Local Education
‘It Was Hard Not to Cry:’ From School Board Rejection to Opening Day Celebration
Inside the long road to Jackson Museum Academy’s inaugural school year.
East Tennessee Education News
Education news from East Tennessee and surrounding communities
65 articles
Latest Articles
College and Higher Edu...
TCAT Upper Cumberland Earns Recognition for Serving Military-Connected Students
The College of Applied Technology is the second campus in Tennessee to earn the VETS Bravo designation.
College and Higher Edu...
UT Partnership Wins $160M Grant to Transform Underused Farmland
The funding will help create solutions to turn around farms across Tennessee and Alabama.
Elections
Bo McCawley Sides with Democrats on Key Education Issue in GOP Primary
McCawley faces school choice supporter Andy Swafford in East Tennessee’s House District 31 primary.
Elections
School Choice Divides Candidates in East Tennessee GOP Primary
Dennis Beavers is running against the Education Freedom Scholarship program, while Senator Adam Lowe voted to expand it.
Elections
Self-Described 'Trump Candidate' Sides with Unions over Trump on Education
The president appointed Dennis Beavers to the USDA, but he’s now opposing the administration’s position on school choice.
Local Education
Alcoa Intermediate School AI Club Wins $10,000 National Award
East Tennessee fourth and fifth-graders created an app concept to help students with their homework.
State Education
Oneida Principal Selected for Distinguished National Program
Ashley Billingsley is one of only 13 educators selected by the National Institute for Exclusive Fellows.
State Education
University President Gives Thoughts on Potential Outcomes-Based Funding Changes
The OBF allocates funding to public colleges and universities based on student success metrics instead of student enrollment.
Elections
Uncovered Records Detail House Candidate Bo McCawley’s Lawsuit Against Vanderbilt Medical Center
McCawley once sued the hospital, university, and its doctor following allegations of child abuse.
State Education
Accountability Hearing Finds East Tennessee Virtual School Isn’t Taking Daily Attendance
Carter County leaders say the failing virtual school is only taking weekly attendance.
State Education
Grundy County Teachers Poised to Get Their Bonus, Despite Unexpected No Votes
18 Democrats and 1 GOP gubernatorial candidate voted against the bill.
State Education
Proposed Legislation Could Finally Deliver Bonus to Grundy County Teachers
Grundy County teachers were the only educators in the state who didn’t receive a $2,300 bonus.
College and Higher Edu...
Tennessee to Develop Stackable Credential Strategies Through Lumina Partnership
Tennessee has been selected to join Lumina Foundation’s FutureReady States initiative, a national effort to align short-term credentials with quality jobs and e...
Local Education
Anderson County Teacher of the Year Finalist Chrissy Rose Helps Students Pave Their Own ‘Roads to Mastery’
Anderson County Schools’ Teacher of the Year finalist Chrissy Rose is a dedicated third-grade teacher at Grand Oaks Elementary known for her innovative, trauma-...
Local Education
Tennessee Students Make Significant Academic Gains in 2024–25 TCAP Results
The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) released the 2024–25 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results Tuesday afternoon, revealing year-ov...
Local Education
Grundy County School Board Rolls Back Controversial Denial of Teacher Bonuses
Grundy County teachers may get their $2,300 bonus after all, but it will come a year late following Tuesday night’s vote.
National Education
East Tennessee third-grade teacher wins “Oscar of Teaching”
Stephanie Boshears received a welcome surprise during a school assembly when she was named a recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award.
News
Johnson City Schools on the hunt for a new superintendent
The Johnson City Board of Education and Tennessee School Board Association are looking for a new superintendent for Johnson City Schools, as current Superintend...
News
Tennessee STEM Innovation Network launches 2024-25 TN Rural STEM Collaborative
According to an announcement, the 2024-25 TN Rural STEM Collaborative will bring together teachers from rural schools across the state for professional developm...
Local Education
Six Tennessee schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools
The U.S. Department of Education has named six Tennessee schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools this year including Miller Perry Elementary School in Kingsport...
News
BlueSky Tennessee Institute prepares students for IT careers amid growing demand for tech professionals
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee teamed up with East Tennessee State University in 2021 to create an accelerated learning program for students to earn a bachel...
News
National Science Foundation awards UT $18 million to study human factors in pandemics
University of Tennessee ecology and evolutionary biology professor Nina Fefferman was recently awarded $18 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation to ...
