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 Community Partners

Principal for a Day Fosters Dynamic Partnerships Between Schools and Community Leaders

The Knox County Principal for a Day event is a time-honored tradition, where school administrators open their doors to community leaders to experience a day in the life of a KCS principal and create partnerships with area leaders.

Over the course of the day, guests may have visited classrooms to observe high-quality teaching and learning, sit in on staff meetings to become immersed in the school culture, or speak to students about their industry experiences.

“We had a great time with our guests highlighting the amazing work that my staff and students do on a daily basis,” said New Hopewell Elementary Principal Sarah Mercer.

A local business professional and an individual running for office spent the day in the South Knoxville school learning from the teachers and providing their expertise.

“We spoke to our partners regarding some of New Hopewell’s current needs, and it was great to hear their perspectives,” Mercer said.

The needs of KCS schools are all different, but many lack volunteers for service projects, funding for positive behavior incentives, or staff to fill support positions. Some needs – like new equipment for gym class or bringing lunch for teachers – can be easily accomplished with the help of a generous person, while others – like a building expansion – take an entire community working together with a conscious effort to make change for their local kids. 

Savannah Price, a real estate agent, said she couldn’t wait to form this partnership with NHES, as her own children will one day attend the school.

“I really want to focus on the whole ‘bloom where you’re planted’ concept,” Price said. “I’m already thinking of all the things I can do in this partnership, like encouraging people to participate in a drive for supplies, or we could sponsor a program, or get the community to rally around our schools, which is a really big deal.”

Following a day at school, principals and their guests attended a luncheon and feedback session where attendees were encouraged to share insights from their visits.

For many, this was the first time they’d been back in a school building since their own high school graduation. For all, the experience was eye-opening.

“The one thing that stood out to me the most was that we’re reaching all of our students,” said Carlos Lopez, the Spanish Voice of the Vols. “That’s really important because, if you’re like me, you’re still trying to find that place where you belong. At Career Magnet Academy, they are giving those students the opportunity to explore many things under the same roof. 

The Partners in Education president, Adam Wilson, also announced a new membership program to encourage business professionals to become more involved in supporting KCS schools. 

“I am most excited about the immediate and far-reaching impact the Partners In Education Membership Program will produce,” Wilson said. “PIE exists to make a difference and we designed this program to be the best way we can impact every student at every school in KCS.”

Organizations can learn more about the PIE Membership Program here, and view a list of KCS school needs here.

Kaleigh Walker Career Empowerment, Community Partners, Student Success

Powerful Program Mentors At-Risk Students Across the District

Before the morning bell on Wednesday, a group of Green Magnet students gathered in the library to see what a new group was about. 

A towering man introduced himself as Mr. C and welcomed everyone to the first meeting of Real Talk the school had held in years. 

Real Talk, a mentoring program for elementary and middle school students, started over a dozen years ago at Vine Middle with only four students. The group now serves over 375 students weekly in eight schools across the district, and they hope to add five more before the end of the year.

“I started the program because I didn’t want kids to go through some of the things that I was going through at that time in life,” said Real Talk Founder and KCS Talent Acquisition Specialist Clarence Swearengen. 

Years ago, he walked a path full of “dark days,” and one day almost lost his life. He then vowed to make a change – not only for him, but also for the young people in his community. 

Steering students away from a criminal lifestyle, Real Talk focuses on positive role models and eye-opening experiences. 

“Some speakers are pastors that were once gang members who have transformed their lives into productive citizens doing really, really good stuff for our community,” he said. “They decide to pour into our youth.”

The program curriculum aligns with the district’s Four Priorities, especially in career empowerment and preparation. Real Talk hits the road to go on college tours, explore military bases, and visit job sites to expose the group to as many positive opportunities as possible. 

Swearengen said he witnesses the power of the program when former students return to Real Talk as guest speakers. 

“When you see that transformation, you know your program is successful,” he said.

United Way sponsors the program, but groups interested in providing additional support can visit realtalkmp.org.

Kaleigh Walker Community Partners, Student Success

Vine Middle Theater Group Attends Performance Of Hamilton

When the award-winning Broadway show Hamilton announced last summer it was coming to Knoxville, Vine Middle Magnet School dance teacher Jana Cartee jumped on the chance to win tickets for her students. 

The Tennessee Theatre Youth Arts Alliance provides tickets for students to “attend world-class performances in one of the most well-known theaters in the region,” according to their website.

Cartee applied for tickets on the last day applications were open and was awarded 50 tickets for chorus, dance, and technical theater students.

“It was amazing,” she said. “Getting to see some of the kids that it was their first time getting to see it, and the first time for some of them to see any live theatrical performance, it was really great.”

Sixth-grader Hope Harlow attended the Saturday afternoon performance with her classmates. She has been a long-time fan of Hamilton.

“It was really fun because not a lot of people get that chance to go see Hamilton,” Harlow said. “They did really good, and Thomas Jefferson was hilarious.”

Now, the Vine theater program is preparing for a show of its own. Theater lovers can see The Little Mermaid, Jr. in May in their auditorium. 

“It’s really cool seeing the kids that have been able to do theater in elementary school learning and watching them grow,” Cartee said. “Some of the kids that are in the musical are also in my technical theater class, so they are getting to make their costumes for the show.”

The show follows the major plot of Disney’s The Little Mermaid with a more condensed runtime. The group began working on stage after weeks of rehearsing the music and dialogue in the chorus room. 

“It’s a really good show with what we’ve done so far,” Harlow said. “We do a really good job.”