/?partner=RSSStudents, teachers and parents at Townsend Elementary have 40 new computers to use as resources for helping students learn and assisting parents who need computer access for job skills or to seek employment. Principal Steve Stout traveled to Nashville Friday, Sept. 16, to pick up the computers from the Tennessee Department of Education. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:28:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19172-734401news/education/k12Staff WriterMaryville, TNTownsend Tigers get new technologyblounttoday.comtownsend-tigers-get-new-technologyurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19172-734401Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/21/visit-green-gables/?partner=RSSThis Saturday and Sunday, Maryville High School theater students will bring a classic children’s story to life. The students will bring “Anne of Green Gables” to the stage in the auditorium at Maryville High School. Shows will be at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24 and on 2 p.m. Sept. 25. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19162-734401news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNA visit to Green Gablesblounttoday.comvisit-green-gablesurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19162-734401Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/12/tennessee-schools-can-win-500-recycling-programs/?partner=RSSWith nearly 55 tons recycled at the University of Tennessee’s home games last year, and a goal of 64 tons this year, the Good Sports Always Recycle program is a stadium recycling program that the university and its sponsors can be proud of. But, another aspect of the program, Good Sports Always Recycle school challenge, is perhaps what makes the UT tradition so unique and such an important program for Tennessee’s K-12 schools. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19128-734392news/education/k12From press reportsMaryville, TNTennessee schools can win $500 for recycling programs blounttoday.comtennessee-schools-can-win-500-recycling-programsurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19128-734392Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/12/blount-county-school-board-denies-hope-academy-sec/?partner=RSSThe Blount County School Board on Thursday night denied the amended application to start a charter school STEM academy in Blount County. Founding members say the Hope Academy would be a charter school focused on science, technology, engineering and math. The board of Innovative Educational Partnership wants to open The Hope Academy in fall of 2012 but to do so, the Tennessee State Board of Education will have to overrule the decision made by the Blount County School Board. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19125-734392news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNBlount County School Board denies Hope Academy a second timeblounttoday.comblount-county-school-board-denies-hope-academy-securn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19125-734392Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/12/maryville-intermediate-students-put-911-lessons-ac/?partner=RSSMost of the students at Maryville Intermediate School were too young to truly remember the horror of the terrorists’ attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. That didn’t stop the 860 students at the school from raising more than $1,000 in honor of the emergency workers who responded the day of the attacks. The students collected their donations in less than three days. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19129-734392news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNMaryville Intermediate students put 9/11 lessons into actionblounttoday.commaryville-intermediate-students-put-911-lessons-acurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19129-734392Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/07/mhs-john-sevier-and-maryville-city-schools-are-fin/?partner=RSSMaryville High School, John Sevier Elementary and the Maryville City School System were announced as SCORE Prize finalists Wednesday, Sept. 7, and are in the running for $35,000 in total prize money. The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) on Sept. 7 announced the 12 finalists for the inaugural SCORE Prize Award. The Prize will be awarded to the elementary, middle and high school, along with one school district in Tennessee that have most dramatically improved student achievement in spite of the challenges they face. Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:12:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19114-734387news/education/k12From press reportsMaryville, TNMHS, John Sevier and Maryville City Schools are finalist for SCORE awardsblounttoday.commhs-john-sevier-and-maryville-city-schools-are-finurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19114-734387Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/sep/05/highlighting-progress-britt-praises-efforts-union/?partner=RSSUnion Grove Middle School has made good strides in academic success, and Blount County Schools Director Rob Britt doesn’t want that forgotten. Each year school districts receive reports of their schools’ progress based on Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) achievement tests. Each school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status is determined by results from 2010-11 TCAP tests for grades three through eight and the Gateway exams in English II and Algebra I for high school students. Those results are released in the summer. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19104-734385news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNHighlighting progress: Britt praises efforts of Union Grove Middleblounttoday.comhighlighting-progress-britt-praises-efforts-unionurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19104-734385Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/31/hope-academy-submits-amended-application/?partner=RSSThe founding board of Hope Academy Charter School on Monday resubmitted their application in response to objections lodged by the Blount County School Board in denying their application earlier this month. Tab Burkhalter, attorney and District 1-B Blount County commissioner serves on the board and shared his thoughts on the resubmitted application. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:08:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19093-734380news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNHope Academy submits amended applicationblounttoday.comhope-academy-submits-amended-applicationurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19093-734380Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/22/act-scores-give-reason-celebrate-show-areas-study/?partner=RSSIf Alcoa was a state, they would be ranked just outside the top 10 in the country in their ACT composite score. Dr. John Campbell, director of curriculum for the City of Alcoa Schools, said that piece of trivia came after his staff saw Tennessee was ranked 50th in the country in composite ACT scores. “We were doing some quick calculations, and if Alcoa was a state, we would rank 11th and tie with Delaware,” he said. