Kaleigh Walker 865 Academies, Student Success

HVA Seniors Preparing for Their Journey into Education

A group of passionate high school seniors from the Hardin Valley Academy Teaching as a Profession (TAP) program gathered for a Future Teacher Signing, ready to pursue their aspirations in the classroom.

Each student has a unique story that led them to follow this path and dedicate their careers to shaping young minds and making a difference in the lives of students.

For some, like Kenna McKaig, volunteering with childcare at her church ignited a passion for working with children. Her unwavering commitment to the younger students has been a driving force behind her decision to become a special education teacher. 

Similarly, Madison Standifer discovered her calling during her eighth-grade year, realizing her affinity for interacting with middle schoolers and fostering a love for studying English and language arts.

Others, like Kayla Ramsey, found inspiration from her mother who is an educator, following in her footsteps while also embracing the nurturing aspect of teaching. 

Molly Glenn fell in love with teachers’ ability to influence their students’ lives and stand as a positive example for those at a young age.

Throughout their high school years, these students have immersed themselves in classroom experiences, gaining invaluable insights from experienced educators and honing their teaching skills.

From field experiences in elementary schools to shadowing special education classes, the TAP program has provided these students with hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond traditional classroom settings. 

“Our pathway truly sets us up for success,” Standifer said. “We learn the fundamentals and different parts of the education career that aren’t just teaching in a classroom. We will be learning about learning styles and how students’ brains operate.”

They are given the unique opportunity to assist with lesson plans, engage with students one-on-one, and witness the internal workings of school cultures, and each experience has reinforced their passion for teaching.

“Once you start to get to know the class, some of the kids start to warm up to you, and it’s always my favorite when they run and hug me in the morning,” Ramsey said. “It’s so sweet when they start telling me their stories from when they were at home or what they did over the weekend.”

McKaig agreed that the personal relationships formed with students can be the most gratifying, stating, “It’s really fun when, after a while, some of the kids who were usually pretty shy started asking to work with me.”

Despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding education, these seniors remain steadfast in their dedication. 

They acknowledge the hardships faced by educators, but they also find solace in the impactful moments that reaffirm their choice to pursue teaching.

“I know it is really hard, but I also know it’s a really good place to be when you have a heart for loving kids,” Glenn said.

At the signing event, KCS Executive Director of HR Talent Acquisition Alex Moseman made an exciting announcement, further solidifying their path in education as all participants in the TAP program are guaranteed interviews with KCS upon graduation. 

This recognition serves as a testament to these students’ preparedness to embark on their teaching careers.

Looking ahead, the nine TAP seniors are eager to continue their education, with plans to attend Pellissippi State, Tennessee Tech, Sanford University, ETSU, UTC, and Lee University.

Their participation in the TAP program not only prepared them academically but also equipped them with practical skills and a deep understanding of the teaching profession.

As they prepare to step into classrooms of their own, these high school seniors stand poised to make a meaningful impact on future generations.

Josh Flory 865 Academies, Career Empowerment

UT Medical Center Cultivates Future Healthcare Leaders

Photo courtesy of the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

As East Tennessee’s population grows, the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) is seeing increased demand for health care services. At the same time, UTMC leaders say they’re facing a declining interest among young people in health care careers.

Taken together, those trends are a significant factor in the organization’s support of the 865 Academies initiative, a community-driven effort to transform the high school experience in Knox County.

Knox County Schools launched the Academies initiative in the Fall of 2022, and every district high school will implement the program by 2024. Among other things, the initiative creates career-themed academies for students in grades 10-12, allowing them to participate in work-based learning, explore options for college, and create strong connections between classroom knowledge and workplace success.

At UTMC, officials say the initiative offers strong synergy with their own mission of providing health care in an academic context. Dr. Keith Gray, UTMC president, said most people think of jobs as physicians or nurses when they think about the health-care field – careers which require early planning to achieve the necessary credentials.

But the industry also includes a wide range of other opportunities, including clinical positions that don’t require a bachelor’s degree and non-clinical jobs in areas such as accounting or HR.

“It’s not like a sports team,” said Gray. “If you play baseball but you can’t throw, hit, or catch, you can’t play baseball. But you can be a health care provider or a care-delivery specialist no matter what your skills are. No matter what your interests are, you can be a part of the health care industry.”

As an industry partner for the Academies, UTMC recently hosted externships for teachers from Hardin Valley Academy and Karns High School, and visits by more schools are planned. Those experiences are designed to help educators understand career options for their students, and to see how classroom content is applied in the workplace.

