Kaleigh Walker Career Empowerment, Student Success

Austin-East Senior Makes History with Full-Ride QuestBridge Scholarship

As the end of the year neared and anticipation grew to hear back about a life-changing scholarship, Austin-East senior Angeline Irankunda almost pulled her application so she didn’t feel disappointed if she wasn’t chosen. 

But one day in early December, the email hit her inbox that she had earned a full-ride to Emory University through the QuestBridge Match Scholarship. 

QuestBridge connects the brightest students from low-income backgrounds with elite colleges and universities across the nation. Only about 10% of applicants ultimately are matched with a school, and recipients are awarded with over $200,000 over a four-year period.

“This scholarship is set up to allow students to have access without barriers. It’s going to give her so much financial independence,” said Instructional Coach Lindsay Davis. “It’s so amazing to watch her realize how this is going to free her up to just be a student for the first time in her life.”

Austin-East counselor Katrina Thaxton introduced Irankunda to QuestBridge when she was a junior for the College Prep Scholars program. Through the program, students receive additional admissions resources and are five times more likely to earn the scholarship.

“I want her to speak to some of our high-achieving juniors and let them know about the opportunity that is there,” Thaxton said. “I’m hoping that we have multiple scholars, and they could move forward to be matched.”

At Emory, Irankunda is looking forward to studying psychology or elementary education. She feels drawn to working with children because of her own childhood experiences.

“I’ve always loved kids, and I feel like teaching would be my way of pouring into other kids,” she said. “In elementary and middle school, I got in a lot of trouble and nobody ever took time to figure out why I was acting like that. So I feel like if I were to become an educator, that would be my contribution – to be that good person for kids.”

As an immigrant from Tanzania, Irankunda has changed the outlook of her future by remaining focused on her goals since she first entered Austin-East High School.

“I think when she got to high school, she realized this was her last step before adulthood, and everything she does from the moment she stepped foot in this building was going to impact what comes next,” Davis said. “So she decided she wanted to be in the top of her class. She decided she wanted to take all the AP and honors classes. To watch her from day one recognize this is all leading to what she wants and not wanting to blow this chance has been so amazing.”

Four years of building maturity and working on her personal and educational goals have changed her life, and she’s not over yet.

“One of the things I wanted to do when I came to Austin-East was leave my legacy and show everyone that you can break the norms,” Irankunda said. “You can make history like I’m making history.”

Josh Flory 865 Academies, Career Empowerment, Student Success

Apprenticeship Jump-Starts A Career For CHS Student

After taking Maintenance and Light Repair classes at Central High, Jaxon Alford earned an apprenticeship at North Knox Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Jaxon Alford has always enjoyed working with cars, and the guidance of a teacher at Central High School has given him a head start on a career in the automotive industry.

Alford is a senior at Central, but during his sophomore year he enrolled in Maintenance and Light Repair, the first in a series of classes taught by Tracy Kelly.

Alford said the class helped sharpen his skills in auto repair, and he enjoyed the chance to work with his hands.

“It’s pretty rewarding when you find a problem, take it apart and get it back together and it’s running perfect,” he said.

But Alford’s repair work isn’t just for school credit. Central had an existing partnership with North Knox Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, which offers apprenticeships to talented students. Alford began working at the dealership’s service department a year ago, and has already obtained his Level 1 certification as a technician.

Josh DeHart, of North Knox Chrysler, said Alford is “the model candidate” for the apprenticeship program, and that he will be equipped to work as a full-time technician when he graduates from high school.

He is also on track to achieve additional certifications from Chrysler, which will provide skills that are in high demand throughout the industry.

DeHart said the apprenticeship has been beneficial for the dealership, not only because of the quality of Alford’s work but also because students bring a different perspective to the shop.

“He asks a lot of questions, he’s very inquisitive,” said DeHart. “So it changes the way our managers and supervisors present things because he’s asking questions … It’s definitely caused us to look at how we’re doing things and how do we attract students like him to get into this business?”

