22 minute read
Education
The Greenville City School District leads with the vision that graduates will be prepared and confident to “Own Their Future!”
During the 2021-2022 school year, approximately 2,800 students were served by the Greeneville City School District’s four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one K-12 virtual school. Students can also attend the Greene Technology Center, which offers classes in automotive repair, industrial electricity, collision repair, computer science, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, health science, machine tool technology, preengineering, welding, and Dual Enrollment opportunities through Tennessee College of Applied Technology.
ACADEMICS AND ACCOLADES
Greeneville City School District is consistently ranked as one of Tennessee’s top-performing school districts. Highlights: • The Greeneville City School District was ranked the No. 1 best public-school district in Tennessee by both Business Insider Magazine and in Niche Ranking’s survey twice. The district consistently ranks in the top 5 of Niche Rankings, and top 5% of all school districts in the nation. • The Greeneville City School District received the highest possible score for student growth for the 20202021 school year, Level 5, as measured by the Tennessee Value Added Assessment System (TVASS). Individual schools achieving Level 5 growth included: Highland Elementary, EastView Elementary, Tusculum View Elementary, and Greeneville High School. Level 5 growth indicates that students achieved more than one year of academic growth during the school year. •The Greeneville City Schools ranks in the top 10 in the state of Tennessee on TNReady Assessments in English I, English II, Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, and US History. • The district consistently ranks above the state and the nation on ACT composite scores. The 2020 composite ACT score for Greeneville High School was 20.6, compared to the Tennessee average of 19.3 and national average of 21.9. In addition, the Greeneville City School District was one of only 10 school districts in Tennessee that tested 100% of students. • Greeneville City School District was ranked 6th in the U.S. by the Center for Digital Education for innovative uses of technology. • Greeneville High School had 98.39% graduation rate in 2020-2021.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OFFERINGS
The elementary schools offer art, music, and guidance services as well as physical education and library services.
EastView Elementary and Tusculum View Elementary have both been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Schools of Distinction, and in 2017 Tusculum View Elementary was named a Blue Ribbon School Lighthouse School for the third time. Tusculum View Elementary is the only school in the nation to be awarded the prestigious distinction three times.
EastView Elementary and Tusculum View Elementary have received Reward School status.
Highland Elementary has become the 10th school in Tennessee to be named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School for its student leadership programs inspired by Franklin Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
Hal Henard Elementary, EastView Elementary, and Tusculum View Elementary all received level 5 growth scores from the TN Department of Education.
EastView Elementary is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best Elementary Schools in Tennessee.
GREENEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL OFFERINGS
Greeneville Middle School offers band, chorus, multiple foreign language exploration opportunities and a Microsoft IT Academy as well as an academic program that allows middle school students to take high school algebra and high school biology while in middle school.
Greeneville Middle School received Reward School Status and received the highest possible score for student growth by the Tennessee Department of Education, a level 5 score.
Greeneville Middle School received top 10 rankings by the TN State Department of Education in grades 5-8 Science.
Greeneville Middle School is designated a Leader in Me school. The program is based on Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The Leader in Me teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.
Greeneville Middle School was named a “Microsoft Showcase School.”
Greeneville Middle School was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best Middle Schools in Tennessee.
GREENEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL OFFERINGS
Greeneville High School offers 183 courses between GHS campus and Greene Technology Center campus, which includes 12 AP courses and 16 honors courses. The Greene Technology Center offers classes in automotive repair, industrial electricity, collision repair, computer science, cosmetology, criminal justice, culinary arts, health science, machine tool technology, preengineering, welding and Dual Enrollment opportunities through Tennessee College of Applied Technology.
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Dual Enrollment courses with Walters State Community College, Tusculum University, and East Tennessee State University are offered at GHS, allowing for the possibility of graduating high school with an associate degree. In addition, a freshman academy program and credit-recovery program help students achieve academic success.