In addition, UTMC used those meetings to gather feedback about how they can create engaging experiences for students in the future.

Kathy Boyd, senior vice president at UTMC, said that hosting teachers also had a positive impact on employees at the medical center.

“There were several of them who said ‘This reminds me of why I’m doing what I’m doing,’” Boyd said. “We wanted the teachers to walk away with something, but it really helped our team members as well.”

UTMC is also focused on building a workforce that reflects the diversity of East Tennessee, and sees the Academies initiative as a way to help students from underrepresented groups gain exposure to the industry.

Dr. Craig Pickett, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for UTMC, said this effort is important not only from a corporate citizenship perspective, but also from a business standpoint.

“Studies show that when you have a diverse workforce it promotes innovation, creation, and discovery,” he said. “I think we can all attest to the fact that when you have diverse voices in the room, it brings diverse thoughts, opinions, and perspectives, and helps us grow as an organization.”

And ultimately, UTMC sees the Academies initiative as a chance to build the pipeline of students who pursue a mission that is both highly challenging and highly rewarding.

Gray said health care is best understood as a calling, rather than a career: “It’s the best job in the world. There’s no greater return on investment – none. I spent 17 years in school after high school, and I’d do it all over again.”

Interested in learning more about how your organization can be an 865 Academies partner? Visit knoxschools.org/academies for details.

Kaleigh Walker Community Partners, Great Educators

KCS Receives National Recognition As A Supportive Employer To Reservists And Guardsmen

This summer, KCS received news that the district has been chosen as a recipient of the U.S. DOD’s ESGR 2023 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. 

Representatives of KCS, including Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk and Interim Assistant Superintendent of Business and Talent Jennifer Hemmelgarn, traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to be formally recognized and accept the award at the Pentagon. 

The individual who nominated KCS for the award is a Hardin Valley Academy social studies teacher and a Major in the Tennessee Army National Guard. 

Mjr. Michael Hicks has “taught for 10 years in Knox County Schools and have been placed on orders or had extensive drill weekends multiple times,” he said. “They have given me and my family 100% support while serving my country and are very deserving of Employer Support Freedom Award recognition.”

Dr. J.D. Faulconer, now the principal at Kelley Volunteer Academy, previously worked as a CTE specialist who oversaw the JROTC programs in the district. 

Faulconer believes that hiring military members is a mutually beneficial relationship. Reservists and Guardsmen receive support from the district, and the schools receive highly skilled teachers.

“They want to be a servant leader, they know how to work as a team, and they know what collaboration looks like,” he said. “They know what grit and determination and resiliency look like in the classroom, and right now that’s what our teachers need. I think that’s what Mjr. Hicks brings to the table, and I think that’s what a lot of our veterans bring to the table.”

The ESGR, or Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve office, states the Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their support of Guardsmen and Reservists. 

Only 15 employers are chosen out of thousands of applicants each year, and KCS is the only school district to earn the distinction this year. 

“If we have veterans coming out of military service and looking to continue to make an impact and they are working for a school district that is now known to support Guard members and Reservists, I think it’s a win-win for being able to recruit,” Faulconer said. “And not only recruit but retain wonderful educators.”

KCS Hall Pass 865 Academies, Career Empowerment, Student Success

Belew Pharmacy Helps Students Explore Medical Field

Dr. David Belew’s parents bought their pharmacy in the 1960’s, and Belew Pharmacy is a staple of the North Knoxville community. David Belew – now the president of the chain – said some patients have been coming to it for more than four decades.

“I have people that will still come in and say, ‘I remember the day you were born,’” he said.

Those deep roots in the community have also led the company to partner with two KCS schools – Fulton High and Hardin Valley Academy – to offer students work-based learning opportunities.

Belew said the relationship began five or six years ago with Fulton’s health science program, and that one of those students is still working for Belew as their marketing director.

“It’s more than shadowing, because we do get them involved to any extent we can,” he said. “I want them to see everything that pharmacy can offer … From technicians to marketing to going on and advancing your education and getting a professional pharmacy degree.”

Nathan Fawver is a senior at Hardin Valley who is part of the school’s pharmacy pathway. He is hoping to become a physician, but his work as an intern at Belew has prepared him to take a pharmacy technician certification exam later this year.

