Kaleigh Walker 865 Academies, Career Empowerment, Great Educators, Student Success

Growing Minds, Growing Crops: Schools Cultivate Learning Through Hydroponic Gardens

In a blend of education and agriculture, four Knox County Schools are harnessing the power of hydroponic farming. 

Thanks to a partnership with the KCS Coordinated School Health team, Gresham Middle, Farragut Intermediate, Halls Elementary, and Carter Elementary are using cutting-edge hydroponic systems to grow crops including cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, mini bell peppers, and basil. 

This hands-on learning experience allows students to engage with science, sustainability, and social responsibility in exciting ways.

Before diving into farming, students conducted in-depth research to understand hydroponic techniques and made predictions about plant growth. 

They also explored the important role of empathy, with one school planning to donate its produce to an organization that helps supply food to underserved communities in food deserts. 

This act of service is teaching students valuable lessons about giving back and making a positive impact on their communities.

For Gresham Middle’s Kimberly Mays, the impact of the hydro farm extends beyond the classroom. 

“Our hydroponic farm has been a game changer. Watching our kids take the instruction and teach each other the process has been amazing. Each student plays a vital role in the growth and care of our plants,” Mays said. “The hydro farm has strengthened their teamwork and curiosity about applying classroom ideas to real-world applications.”

In addition to their agricultural work, students integrate lessons from other subjects, like social studies, where they learn about the government’s role in regulating food safety and ensuring that what we eat is safe and healthy.

Some of the crops grown will also be donated to the schools’ cafeterias, further enriching the students’ understanding of how locally-grown food can impact their daily lives. 

Gresham Middle took it one step further by making pickles from their bumper crop of cucumbers, turning their harvest into a blend of science, creativity, and food preparation.

Through this project, Knox County Schools are not only teaching students about agriculture and sustainability, but also about empathy, community, and the importance of nourishing both mind and body.

Success for Every Student

Knox County Schools is dedicated to Success for Every Student. All students have unique abilities, needs, personalities, and ambitions. KCS is committed to equipping every student with the individualized services, interventions, resources, and supports needed to succeed – no matter their zip code, culture, or financial resources.

Kaleigh Walker Community Partners, Student Success, Student Supports

Music Education Enhanced with Generous Instrument Donations

Three Knoxville-area middle schools will be playing in harmony, thanks to a generous donation from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and the CMA Foundation.

Bearden Middle, Gresham Middle, and Vine Middle Magnet have been gifted musical instruments valued at over $180,000, enriching the musical experiences of students and supporting the importance of incorporating music into school curriculums.

Bearden Middle School received instruments including violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, with a total donation value of $26,208. 

Orchestra director Rachel Peña expresses her gratitude, stating, “Each instrument is an opportunity for each student to work on their talent and skills. This builds up their self-esteem and what they consider possible in the future.” She continued, “Every instrument we received is a new opportunity for a student to experience how music changes our lives.”

Bearden Middle School’s instrument unveiling on Friday, April 26, with special guest Carly Pearce.

Gresham Middle School’s music program was bolstered by donations totaling $100,358, comprising a diverse array of instruments from flutes and clarinets to brass and percussion. 

“I am most excited that now all students will be able to play an instrument just for them! So many of my students were sharing an instrument with another student, and now they get to use one that is all their own,” said GMS band director Gracie Alward. “I love the culture we have established within the band program. Band is a place unlike any other in the school building, and I think they are beginning to find their place here in the band room.”

Gresham Middle School’s instrument unboxing on Tuesday, April 23.

Vine Middle Magnet School, with a donation value of $55,044, will benefit from instruments spanning woodwinds, brass, and percussion, including a concert bass drum and xylophone. 

“Vine Middle Magnet School’s band aims to teach students the confidence, discipline, and independence to reach their individual musical potential,” said band director Jessica Huffaker. “The CMA Foundation and Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation has gifted the VMMS band with the needed resources to accommodate increased band enrollment, allowing all interested students the opportunity to pursue their instrumental music education.”

Vine Middle Magnet School’s instrument unboxing on Friday, April 19.

The impact of these donations extends far beyond the classroom. They provide opportunities for more students to participate in ensemble performances and competitions, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment. They also ensure inclusivity by removing financial barriers that may prevent students from pursuing their musical interests.

The collaboration between The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and the CMA Foundation exemplifies the power of partnerships in supporting arts education. Their commitment to providing resources and instruments to schools across the nation amplifies the vital role of music in the development of students. 

As these instruments find their home in the music rooms of Bearden, Gresham, and Vine, they represent not just material possessions, but symbols of growth, opportunity, and the transformative power of music in the lives of students. 

With every note played, they remind us of the importance of nurturing the artistic talents of the next generation.

Kaleigh Walker Great Educators

Teacher Spotlight: The Rookie and the Veteran at KCS

The Longest-Serving Teacher in Knox County Schools

The town of Farragut was mostly farmland when Eddie Courtney began working at the high school in 1976, and he has witnessed quite an evolution during his 47-year career as a teacher and coach. 

As a young person entering the profession, he was excited to serve the community in such an integral way. 

“Coaching and teaching is very respectable, especially when you’re trying to be an example and positive role model,” he said. “That’s why I got started and what’s kept me here for so long.”

In the near half-century Courtney has been teaching, he’s developed a firm set of beliefs that he applies inside the classroom and out – a standard for presenting yourself as a professional, regardful citizen.

This Code of Conduct is proudly displayed on the wall of his office and he says it’s not just for his athletes and students, but also for him and his coworkers. 

Time has granted Courtney the opportunity to meet hundreds of teachers – all at different points in their careers. His best advice on getting started is to “have a passion for helping kids.” To have a career as long as his, earn the trust and respect of your students. 

“Just be consistent. When things are going good or when they’re going bad, you have to continue to be the same person.” 

The Youngest Teacher in Knox County Schools

Googling “how to become a Tennessee teacher,” provides a pretty clear path: go to an accredited college, earn a bachelor’s degree, complete an approved educator prep program, and pass appropriate Praxis exams.

Knox County is committed to finding innovative ways to recruit new teachers, something that has benefitted Jayla Huddleston, who started her career just one year after becoming a legal adult. 

Huddleston has always been drawn to kids. After graduating high school early, she took time off to become a family nanny and a tutor at Gresham Middle. 

“After starting as a tutor, I knew I wanted a bigger role here, so I started school and finished faster than normal because I took some accelerated courses,” she said.

A Gresham alumni, she said it was easy to come back to her old school and community–it was familiar because some of her current coworkers were her teachers when she was at the school just a few years ago. 

“I’m leaning on the veteran teachers and learning a lot about the importance of building relationships with students,” Huddleston said. “The other math teacher I work with has a connection with almost every student she has and I’m learning that makes teaching easier. I know what I’m doing with math and instruction, but I’m learning how to build relationships like that with my own students.”

Still, she says her biggest learning curve has been reminding herself of her ‘why’ each day, especially the challenging ones. “In the end,” she says, “It’s all worth it because of what I get to do.”