JOHN COFFELTEditor

This is part two of a two part series spotlighting the four Coffee County Schools that recently earned the Rewards school designation from the state.

Reward schools in the county were Deerfield Elementary, New Union Elementary Raider Academy and North Coffee Elementary.

I am extremely proud of the work that is done throughout Coffee County Schools. Our people are driven to provide opportunities for the young people in our care, and I am pleased that these four schools have been recognized by the state for their work. This is public recognition and celebration that educators do not receive often enough,” Coffee County Director of Schools Dr. Charles Lawson said.

New Union Principal Jill Potts said the success resulted from a school-wide effort at New Union.

She said that some students need instruction on how to take a test.

“We found that a lot of students who could have succeeded, and they had the knowledge but they were confused by some of the questions and the way the questions were structured,” she said.

New Union has worked to reach those students with Project Success. That program included developing testing stamina, test taking skills and ownership of their learning.

It was spelled out for the students what they needed to know, and individualized instruction focused on students’ specific needs. An intervention time was scheduled into the school day.

Continuing into January, Project Success looked at benchmark assessments in reading and math that provide a look at students that need help.

Simulated tests provided the students practice taking a standardized test setting.

“(That acquainted them) with that setting because it’s different from everyday instruction,” Potts said.

To engage the students’ interest in the test, teachers decorated the school with an outer space theme.

“I felt that the extra help we were given the extra attention we were giving to the importance of this, and the practice test really built their stamina and confidence,” Potts said.

Deerfield Elementary Principal Lia Parsley shares Potts’ excitement at being designated a Reward school.

“We met our goals in math, ELA (English Language Arts) and attendance,” Parsley said. “We have worked really hard. We have a great team here. Our teachers are very dedicated.”

Parsley said that the staff ensures that students feel safe and want to come to school. It’s an effort to serve the whole child.

“We want to instill a passion within them to do well before they leave us,” Parsley said.

“We have some really good teachers who work with our children, who are patient,” she said. “And some great kids too.”

The school sets aside designated times for ELA instruction and math. For the attendance goal, the school works on that with families.

There are reading intervention classes, and teachers observe data on the students’ progress then talk to them to show them where they are and where they need to be.

“We all do better if we know where the end goal needs to be,” Parsley said. “We let that be a driver in and of itself.”

“Part of it is just working with the kids until they succeed and let them know when they succeed an try to encourage them,” she said.

Parsley said that Deerfield teachers give it their all. “They pour their heart and soul into it. All the teachers in Coffee County do. We have some really great schools.”

She said the number of Reward schools named this year speaks volumes for the leadership in the district.

“It takes everyone working together,” Parsley said. “We are very proud.”

Across the state, 400 schools, spanning 98 districts, received the Reward school designation; 12 districts received the Exemplary district designation; and seven districts received the In Need of Improvement designation. The complete list of district and school designations is available on the department‘s accountability webpage.

“I am excited to highlight the Reward Schools and Exemplary Districts across the state for their commitment to ensuring students are growing and learning every day,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “These annual designations are a testament to the hard work our educators and school and district leaders provide to students each and every day across the state.”

Each year, schools and districts are eligible for designations based on their overall performance across indicators that are essential to student success, including how they prepared students to be proficient (achievement), accelerated student learning (growth), encouraged students to attend school regularly (chronically out of school), prepared students for postsecondary success (graduation rate and Ready Graduate), and supported English learners acquiring language skills.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.