TN.gov Newsroom

What:  Tennessee Textbook Commission

When:  Tuesday, November 17 at 10 AM CST

Where: Hardison Hall

NASHVILLE – McNairy County elementary school teacher Patty Kiddy was named Tennessee Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the Annual Teacher of the Year banquet. Barbara Hills and Resa Byrd are the grand division winners from Middle and East Tennessee respectively.

“Teachers are the foundation for every student’s success,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “It’s a challenging profession and a job that requires great commitment. I want to congratulate Ms. Kiddy, Ms. Hills and Ms. Byrd on being the best of what our profession has to offer.”

NASHVILLE – Siegel High School AP Honors English teacher Matthew Marlatt today received a $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, an honor given to select outstanding educators each year.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education today released the annual comprehensive report card on pre-K – 12 education, including state, district and school-level information on achievement, demographics, and discipline. This year’s report card demonstrates fundamental changes to the calculations of Value Added and Achievement scores. The method of calculating scores and the scale used to determine letter grades have been revised to allow for a transition to the new standards and assessments required by the Tennessee Diploma Project.

WHAT:            2010 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Award and Celebration

Students from across the state discussed job opportunities during Cracker Barrel Career Day.

NASHVILLE – Through partnership with Tennessee’s national award-winning Jobs for Tennessee Graduates program, Cracker Barrel Old County Store® today hosted the fifth annual Cracker Barrel Career Day for students across the state to learn about career opportunities in the restaurant and retail industries.

“These kinds of partnerships are what make our goal of seeing every student college- and career-ready a reality,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “We want to take advantage of every opportunity to educate our students about career options.”

Since 2004, more than 400 Jobs for Tennessee Graduates students have participated and learned about career opportunities through the partnership. Last year, Cracker Barrel provided Myers-Briggs assessments for students and two $500 scholarships to those who wanted to pursue culinary arts degrees.

WHAT:          Tennessee Department of Education State Report Card release

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education today announced fundamental changes to the calculations of Value Added and Achievement scores for the 2009 Report Card. The method of calculating scores and the scale used to determine letter grades has been revised to allow for a transition to the new standards and assessments required by the Tennessee Diploma Project.  Comparison of the 2009 Report Card data with previous years’ scores will not be possible or valid.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce 31 high priority Title I high schools in nine school districts across the state have been awarded over $15 million in Title I School Improvement High School Redesign Grants funds to improve student achievement.

WHAT:  Tennessee Department of Education media briefing on 2009 Report Card
changes and release date