Elections
Republican leaders resoundingly reject Rep. John Ragan’s primary loss challenge
Members of the Tennessee Republican State Primary Board resoundingly rejected Representative John Ragan’s, R-Oak Ridge, challenge of the August primary he lost ...
News
Knox County Schools looks to improve special education programming
Knox County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Student Success Dr. Andrew Brown gave an update on special education related matters at Tuesday's school board w...
Elections
Republican Party leaders to decide Rep. John Ragan’s primary loss challenge this Saturday
Members of the Tennessee Republican State Primary Board will decide State Representative John Ragan’s, R-Oak Ridge, primary loss challenge Saturday afternoon in...
State Education
Bryan Kerns created a program to address the state’s firefighter shortage, on the road to winning Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the year Bryan Kerns established a unique career and technical education (CTE) program geared toward preparing students for future careers in fire ma...
State Education
Kingsport City Schools math teacher Bryan Kerns is this year’s Tennessee Teacher of the Year
Bryan Kerns, a math and fire management instructor from Kingsport City Schools, has been named the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Kerns will represent T...
Elections
"We cannot become that which we strive to defeat." Rick Scarbrough responds to expected primary result challenge from Rep. Ragan.
Scarbrough beat seven term Representative John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, by 258 votes in the House District 33 GOP primary. At the time there were no complaints of vo...
Elections
Senate Education Chair John Lundberg’s defeat draws eyebrow raising comments from former President Trump
Tom Stinnett
Elections
Primary challenges, voucher impact, and other things to watch in the state primary
Today voters across the state will decide the primary races for 16 State Senate seats along with all 99 State House seats. Very few of these seats are expected ...
Elections
Video leads to charges accusing Senate challenger Bobby Harshbarger’s father of stealing and vandalizing campaign signs
Video recorded by one of Senator Jon Lundberg’s, D-Bristol, campaign volunteers has led to misdemeanor theft and vandalism charges against the father of his opp...
Elections
Challenger Rick Scarbrough continues to outraise Rep. John Ragan
Former Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough continues to outraise Rep. John Ragan.
Elections
Conservative challenger Rick Scarbrough is outraising Rep. John Ragan. Ragan responded with mailers that stretch the truth.
This year Representative John Ragan’s, R-Oak Ridge, has attracted headlines for proposing multiple bills dealing with hot button social issues that his own part...
Local Education
Kingsport City Schools to provide free meals to all students as Tennessee schools grapple with student lunch debts
All students in Kingsport City Schools (KCS) will be eligible to receive meals at no charge, regardless of socioeconomic status, beginning August 5, a recent di...
Elections
Tax dollars paid for this mailer during Rep. Jon Ragan’s re-election campaign. Few House members have spent more on mailings.
One of the more closely watched races this summer is East Tennessee’s House District 33 GOP primary between John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, and former Clinton police c...
Elections
Air Force Captain Jason Emert makes school choice a key part of his State House campaign
East Tennessee House candidate Jason Emert has a very personal reason for supporting Governor Bill Lee’s universal school choice plan to let families use public...
Elections
GOP Senate Challenger Bobby Harshbarger sides with Democrats in opposing Governor Lee’s universal school choice plan
Few issues have united Tennessee Democrats more this year their opposition to Governor Bill Lee’s plan to let families across the state use taxpayer dollars to ...
College and Higher Edu...
AI policies are still a work in progress for several Tennessee school districts ahead of 2024-25 school year
Tennessee school districts are finalizing their AI policies ahead of the 2024-25 school year as they navigate new legislation requiring guidelines on AI use in ...
Local Education
Kingsport City Schools passes drug testing policy
Kingsport City Schools approved a new policy requiring random drug testing for students in extracurricular activities, set to take effect next school year.
College and Higher Edu...
UT-Knoxville announces newest class of Distinguished Tennessean Scholars
The University of Tennessee in Knoxville will soon welcome its newest class of Distinguished Tennessean Scholars this fall.
Elections
Governor Lee endorses conservative Jason Emert in open East Tennessee House race
In April Tennessee Governor Bill Lee promised to bring his plan to let parents use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private school back next year, and...
Elections
Did Bobby Harshbarger break the law with “false” attacks on Sen. Jon Lundberg? Tennessee AG to investigate.