The district consistently ranks above the state and the nation on ACT composite scores. The 2020 composite ACT score for Greeneville High School was 20.6, compared to the Tennessee average of 19.3 and national average of 21.9. In addition, the Greeneville City School District was one of only 10 school districts in Tennessee that tested 100% of students.
The Greeneville City School District has been selected three times for the Annual College Board AP Honor Roll. Greeneville High School has Advanced Placement offerings include Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Literature, English Composition, Human Geography, Music Theory, Physics, Psychology, U.S. History and U.S. Government.
Greeneville High School received Reward School Status and received the highest possible score for student growth by the Tennessee Department of Education, a level 5 score. Greeneville High School received top 10 rankings by the TN State Department of Education in High School Science, High School History, High School Math, High School English/Language Arts, and grades 5-8 Science.
Greeneville High School also offers a Microsoft IT Academy, and a U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Greeneville High School is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best High Schools in Tennessee.
Greeneville High School is listed as a top 5,000 STEM School in the nation by Newsweek and STEM.org
K-12 VIRTUAL SCHOOL OFFERINGS
During the 2021-2022 school year, the TOPS @ Greeneville K-12 virtual school launched. Greeneville City School District and Bristol Tennessee City School District, both high-performing districts, entered a partnership to provide a full K-12 online learning experience through Tennessee Online Public Schools (TOPS). TOPS is a threetime Reward School in the state of Tennessee and in 2012 began providing a quality high school program state-wide.
Greeneville CitySchools Ranked #1BEST PUBLICSCHOOLDISTRICT INTENNESSEETWICE by BusinessInsider &Niche
GREENEVILLE CITYSCHOOLS
(423)787-8000 •www.gcschools.net DirectorofSchools -Mr. SteveStarnes Follow us on Twitter: @GreenevilleCity
WEBELIEVE: Educationisthemostimportantservice acommunityprovides foritself. Allchildren canlearn,andmostcanlearn atvery highlevels. Skilled teachersandsupportstaffmakethedifference. Strongleaders setthe tone. Usefuldata providedirection. Safe,clean,appropriate facilitiesand21stcentury resources area necessity.School,family,and communitypartnershps strengthenlearning.
VISION Students in GreeneCountySchoolswilldevelopa joyfor learning; graduatesfromGreeneCountySchoolswillbeprepared to enter the workforce withanindustrycertificate, to enrollina community college with dualcreditsearned,or to enroll in afour-year collegeor universitywith ACTscoresthatforecastsuccess.Furthermore, graduateswillbecontributingcitizensdemonstrating responsible, ethicalbehavior.
SCHOOLBOARD DavidMcLain,DirectorofSchools RickTipton,Chairman
Mark Rothe,ViceChairman MinnieBanks
LarryBible TomCobble LarryCompton StaceyFranklin
RANKED TOP IN THE NATION FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
Technology plays a critical role in helping Greeneville’s students master the 21st century skills relevant to both present and future success. All students in grades K-12 are given their own laptops to use in the classroom. The district has purchased over 2,000 student devices through the Reach4IT campaign and other grants. These devices are being utilized and incorporated into curriculum in a variety of ways by enthusiastic Greeneville City School educators. Greeneville City is committed to meeting students’ needs in a student-centered, engaging learning environment.
Greeneville City School District was ranked 6th in the U.S. by the Center for Digital Education for innovative uses of technology.
MICROSOFT IT ACADEMY
Greeneville High School and Greeneville Middle School students were selected to enroll in the cutting-edge Microsoft Student IT Academy. This academy allowed students to work toward industry-level certifications in a vast array of technological areas including programming, application suite specialization and network administration. The district allows students the opportunity to become a Microsoft Office Master if they get certified in all the Microsoft Office applications.
LEGO ROBOTICS TEAMS & STEM
First Lego Robotics Teams give students the chance to engage in hands-on STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) experiences, they build confidence, grow their knowledge, and develop habits of learning. When adults coach these students, they encourage them to try, fail, and try again, while connecting STEM concepts to real-world examples.