Fawver said he has worked closely with Dr. Jamie Price, the pharmacy manager at Belew’s Broadway store, and has seen her establish relationships with the store’s customers. 

“Whenever Jamie gets a medication, she always likes to quiz me on them,” he added. “So that kind of helps me learn about all the different medications.”

The KCS 865 Academies initiative aims to foster partnerships between local industries and district high schools, including opportunities for job shadowing and career exposure.

If your business is interested in getting involved, please visit knoxschools.org/academies for more information.

David Belew said the partnership has provided him with a new perspective on the business, including student insights about topics like social media: “By and large it’s unbelievably positive.”

 

Kaleigh Walker 865 Academies, Career Empowerment, Student Success

HVA Junior Earns Full Scholarship To Study In Taiwan

A Hardin Valley Academy junior will be living in Taiwan this summer thanks to a full scholarship through the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative (NSLI). 

Samson Brown has been taking Chinese language courses at HVA since his freshman year. Now in AP Chinese, he hopes this immersive experience will strengthen his Mandarin.

“That is a very crucial part of language learning,” Brown said. “If you have the opportunity to experience an immersion experience like that, it’ll really improve your language skills.”

He will take four hours of language classes and one hour of culture class a day at the Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Gushan. 

After class, he looks forward to eating the local food, as Asian cuisine has been a longtime favorite of Brown and his father. 

While he will be living in on-campus housing during the week, he will stay with a host family during his time in Taiwan.

“I can’t wait to be part of a host family, and maybe have a little sibling from across the world,” he said.

Brown was encouraged by HVA Chinese teacher Dr. Frank Chen to apply. While he knew the competition would be fierce among the other applicants, he said he had help with the application from a friend and role model, HVA salutatorian and NSLI alumni Eli Johnson. 

Brown initially became interested in learning languages because of his grandparent’s history of travel. 

“They traveled almost everywhere, all over the world. I always was fascinated by it,” he said. “I might have seen learning a language as a gateway to traveling and exploring. If I want to continue pursuing this in my career, traveling is probably part of it.”

This experience will open many doors for Brown. If he enjoys this summer’s study-abroad trip, he might consider a full academic year in Taiwan through NSLI before enrolling in the military or a college. Following his education, he hopes to become a diplomat.

“Definitely going to be a lot of traveling in my future,” Brown said. “I’m not going to stay in one place.”

Brown’s piece of advice for other students: “Shoot your shot because I didn’t know I was going to get this scholarship, and what do you know? I got it.”

 

Kaleigh Walker 865 Academies, Career Empowerment, Student Supports

Career-Themed Academies Revealed For First Cohort Of The 865 Academies

Photo Credit: John Valentine

The first cohort of The 865 Academies revealed their new career-themed Academies at a celebration hosted by Central High School on Thursday.

The 865 Academies initiative launched in the fall of 2022, and is designed to transform the high school experience in Knox County. The goal is for every KCS graduate to be prepared for enrolling in postsecondary studies; enlisting in service to their country; or finding employment in a high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand profession, with an entrepreneurial mindset.

By establishing career-themed academies, the initiative will create small learning communities within larger schools, allowing students to participate in career exploration activities and take a deep dive into areas of interest while also building strong connections with teachers and other students.

“We’ve got to prepare students, and school systems are uniquely positioned to do that,” said Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk. “Our job is to have students prepared for when they graduate.”

The celebration was attended by community leaders and industry partners, including Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, who said 865Ready graduates will ultimately benefit Knox County and East Tennessee. 

“This is just wonderful to see a really intentional, strategic effort to in some ways customize the student experience,” Jacobs said. “They get the tools and the skills that they need to excel in areas that they’re either naturally drawn to or things that they love.”

Gordon Heins, the president and chairman of the A.G. Heins Company, said industry partnerships positively impact both organizations and students. By working together, KCS students are provided valuable opportunities for work-based learning and career exploration.

“As an employer, we want students to come to us looking for good-paying jobs, and that they’re prepared, and they have the tools,” he said.

Central High School is in the first cohort of The 865 Academies, and Principal Dr. Andrew Brown said student performance in Algebra I has improved, while discipline referrals are down.”

Brown credited Freshman Seminar, a new class that focuses on helping 9th-graders identify interests, aptitudes and professional skills, adding that “we are already beginning to see great results out of that work.

CHS senior Justus Hayes was involved in the early stages of launching the Academies initiative, and is also an entrepreneur. He started his own business, Blended Clothing, and during the ceremony presented shirts to several local leaders. 