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19040-734371news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNACT scores give reason to celebrate, show areas to studyblounttoday.comact-scores-give-reason-celebrate-show-areas-studyurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19040-734371Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/17/fort-craig-students-teachers-alum-step-back-1986/?partner=RSSThe year was 1986 -- the year of the space shuttle Challenger explosion, of the opening of Al Capone’s secret vault by Geraldo Rivera, of “Miami Vice” fashion dictates, of the Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union and of the Best Picture award for “Out of Africa.” Closer to home, it was also the year that Fort Craig Elementary School buried a time capsule to preserve some of the school’s history as a part of the Tennessee Homecoming ‘86 celebration. news@blounttoday.com (Bonny Millard)Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:01:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19034-734366news/education/k12Bonny MillardMaryville, TNFort Craig students, teachers, alum step back to 1986 blounttoday.comfort-craig-students-teachers-alum-step-back-1986urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19034-734366Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/17/blount-schools-release-specifics-hope-academy-deni/?partner=RSSThe Hope Academy on Monday received the detailed list of objections the Blount County School Board has in denying their application to create a Science, Technology Engineering and Math academy. While most of the objections dealt with either finances or operational details, the Innovative Education Partnership board that created the 450-page application is busy reworking their document to resubmit to the school board. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19033-734366news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNBlount Schools release specifics in Hope Academy denialblounttoday.comblount-schools-release-specifics-hope-academy-deniurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19033-734366Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/15/mhs-teacher-stages-campus-wide-amazing-race/?partner=RSSThe race was on Wednesday morning, with Maryville High School students running from one side of the campus to the other, all in search of six cups. No Holy Grail sighting, but instead an innovative teaching technique that got the 33 students in Bob Kirkland’s Human Geography class up and moving, thinking and figuring. It was Kirkland’s own version of “The Amazing Race Comes to MHS.” colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:33:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19018-734364news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNMHS teacher stages a campus-wide ‘Amazing Race’blounttoday.commhs-teacher-stages-campus-wide-amazing-raceurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-19018-734364Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/08/dane-bradshaw-brings-message-encouragement-teacher/?partner=RSSRick Wilson is a consummate University of Florida fan. So when the John Sevier Elementary School principal scheduled a former University of Tennessee basketball player to speak to his teachers as they started the new school year, he knew they would get a good-natured kick out it. “The staff knows how much I like the University of Florida,” said the principal. “So we thought they would get a kick out of getting a former Tennessee player to come speak.” colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:14:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18991-734357news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNDane Bradshaw brings message of encouragement to teachersblounttoday.comdane-bradshaw-brings-message-encouragement-teacherurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18991-734357Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/08/school-board-denies-application-organizers-prepare/?partner=RSSBlount County School Board has decided not to get into the charter school business. The Innovative Education Partnership, who are proposing a science, technology, engineering and math charter school called Hope Academy, aren’t giving up and plan to try again in 15 days. Thursday evening, school board members voted to deny the application for Hope Academy, a STEM charter school organizers say will be a K-5 school of 180 students they hope to open in late summer of 2012. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:13:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18990-734357news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNSchool board denies application, organizers prepare to answerblounttoday.comschool-board-denies-application-organizers-prepareurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18990-734357Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/01/new-leadership-many-schools-will-see-new-faces-top/?partner=RSSThere is always a chance for new things to happen when there are changes in leadership. The new schools director at Alcoa City Schools says it’s also a time of optimism. Brian Bell took over for Tom Shamblin at the end of the academic school year last year, moving from assistant schools director at Blount County Schools to his new position. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18965-734350news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNNew leadership: Many schools will see new faces at the topblounttoday.comnew-leadership-many-schools-will-see-new-faces-topurn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18965-734350Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/aug/01/parents-hear-plans-specifics-proposed-charter-scho/?partner=RSSResponse to a call for a new charter school in Blount County has been described as strong, and a decision on whether it will move forward will come in three days. The Blount County School Board will vote on a 450-page application for the school at its 7 p.m. Thursday meeting. More than 100 people gathered Thursday evening at Maryville Vineyard Church for a public information session to learn about Hope Academy and the charter school phenomenon in general. news@blounttoday.com (Robert Wilson)Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:22:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18961-734350news/education/k12Robert WilsonMaryville, TNParents hear plans, specifics of proposed charter schoolblounttoday.comparents-hear-plans-specifics-proposed-charter-schourn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18961-734350Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/jul/27/families-meet-greet-hope-academy-founders-everett/?partner=RSSInterest is at a high level for a charter school in Blount County in advance of a school board meeting Thursday, Aug. 4, at which the application of the Hope Academy will be voted up or down, according to organizers. The school, the first charter school in Tennessee outside of a major urban setting, is drawing boxcar loads of attention from parents and prospective teachers throughout the county. news@blounttoday.com (Robert Wilson)Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18950-734345news/education/k12Robert WilsonMaryville, TNFamilies meet, greet Hope Academy founders at Everett Parkblounttoday.comfamilies-meet-greet-hope-academy-founders-everetturn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18950-734345Change0Usablehttp://www.blounttoday.com/news/2011/jul/25/new-maryville-teachers-welcomed-annual-breakfast/?partner=RSSNew teachers for the Maryville City School System may have studied their handbooks, but school board member Charles West threw some new rules at them on Friday morning. West was the keynote speaker for the annual new teachers’ breakfast, held in the commons area of Maryville High School. In addressing the teachers, West said every job comes with unwritten rules, and gave 10 rules the teachers should remember. colemanl@blounttoday.com (Lance Coleman)Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:21:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18939-734343news/education/k12Lance ColemanMaryville, TNNew Maryville teachers welcomed at annual breakfastblounttoday.comnew-maryville-teachers-welcomed-annual-breakfasturn:publicid:www.blounttoday.com:news-Story-18939-734343Change0Usable