Allegations State Senate Candidate Bobby Harshbarger broke campaign laws to attack his opponent, Tennessee Senator Jon Lundberg, R-Briston, is going to the Stat...
Local Education
13 new Tennessee schools earn STEM designation, redesignation awarded to Kingsport's DB-EXCEL
The Tennessee Department of Education awarded STEM/STEAM designations to 13 new schools, while Kingsport's D-B EXCEL earned redesignation for its program's cont...
Local Education
Winning: These four Jackson-Madison schools finished in the top five in STEM competition
The Jackson-Madison County School System Board of Education celebrated four schools that participated in the Greenpower USA Regional Talladega Competition that ...
Elections
Senate Education Chair faces misleading attack ads in GOP primary race supporters say “skirt” campaign rules
Tennessee is not expected to have many truly competitive races in the August 1 state primary, but one that will be is already seeing misleading campaigning and ...
National Education
Five Things to Know About Missy Testerman, the 2024 National Teacher of the Year
Missy Testerman has enjoyed a teaching career that is decades longer than most, spending more than 30 years in first- and second-grade classrooms.But when she s...
News
Report finds children in East Tennessee facing highest mental health vulnerability
Mental health is a growing concern for children across the country and a new report shows Tennessee is no exception.Earlier this month the Tennessee State Colla...
National Education
Rogersville City teacher named 2024 National Teacher of the Year
For the first time in 35 years, a Tennessee teacher is the National Teacher of the Year.The Council of Chief State School Officers awarded Rogersville City Scho...
National Education
Hamilton County School leaders join national lawsuit against social media companies
Hamilton County Schools became the latest in a growing number of Tennessee school districts that are joining a national lawsuit against social media companies f...
Local Education
Westview Elementary students show off tech skills by designing personalized coasters
A group of Westview Elementary School students found a unique way to show off the fruits of the school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) cu...
Local Education
Chattanooga family an example of how the district’s school choice options can make a difference
Gueller Gonzalez has always placed a priority on ensuring her kids have access to a quality education in a nurturing environment that treats them equally and wi...
State Education
Two Tennessee school districts may be paving the way for improved literacy
The Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) released a report this month that found two school districts may offer important lessons for ho...
State Education
Six Tennessee schools receive national recognition
Six Tennessee schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for their academic performance or their work to close achievement gaps between studen...
State Education
Rutherford County produces two of the top readers in the state
Rutherford County is home to two of the top readers in the state.Smyrna’s Stewart’s Creek High School Senior Taylor Aslup and Murfreesboro’s Oakland Middle Scho...
Local Education
Knoxville parents have a personal reason for joining the school district's special education task force
Cary Byrge began noticing something frustrating towards the end of her son’s second-grade year in school.Byrge’s son was supposed to receive regular speech ther...
Local Education
Knox County Schools special education task force makes recommendations to address “cultural problems”
A special education task force says Knox County Schools (KCS) needs curriculum modifications and other culture changes to ensure special education students are ...
State Education
Legislator Profile: Representative Tim Hicks brings a different perspective to champion struggling students
Representative Tim Hicks took a different path than most to the state capitol in Nashville.The Washington County Republican lawmaker didn’t attend college and i...
Local Education
Tennessee law could hold back thousands of third graders in bid to help kids recover from the pandemic
A retention policy tied to state reading test scores is drawing both support and skepticism.
News
How Educators Transformed Their School by Listening to Students
Local Education
Bill would make summer learning camps designed for COVID continue beyond the pandemic
Like many school districts across the country, Elizabethton City Schools entered the 2020/2021 school year with a new hybrid schedule that allowed students to s...
Local Education
TSSAA Rewind: 1972 Tennessee High team wins second consecutive state football title
There had been a previous state championship, and some national acclaim.Yet as Tennessee High School’s legendary squad entered the 1972 football season, the Vik...
Local Education
TSSAA Rewind: 1972 Tennessee High team wins second consecutive state football title
There had been a previous state championship, and some national acclaim.Yet as Tennessee High School’s legendary squad entered the 1972 football season, the Vik...
Local Education
Six school districts recognized for helping students recover from COVID learning loss
Tennessee is celebrating six school districts for their work to accelerate student learning following the pandemic.The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) ...
Local Education
Report questions Tennessee public school's spending of $3.5B in COVID-19 relief funds
A new report from Beacon Center of Tennessee shows that school districts throughout Tennessee received a total of nearly $3.5 billion sent directly to districts...