VOL. 7 NO. 44
IN THIS ISSUE
Miracle Maker
In Amanda Cagle’s world, life isn’t good, it’s phenomenal. The assistant principal for 6th grade at Northwest Middle School has a “phenomenal” principal, Karen Loy. Her fellow assistant principals are “phenomenal.”
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See Betsy Pickle’s story on A-9
Lamar sworn in There will be a panel discussion at the East Tennessee History Museum at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, to which the public is invited. The topic will be Lamar Alexander Alexander taking office as governor three days earlier than his inaugural.
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Read Victor Ashe on page 4
Who got better end of the deal? Thirteen years ago, two court clerks did a deal. Cathy Quist, the General Sessions, Criminal Sessions and Juvenile Court Clerk, handed off one of her biggest headaches to Criminal and 4th Circuit Court Clerk Martha Phillips, thereby relieving Quist, who had been in office for only two years, of responsibility for Criminal Sessions Court and giving Phillips a potential cash cow.
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Read Betty Bean on page 4
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
PBS to host open house Nov. 19 East Tennessee Public Broadcasting Studios will host an open house to which the public is invited from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 1611 East Magnolia Avenue, across from Pellissippi State. Guests will include program hosts Marshal Andy, Missy Kane, Dr. Bob Overholt, Chef Garrett Scanlan, and Daniel Tiger. Guests can take photos on sets and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Scholars’ Bowl. Alumni are invited to attend and share their memories. Info: 865-595-0220 or www.EastTennesseePBS.org.
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Giving a cheer for those battling cancer By Laura Cline On Nov. 10, Farragut Middle School cheerleaders will spend their Sunday cheering on a different kind of athlete. They will be supporting the participants in Buddy’s Race Against Cancer at World’s Fair Park. The race hits close to home for the squad. The mother of one of the cheerleaders, 13-year-old Ashton Idles, has battled cancer since 2010. That tie prompted the group to lend their support to her and to all the racers on race day. “Labrisca is a wonderful mom and person. We care about her and her family a lot, and so we want to be able to do something for her,” said Camille Phillipy, cheer squad co-captain. Kim Deakins, mother of cheerleader Molly and a friend of the Idles family, helped organize a team in Labrisca Idles’ name. Raising awareness for how cancer touches so many is one of the goals. “Molly and I thought we should find a way to serve, and this was a great way to serve. It’s for all types of cancer and is local. When we contacted the Buddy’s race and asked if we could cheer, they were very kind and gracious about it,” Deakins said. “Then we asked Labrisca if we could have a team in her honor. With her long battle with cancer, Labrisca is really inspirational.” “This has been special to me
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Farragut Middle School cheerleaders will cheer on runners in Buddy’s Race Against Cancer on Nov. 10. Front row, from left, are Avery Collins, Cassidy Wills, Molly Deakins, Blaine Bushon, Maddie Smith, Ashton Idles and Keyonna Wilkenson. At back, from left, are Emily Hilton, Kate Gallaher, Sam Pinto, Camille Phillipy, Hannah Allison, Jessica Martin and Maggie Wallace. Photos submitted because Ashton is one of my closest friends, and it’s been special to do something for them to raise awareness about cancer,” said Molly. To further bring home the point of how cancer touches many, there is an additional inspiration for the middle school group. Lana Need-
ham, retired FMS art teacher, has formed a team to honor her late husband and FMS history teacher, Bob Walker. Needham taught at the middle school for 30 years, and Walker taught there for 38 years. Both retired May 24, 2013, and Walker passed away two weeks lat-
er from an advanced stage of nonsmoking lung cancer. Walker grew up in the Farragut school system, and his American history classes were a favorite for students. “He really cared for every student who came into his room,” To page A-3
The first ray of Sunshine By Wendy Smith Jean Roush didn’t know there was anything wrong with her son, Rex, until a checkup at age 2. The doctor physically shook Jean to make sure she understood the dire diagnosis. In spite of his healthy appearance, Rex’s brain would not develop normally. Her faith helped her navigate the coming years. When Rex, the second of the Roush’s four children, entered school, Jean recognized that he was good with his hands, in spite of his intellectual disability. She dreamed of finding a productive use for his skills. The Roush family moved to Knoxville from Indiana in 1964, when Rex was 9. He was enrolled
at Beaumont Elementary School, which served all of the city’s special needs students. Jean became room mother, and she loved the camaraderie of the students. She bonded with the older students when she served as their Cub Scout leader. After those students graduated from public school, they had nothing to do, she says. So she started a craft workshop in the basement of her church, Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian. She saw that the youngsters were capable of working in an assembly line. It took time for them to learn their jobs, she says, but once they did, it was important to them to do well.
Tenured and tired By Jake Mabe This is part of an ongoing series examining issues in education. “Tenured, tired teacher.” That’s how an elementary school teacher, whose spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, describes herself.
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“I am reminded of the sayings, ‘You can’t see the forest for the trees’ and ‘Seeing the world through rosecolored glasses.’ I wonder to what destination the teaching profession has come and is heading.” The teacher describes the Common Core curriculum as limiting and says schools are being steered toward the “TAP variety show. “I am a teacher of children.
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Teaching used to be fun. There is so little now that I can bring into the classroom for them to enjoy that does not have a state standard connected to it.” There is no wiggle room. “When I consider straying from the standards even a little, I am given a warning.” An example: “It is written that this week you must teach using apostrophes with nouns to show possession.” “When I find that the students are still confused with the difference in using them for possessive nouns and for contractions, I need to stop and change my direction. Re-teaching contractions is a teachable moment. But I must beware. Should the principal, assistant principal, coach, mentor or master teachers find that I am
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teaching what has not been recorded in my plan book, or written in the standards for the day, I am given a warning. “I can’t use my expert and veteran experience of 25 years to go an extra 10 minutes in a reading group because my low group is struggling to grasp a concept. Some schools have supervisors come in with a stopwatch to see how long reading groups last. “I fear that veteran tenured teachers are on the chopping block. I have seen my friends resign or retire early because everything has become too much to endure. Some could not afford to do that.” We have heard similar stories from teachers in their 20s. An overwhelming number of those with whom we talked are good teachers who are scoring 4s on their evaluations. Most are not rabble-rousers. Tales of teachers going home
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in tears are common. Several top-notch teachers and principals have left for other school systems. One said it was the best decision she’s ever made. Another teacher said students spend about 20 percent of their time testing, and the net result is that they are less prepared. She is a teacher evaluator, and she feels like death when she walks down the hall because other teachers are afraid of her. The tenured, tired teacher encourages colleagues to speak out, publicly, privately, alone or in a group. “The more people who offer a voice, the more the district leaders will see that we do not agree with what is happening around us.” Wendy Smith contributed to this report.
To share the good, the bad and the ugly in Knox County Schools, call Sandra Clark at 661-8777 or Jake Mabe at 466-6398.
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chains, which were sold in local stores, and yardstick holders. Jean was inspired to start a new project when she noticed a bow-making machine as her Christmas gifts were wrapped at a department store. A church friend who worked for a paper company discouraged her. Ribbon is expensive, he said, but he provided a machine nonetheless. The crafters cranked out bows and sold them door-to-door. Funds were used to purchase more machines and ribbon. Jean also designed Christmas cards that were sold door-to-door. The crafters got their first contract job from the Container CorRex Roush poration of America. Box dividers “They had great quality con- were cut, assembled, flattened, trol,” she laughs. To page A-3 Craft projects included key
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