Students in Greeneville City Schools District have had the opportunity to participate in robotics teams at all levels. EastView Elementary, Hal Henard Elementary, Highland Elementary, Tusculum View Elementary have First Lego Robotics Teams that have competed at the regional, state, and international level. Greeneville High School and Greene Technology Center have First Robotics teams that have competed regionally.
PRESCHOOL AND ESP (EXTENDED SCHOOL PROGRAM)
The district provides a full-day preschool program for 3- and 4-year-old children from families who meet the eligibility requirements of Head Start or are educationally at-risk. Priority is given to children of Families First parents.
The Extended School Program offers before-andafter school care for children enrolled at each of the four elementary schools and offers care during times when school is not in session, including the summer months. Parents pay for these services on a sliding-fee scale based on family income.
All schools in the system also offer after-school programs for remediation or enrichment. These programs are made possible thanks to the 21st Century Community Center grants.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
A School Resource Officer is located in all schools. This is made possible through a partnership with the Town of Greeneville.
STAFF
Greeneville City Schools employs approximately 600 personnel, including both certified and non-certified employees.
FUNDING
Funding for the city school system comes from local, state and federal sources. The state provides 53 percent of funding in the General-Purpose School Fund, while local taxes make up 25 percent, contributions from the Town of Greeneville make up 18%, and tuition payments and other sources each represent 2 percent. Greene County families who live outside the city limits of Greeneville pay $1,175 to send one student to the city school system and receive a $50 discount paying $1,125 for the second student.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
The district provides comprehensive programs for the student in all areas of special education, including gifted, learning disabled, physically challenged, behaviorally disordered and mentally challenged students.
The Early Learning Program provided by the system is available for developmentally delayed preschool students and is located at Hal Henard Elementary School.
TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SERVICES
The school system provides bus transportation for students who reside within the city limits. A breakfast and lunch program is available at all schools and meets all state and federal requirements.
SCHOOL BOARD
Members of the Greeneville City School Board of Education include the following: Cindy Luttrell (Chairperson), Dr. Craig Shepherd (Vice-Chairperson), Josh Quillen (Treasurer), Pamela Botta and Crystal Hirschy. A student representative from Greeneville High School, also serves on the Board of Education. The Director of the Greeneville City Schools is Steve Starnes.
CONTACT
For more information, contact Greeneville City Schools’ Central Office at 787-8000 or visit www.gcschools.net.
education
The Greene County School System provides quality educational experiences and extra-curricular activities to approximately 6,265 students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Evidence of excellence includes being recognized as an Exemplary District for the 2022 school year and having 9 schools recognized as Reward Schools. Greene County has also been a Level 5 school district for the previous six years. The success of the school system is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the 534 certified and 401 classified personnel employed by the system. General education services and most of the special education services are delivered through seven elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools, and an alternative education center. All of the elementary schools enroll pre-kindergarten through grade five. Six of the elementary schools have the Save the Children program to support students’ academic success. The seventh elementary school hosts the LEAPS program to assist with academic success. The four middle schools enroll students in grades six through eight, with the four high schools enrolling students in grades nine through twelve. Additional programs located at the Glenwood Educational Center include Academic/Behavior Improvement Center (A/BIC), Junior Air Force – Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JAF – ROTC), Bridges to Success, CHOICES, Behavioral/Emotional Support Transition Program (B.E.S.T), and Transition School to Work Program (TSW).
To supplement the daily academic programs, there are a variety of extra-curricular activities that students have the opportunity to participate in that involve academics, fine arts, and athletics.
