VOL. 8 NO. 20
IN THIS ISSUE
Johnson on glide path to re-election
If anyone is on a glide path to easy re-election it seems to be state Rep. Gloria Johnson, who squeaked out a 299-vote win 18 months ago to win a seat in the House of Representatives. It was a district Mitt Romney carried by 1,100 votes, but several Romney voters pushed the button for Johnson, who has become one of the most popular legislators among Democrats and least popular among Republicans (who control the House by a 71 to 28 margin.)
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Read Victor Ashe on page A-4
Coffee Break You see Angela Batey’s name in the newspaper a lot, especially around the holidays when she’s conducting one choral ensemble or another. She directs UT’s Chamber Singers, and for nearly 16 years, she also has been the director of music at Farragut Presbyterian Church.
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Read Coffee Break on page B-2
Cookie sales reflect economy You can figure how the economy’s doing by counting customers in the cookie aisle. That’s the gospel according to Steven C. Smith, president/ CEO of Food City, who said, “Unemployed or underutilized people don’t go down the snack aisle or the cookie aisle.” And although the economy is coming back, there are slightly fewer people working today than in 2007, Smith said.
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Read Sandra Clark on page A-11
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Lauren Kitts is heir to tradition Betty Bean caught up with Lauren Kitts, winner of the CTE goes Live competition on Market Square, only to learn that Lauren’s dad and mom are well-known gospel singers Mike and Delilah Kitts. See story online in Halls Shopper.
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after taking quizzes made class time more efficient, she said. The computers allow students to be more productive in general, but receiving and completing assignments online requires more initiative than a traditional classroom setting, where teachers do more hand-holding. Some students have been resistant to the new learning style, but Harmon thinks the extra responsibility will pay off down the road. “When they get to college, no one will be there reminding them to turn in their work.” While some teachers were initially fearful about incorporating the computers into their classrooms, they are now on board. When asked if the devices were worth the extra work, teachers have whole-heartedly responded yes, Harmon said. More training for teachers is the first priority in fine-tuning one-to-one computing at Bearden. The computers have many tools for teachers, but learning how to use them takes time, she said. Teaching students how to make positive choices in the classroom is another priority. Staying focused is always a challenge, but computers have been a major distraction, she said. Student achievement will also move to the forefront of Bearden’s Bearden High School junior Alex Brandan turns in her MacBook Pro after the agenda next fall. Harmon thinks school’s first year of one-to-one computing. She’ll get the same computer academic progress this year was back in the fall. Photo by Wendy Smith likely on target with last year, but improvement is always the goal. for the world by putting machines in es more interesting. He found the She looks forward to seeing how their hands,” Harmon said. computer to be most helpful for re- much progress students make from the end of this academic year to the Students say that the computers search and taking notes. help them to get more work done. Junior Ellie Barnett also used next. That will allow the school to Bumpas said the devices changed her computer for taking notes. Be- see if computers positively impact the pace of learning and kept class- ing able to get grades immediately student achievement.
Did it compute? Lessons learned from MacBooks distribution at Bearden By Wendy Smith Bearden High School students waited in a line that snaked through the library last week to turn in MacBook Pros they received last fall. But the line moved quickly as Rachel Harmon collected the devices while a team of students placed each computer in an assigned bin. Underclassmen will have their computers returned to them next fall after being re-imaged, or reset, with updated software. While waiting in line, junior Andrew Bumpas admitted that he’ll miss his computer over the summer. Almost 2,000 Bearden students received computers after the school was chosen as one of 11 Knox County schools to pilot one-to-one computing. After eight months, Harmon, Bearden’s TPaCK (Technology, Pedagogy and Content Knowledge) coach, reported that only two computers were missing. About 10 percent of the devices had technical problems. The first year of having computers in the classroom had its challenges, but fi xing the problems and moving forward is the goal. “Regardless of whether people like or dislike computers, the reality is that computers are a daily part of the workforce and the college environment. We’re preparing students
Pond Gap offers ‘edible curriculum’ By Wendy Smith A community garden at Pond Gap Elementary School, 1401 Hollywood Drive, will yield more than veggies. It will provide the opportunity for students to learn how to grow a lot of food in a little space. The 2,000-square-foot garden caught the attention of neighbors before it was dedicated last week. Passersby have honked and stopped to chat, says AmeriCorps Vista volunteer Matt Callo. He is the project manager for the garden − the first community garden to be planted on Knox County Schools property. The result of a partnership between Pellissippi State Community College’s Service Learning Program, the University of Tennessee University-Assisted Community School and Knox County Schools, it truly is a community garden. A host of local partners and contributors, as well as approximately 100 Pond Gap students, have brought the garden to life. Callo called the learning opportunity an “edible curriculum.” While students will work and learn in the garden during the school day, it will also be a resource for the community. Families that donate two hours of work per week will receive a box of produce each Friday, and gardening classes will be available as part of the University-Assisted Community School. Knox County Schools Nutrition Executive Director Jon Dickl says the garden has already yielded 100 pounds of lettuce and radishes, which were incorporated into the
cafeteria offerings at Pond Gap and seven other schools. When he arrived in Knoxville four years ago, serving local produce in schools was just a concept. Now, it’s a reality. It’s part of a national trend, he says. “We’ve seen a real transformation in the way Americans are choosing to eat.” There has also been a transformation in the way college students are learning, and the PSCC Edible Schoolyard Project is just one example. Annie Gray coordinates PSCC’s service-learning program, which has “taken off like wildfire” since it began two years ago, she says. Service learning is a way to incorporate real-world, experiential learning into a college class. Professors who offer service learning allow students to use what they learn through volunteer work in classroom assignments, Gray says. The program started with just two professors. Now 34 offer service learning. Students regularly knock on her door to ask for help with getting involved in the community. Research has shown that students who are civically engaged are more focused and more likely to stay in school, says Gray. The program has had an $814,000 impact on the community, based on students receiving $22.14 per volunteer hour, since it began. In addition to getting their hands dirty in the garden, Pellissippi students have become teachers themselves. Microbiology students have taught young-
Pond Gap Elementary School 2nd-graders Shekina Drata and Haley Barnhart plant eggplant during the dedication of the school’s community garden last week. Photo by Wendy Smith sters things they can use to grow their own gardens, such as how to compost. Mayor Madeline Rogero told the Pond Gap students who attended the garden dedication that food always tastes better when you grow it yourself. She under-
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stands the pride they feel because she has the same pride when she eats honey from her own beehives. Pond Gap’s community garden is a replicable model, and such gardens make us more sustainable as a city, the mayor says.
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