The partnership also reflects The 865 Academies initiative, which was launched by Knox County Schools last year and will create career-themed academies in district high schools. The goal is to prepare students for success after high school, whether that means enrolling in college or trade school, enlisting in service to their country, or finding employment in a high-wage career with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Next week, eight schools in the initiative’s first cohort – including Central – will announce the academies to be offered in the coming years.

Alford said it has made a big difference to learn from a teacher who had previous experience in the automotive industry, and who enjoys sharing that knowledge – “I don’t think I could ask for a better instructor.”

 

Kaleigh Walker Community Partners, Student Success

Austin-East Junior Receives MLK Commission Youth Award

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission has honored Austin-East junior Tylan Baker with the 2023 Knoxville Youth Award.

The group recognizes individuals annually, and this is the first year the Youth Award has been presented to a member of the Knoxville community.

“I think it’s an honor,” assistant principal Rukiya Foster said. “It’s the first youth to ever get the award, so that’s very special. He has set the precedent and the path for youth to come.”

The MLK Commission chose to honor Baker and others based on “their commitment to continuing the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” according to their website. 

“I think it’s one of the many awards he’ll be getting,” Jeff Black, another Austin-East assistant principal, said of Baker. “I think he’s driven, and he’s a great leader.”

Baker works with a number of local organizations to volunteer around his community.

“I honestly believe that I earned the award just for the service I’ve done in the community,” he said. “It was really a surprise. I didn’t know I was getting it. I just know it’s big.”

The 17-year-old is a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, Youth Leadership Knoxville, the Urban League’s National Achievers Honor Society, National Honor Society, 100 Black Men, Young Life, Project GRAD, and the Austin-East Roadrunners football team. All of these groups allow Baker to give back in different ways.

“It’s just wanting to see the best for everybody, wanting a better community,” Baker said. “As we look to the future, the people that’s coming behind me might want to do the same thing I’m doing. I want to set a good example for them.”

AE’s head football coach, Antonio Mays, also gives credit to Baker’s parents for his success. “I know the supportive structure that they have put in place for him,” Mays said.

The Austin-East administration thinks highly of the junior, describing him with words like mentor, intelligent, powerful, empathetic, responsible, focused, gentle giant, conscientious, well-rounded, Roadrunner. 

“I think it’s a manifestation of the legacy that those have laid before him, and he just picked up the torch to continue the tradition of excellence and high achievement,” said Kamau Kenyatta, an assistant principal. Visit the MLK Commission website to see the other award recipients.

 

Kaleigh Walker Community Partners

Superintendent’s Council Aims To Support District Priorities

As Knox County Schools works to strengthen ties between the district and local communities, a new initiative was launched this week to help foster engagement.

On Nov. 29 and 30, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk met with the newly created Superintendent’s Council on Accelerated Learning.

The committee includes teachers, administrators, families, business leaders, higher education partners, and nonprofit leaders. Their goal is to provide insight and guidance from diverse perspectives about the district’s operations, while also serving as champions and advocates for KCS.

In particular, council members will help develop action plans to implement the district’s four priorities:

  • Excellence in Foundational Skills;
  • Great Educators in Every School;
  • Career Empowerment and Preparation; and
  • Success for Every Student.

The goal of this committee is “to be purposeful” and identify opportunities and shortcomings in each priority and develop detailed action plans on how to improve the district within these categories, Rysewyk said.

The Council will continue to meet throughout the school year to consider major items in each priority.

“With the knowledge and context we’re going to provide for you, give us your input and ideas,” Rysewyk told Council members. “Educating kids is not just the school system’s job. We all have to figure out as a community how we’re going to do that.”

The Council is not the only new group formed to help advise on the future of Knox County Schools.

Teacher Councils and Family and Community Councils were also created in each region to provide information-sharing and consultation between families and district leaders around items that impact schools, communities, and students. A Principal Advisory Council and CEO Champions Council will also advise the Superintendent directly.