Academics: Spelling Bee, Beta Clubs, Robotics Clubs, Mock Trial, Scholars Bowl, National Honors Society, Content Specific Clubs/Competitions, and very strong FFA programs
Fine Arts: Band, Drama, Chorus, and Art Clubs
Athletics: Booster Basketball and Volleyball for grades K-5, Junior Varsity Basketball, Varsity Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Softball, Soccer, Wrestling, Golf, Tennis, Cheerleading, Track, Cross Country, Trap Club, Fishing, and Bowling
Greene County has several programs and resources to meet the needs of at-risk students. They include TN All Corps tutoring, ESSER tutoring, Niswonger Project On-Track tutoring, Save the Children Early Steps programs, parent involvement training programs, McDonald LEAPS program, Save the Children in-school and after school tutoring programs, high school extended tutoring programs, Pre-K partnership with Head Start, Academic Behavior Intervention Center, programs for the gifted, ESL services, pre-school programming for three- and four-year olds, School-to-Work vocational rehabilitation, summer learning camps, Save the Children KinderBoost summer programs, and more.
The goal in Greene County is to provide a quality education to ALL students. Teachers and students are working hard to help achieve this goal. They examine various data including i-Ready and CASE benchmark data to identify strengths and weaknesses in order to provide teaches and students with proper support needed for all to succeed. While the Greene County Schools focus on academics, the system is also interested in providing opportunities for children that concentrate on the whole child, including social and emotional needs. All schools are in the process of becoming Trauma Informed Schools. There is an emphasis on climate and culture in the schools and building empathy and compassion. The goal of the system is to provide students with the tools they need, not only today in the classroom, but as adults in the future.
In an effort to bolster college and career readiness, Greene County Schools provides the opportunity to take CTE courses at their home schools and at the Greene Technology Center. Students make also enroll in statewide dual credit courses, AP, and dual enrollment courses at Walters State Community College, Tusculum University, and East Tennessee State University. Online courses for high school credit are available through The Niswonger Foundation. All four middle schools have also added a Career Exploration course to allow students to explore careers and spend time focusing on CTE activities prior to entering high school. The Greene County College and Career Pathways initiative has been in place for several years now. As a joint project of local business/industry and local educational institutions, five pathways were developed: Business/Finance, Education/ Professional Service, Health Care, Manufacturing, and Transportation. Through these pathways, students are able to understand what jobs are available to them in the region with educational attainment ranging from a high school diploma to a professional degree. In addition, a career pathways program for grades six through eight was developed to introduced students to the 16 Tennessee Career Clusters and begin the process of narrowing their choices down to one to develop an academic six-year plan in high school Students are being given the opportunity to visit local business/ industry as well as post-secondary institutions to assist them in setting their educational career goals.
The Greene County Schools are supported by Greene LEAF (Local Educational Advancement Foundation), a foundation that provides funding for several projects and initiatives, including technology enhancements and literacy programs. For more information on how to support the school system, visit www.greenleaf.org.
education
For more than two centuries, Tusculum University has equipped students to be career-ready professionals and enhanced Greene County’s quality of life and economic health.
Today, Tusculum offers more than 60 majors and minors, including the launch of more programs in fall 2023. The university also offers multiple master’s degrees and associate degrees as well as dual enrollment courses for high school students. Serving students at all stages of life, Tusculum educates in the traditional classroom, virtual settings and completely online formats. Enrollment at the private, Christian university is about 1,300.
Tusculum is home to Greene County students as well as to Pioneers from other parts of East Tennessee, the state, the nation and the world. The university’s reach is enormous, with a recent study revealing the higher education institution’s $58.3 million annual economic impact.
“We are proud to be an integral part of Greene County by providing a well-educated workforce for local businesses and offering cultural, spiritual and entertainment opportunities for the community on our campus,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president. “Our mission-driven university enriches personal lives and helps students become even better citizens through civic engagement. Our students engage in an outstanding and comprehensive educational experience and develop critical skills, all occurring in a caring Christian environment.”
Tusculum is the first higher education institution in Tennessee and the 28th oldest in the nation. Its roots date to 1794.
Throughout its history, Tusculum has been affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. First Presbyterian Church in Greeneville serves as Tusculum’s mother church. Students, faculty and staff of all faiths and those with no faith are welcome at Tusculum and receive multiple opportunities to grow spiritually.