“Entrepreneurship is a very important thing to me. I love creating, and bringing new apparel and things to our generation,” Hayes said. “It has been my honor to help build and show my support for something that will impact our current and future generations.”

Student Ambassadors from each school presented their new Academies alongside their principals. Below are the Academies for the first cohort.

 

Carter High School and South-Doyle High School will be joining The 865 Academies as the second cohort in the fall.

For more information on The 865 Academies, visit knoxschools.org/academies.

Kaleigh Walker 865 Academies, Career Empowerment, Great Educators

HVA Teacher Receives National Guard Promotion

Lt. Matthew Riddle with his wife, Jillian, at his graduation from Officer Candidate School in August 2022.

Earlier this year, Hardin Valley Academy math teacher 2nd Lt. Matthew Riddle celebrated a promotion to an officer in the Tennessee Army National Guard following a year and a half in Officer Candidate School (OCS).

Riddle joined the National Guard three years ago as an 09 Sierra, with the intention of becoming an officer. 

The lieutenant said he has always felt the calling to join the military. He was a part of Carson-Newman’s ROTC program and was ready to commit when his plans were abruptly put on hold.

“My younger brother got diagnosed with lymphoma in his brain,” Riddle said. “I felt like joining the Army and my brother, not knowing what was going to happen there, was not a great time to join up and possibly get deployed somewhere.”

Riddle then finished college, began teaching high school math, and got married before once again pursuing the military and OCS.

“The year and a half of OCS was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to accomplish,” he said.

Officer candidates attend monthly sessions throughout the program and two sessions of field operations training during the summers.

“It’s two and half weeks of miserable,” Riddle said. “And every single month, being able to mentally prepare yourself and stay physically fit and injury-free, it’s just very taxing.”

Riddle earned his commission as a second lieutenant in the Tennessee Army National Guard during a ceremony on August 13.

As difficult as the path to become an officer has been, leadership has always been a driving force for Riddle. He has adopted leadership positions in other areas of his life as an athletic coach and math teacher.

“I think it’s really a passion of mine as somebody that wants to lead, to be able to grow other people,” he said. “I like being able to push those that are younger to reach whatever their potential is.”

One way he leads his students is by educating them on the military and its benefits, so they consider it as a potential postgraduate pathway.

“KCS is pushing for this movement that not every kid has to attend a four-year university, and that’s okay,” Riddle said. “We need those trade schools, and we need those people that are willing to join the military.”

Riddle now looks ahead to a 16-week Basic Officer Leadership Course to further his career as a military intelligence officer. He is also pursuing a doctoral degree in mathematical education.

“I don’t know how I’ll introduce myself,” he joked. “At that time, it’ll be Dr. 1st Lt. Matthew Riddle.”

 

 

KCS Hall Pass Student Success

Latino Student Alliance Provides A Place To Connect

The Latino Student Alliance at Hardin Valley Academy gives students a chance to make connections and celebrate their heritage. Club members include Eduardo Perez, Brisa Villatoro, club president Grace Rodriguez, and Brenda Moreno Bernal.

On a recent morning, a group of students at Hardin Valley Academy gathered in the auditorium for a meeting about postsecondary opportunities and the college application process.

It’s a common topic, but in this case there was a twist. As she discussed issues like dual enrollment and financial aid, a guest speaker from Centro Hispano seamlessly shifted from English to Spanish and back again.

The meeting was hosted by HVA’s Latino Student Alliance, which has more than 80 members, and aims to provide Hispanic students a place to belong and share their cultural heritage within the broader Hawk family.

“I feel like it helps you feel welcomed in the school, and you see a little bit of yourself in it, your culture,” said club president Grace Rodriguez.

The club was founded six years ago by ELL teacher Veronica Calderon-Speed, who said that as the school’s Latino student population grew, she saw a need to help those students feel part of their school, make connections and showcase their talents.

She added that at one time, students would feel anxious about speaking Spanish in the hallways, “but since we’ve created this group that has gone away.”

One of the group’s key projects is Orgullo Latino, a cultural celebration that takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Brisa Villatoro, a junior at HVA, participated in a merengue performance during last year’s Orgullo Latino, and said the Alliance gives students a place to represent their culture within a diverse student body.

At the same time, she said club members also benefit by learning about each other. “Because we’re all from different backgrounds and different ethnicities,” she said. “And it’s just really cool to learn about different countries and stuff like that.”