Tusculum is the first higher education institution in Tennessee to educate an African American and the first affiliated with Presbyterian Church (USA) to admit women. Nine of the university’s buildings and the landmark Tusculum Arch are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This history complements the recognition Tusculum widely receives for the beauty of its campus.
The university has been pleased to watch alumni achieve in their professional careers, as they attain prominent positions such as business owner, principal, doctor, lawyer and city administrator.
Some of the more notable alumni are Dr. Scott Niswonger, co-founder of Landair Services and creator of Forward Air Corp.; Dr. Larry Brotherton, founder of Ortec, a custom chemical manufacturing and research company; and Dr. Judith Domer, a retired higher education professor and administrator. All of them have been elected to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association Hall of Fame.
Others who have distinguished themselves in recent years are Kyle Cavanaugh, president of administration for the National Basketball Association, and Justin Phillip Reed, recipient of the National Book Award for poetry in 2018. Another former student, David Hawk, has been a state representative for 20 years and is the longest-tenured Republican in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Helping students achieve their education
A Tusculum education is affordable. Tennessee students who are eligible for a full Pell Grant and qualify for the HOPE scholarship from the state do not pay for their tuition.
More than 90 percent of traditional undergraduate students receive financial aid. Tusculum supports students with abundant resources such as scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. The average annual amount a student receives is about $11,600 in institutional scholarships and $15,100 in external scholarships for a total of $26,700. This leaves only an average annual gap in tuition for Greene County students of less than $3,700 for commuters and less than $7,900 for residential students.
The university goes the extra mile with Greene County students by making additional financial resources available to them through the POP (Providing for Our Pioneers) scholarship, which helps close any remaining tuition gap for students. Anyone who is interested in supporting this scholarship or creating one of their own can call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 423-636-7303 or email Kim Kidwell, associate vice president of institutional advancement, at kkidwell@tusculum.edu.
Tusculum supports first-generation students, those whose parents or guardians have not received a bachelor’s degree, and those who come from low-income families. The Student Support Services program for traditional students and the Adults Reaching Career Heights and Educational Success program for adult and online studies students are valuable resources for these students. These federally funded programs provide participants with free access to workshops, personal coaching, advising, cultural trips and exploration of graduate schools. About 40 percent of Tusculum’s students are first-generation.
One company that has benefited considerably from Tusculum is Parker Hannifin, which operates a plant in Greeneville as part of its global footprint. Parker Hannifin makes hydraulic torque motors and hydrostatic transmissions. The Greeneville facility employs just under 500 people, and a large portion of the management team consists of Tusculum alumni.
education
“Tusculum, as a higher learning institution, has been great for me and the other people who have received degrees from the university,” said David Glasscock, plant superintendent, who earned a bachelor’s degree in management and a master’s degree in talent development from the university. “There is a personal touch. I waited awhile before I started back to school, and attending Tusculum flowed very well and was easy to do with the help of Tusculum staff. I would not be where I am today without Tusculum.”
The university supports businesses in other ways. For example, employees of businesses who become a corporate partner with Tusculum are eligible for a 10% preferred tuition reduction.
Today’s students at Tusculum
Students engage in active and experiential learning during their studies at Tusculum. One of the most visible ways is through undergraduate research.
Biology and chemistry students have participated since 2018 in research to find a new method to treat cancer and have conducted presentations on the subject on campus and at conferences. Five Tusculum students were selected as Ledford Scholars of the Appalachian College in 2022 and performed stipend-funded research during the summer on Copy to be edited varied subjects. They shared details about their research in presentations for the ACA and at an event on campus.
Walters State Community College, named by the Tennessee Board of Regents as the state’s top community college in 2022, is proud to serve Greene County and surrounding areas from the Niswonger Campus in Greeneville. The campus’ 104,000-square-foot facility has enabled the college to expand existing programs and develop new ones to meet local educational and workforce development needs. More than 1,100 students take credit classes and 2,000 take noncredit classes in Greeneville.
The college’s primary mission is to offer affordable university transfer and workforce-training programs that meet the educational and economic needs of the community. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Walters State has campus sites in Greeneville, Morristown, Sevierville and Tazewell with a center in Newport.
Walters State offers more than 150 programs of study leading to the associate of science degree, the associate of arts degree, the associate of fine arts, the associate of science in teaching degree, and the associate of applied science degree. Technical and academic certificates are also offered.
Through the Tennessee Promise program, high school graduates can attend Walters State tuition-free, and through the Tennessee Reconnect program, qualified adult students can attend Walters State tuition-free.
The college has received national recognition for its innovative use of technology in the classroom. Walters State has also been named a Military Friendly School and a THEC Vets Campus. State graduates transfer to four-year universities and colleges. Through the Tennessee Transfer Pathway Program, students who complete an associate’s degree from Walters State can transfer seamlessly as juniors to a Tennessee public university and many private universities, including Tusculum.
In addition to university parallel programs, Walters State offers technical education degree and certificate programs that prepare individuals for immediate employment after graduation. The college’s overall job placement rate for technical education graduates is 93 percent in programs such as nursing, law enforcement, fire science, engineering technology and management.
Many high school students get a head start on their college education through Walters State’s dual enrollment program, where students can earn both college and high school credit for certain courses.
The Niswonger Campus is home to two of the college’s premier programs, respiratory care and the East Tennessee Basic Law Enforcement Academy, which trains POSTcertified officers from across the state of Tennessee. The campus is also home to the college’s occupational therapy assistant program. The college expanded its physical therapist assistant and nursing programs to the Niswonger Campus.
The college’s Division of Workforce Training operates the advanced workforce training facility in Greeneville. The welding program provides training that leads to certification sanctioned by the American Welding Society. And the new high-level industrial skills assessment and training program prepares individuals for high-demand, skilled manufacturing jobs.
Other programs offered by the Division of Workforce Training include lean manufacturing, computer applications, electrical, OSHA, TOSHA and CNC. Many soft-skills programs are also offered, including communication, resolving conflict, team building and project management, as well as the signature STAR leadership program. For the health care sector, courses include CNA, phlebotomy and dental assistant.
education
Greeneville City & Greene County Schools
EASTVIEW ELEMENTARY Kelly Ford, Principal 454 East Bernard Avenue, Greeneville, TN 37745 638-6351 Fax: 638-2651 Fax: 639-2198 TOPS @ GREENEVILLE Richard Tipton, Principal 278-9150 Fax: 525-3284 TUSCULUM VIEW ELEMENTARY Lana Luttrell, Principal 1725 Lafayette Street Greeneville, TN 37745 639-2751 Fax: 638-9017 HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY Shelia Newland, Principal HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY Sheila Newland, Principal 208 North Highland Greeneville, TN 37745 638-3341 Fax: 638-1780 HAL HENARD ELEMENTARY Janet Ricker, Principal 425 East Vann Road Greeneville, TN 37743 638-3511 Fax: 638-2900 GREENEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL Rachel Adams, Principal 433 East Vann Road Greeneville, TN 37743 639-7841 Fax: 639-4112 GREENEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Martin McDonald, Principal 210 Tusculum Boulevard Greeneville, TN 37745 787-8030 or 787-8031 Fax: 787-8028 GREENE TECHNOLOGY CENTER Randy Wells, Director 1121 Hal Henard Road Greeneville, TN 37743 639-0171 Fax: 639-0176 DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS GREENEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS Steve Starnes 129 W. Depot Street, P.O. Box 1420 Greeneville, TN 37744 787-8000 Fax: 638-2540
BAILEYTON ELEMENTARY Randy Richards, Principal 6536 Horton Highway Greeneville, TN 37743 234-6411 Fax: 234-3100 CAMP CREEK ELEMENTARY Dennis Wilds, Principal 2491 Camp Creek Road Greeneville, TN 37743 798-2644 Fax: 798-0446
