SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT: Pat Dillahunty (Huntingdon)

The Superintendent Spotlight for October 2019 is Ms. Pat Dillahunty who is in her 11th year as Superintendent of the Huntingdon Special School District.

At HSSD, they are constantly working to improve curriculum. It may be as simple as changing schedules or moving staff, or as complicated as completely revamping the Math and ELA curriculum. By the time their kids get to high school, they are looking for ways to help students target their goals of "life after high school," through work-based learning opportunities, summer work, and dual credit classes.

When asked what her favorite part of her job is, Ms. Dillahunty said that it's all about the kids. Having an opportunity to work with kids every day is the reason she began her career roughly 32 years ago at Huntingdon Special School District. Watching students as they grow up in the system and go on to begin their own careers and families is special to her.

“My husband and I, as well as our three sons, are all graduates of Huntingdon Special School District. I now have grandchildren as students in our system. I am truly grateful for the opportunities I've had to begin as a secretary at our Primary School, teach and serve as Principal at our Middle School, and now as Director for the district. I believe that in a small, rural town, the school system is very important to the overall community atmosphere, and I’m so glad to contribute to it.”

Platinum Partner Spotlight: Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge International is a proud partner of the Tennessee DOE as an Early Postsecondary Opportunity (EPSO) for high school students in Tennessee. EPSOs such as Cambridge International AS & A Levels offer students the opportunity to earn postsecondary credit in the US and around the world.

Part of the University of Cambridge in England, Cambridge Assessment International Education offers an internationally recognized instructional system that aligns curriculum, standards, teaching & learning, and assessment for grades K-12. The program is flexible because it allows for schools to offer the whole program or individual stages (by grade) and subjects. The program can be used alongside local education systems or on its own.

Districts already working with Cambridge International in TN: Rutherford County, Metro Nashville, Bradley County

"Providing our students with access to rigorous, international coursework is of critical importance to our school and our district," said Dr. Jill Pittman, Principal of John Overton High School in Nashville. "Our collaboration with Cambridge International is helping us create opportunities for students to not only fulfill high school graduation requirements, but also advance their readiness for increasingly competitive college and career options."

Source: https://www.streetinsider.com/PRNewswire/Record+Number+of+Tennessee+Students+Earn+College+Credit+on+Internationally+Benchmarked+Examinations/15824301.html

Want to learn more? Reach out to Lara-Lee Morin at 917-882-9399 or lauralee.morin@cambridgeinternational.org.

Platinum Partner Spotlight: StaffEZ

StaffEZ, formerly PESG, is our July Platinum Partner Spotlight! StaffEZ, LLC is one of the top-ranked Education-Only Staffing Agency in the United States. For fourteen years, StaffEZ has built a solid reputation as a stable, reliable, and proven industry leader. Because education is their only focus, everything they do is with your success in mind. From maximizing classroom fill rates to streamlining internal processes, StaffEZ works every day to ensure your students receive the ultimate benefit: the education they deserve.

In Tennessee, StaffEZ is already working with Lebanon Special School District, Grainger County Schools, Gibson County Schools, Franklin Special Schools, Manchester City Schools, and Union County Schools.

"We have been pleased with the quality of services that has been provided from the StaffEZ representatives as they continue to go above and beyond to accommodate the needs of our administration." - Scott Benson, Lebanon Special School District

Want to learn more about StaffEZ? Visit their website or reach out to Kim Woodson at mwoodson@staffez.org or 615-354-3170.

SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT: Richard Rawlings (Humphreys County)

Richard Rawlings, the July 2019 Superintendent Spotlight, has been the Humphreys County Director of Schools for three years.

In Humphreys County Schools, they are partnering with local industries in advancing STEM education and Early Post-Secondary Opportunities for their students. This began when a local plant manager (needing a strong pool of local workers) reached out to the school system and other industry leaders to form a partnership. The immediate result was a renewed emphasis on students obtaining an Associate’s Degree in Industrial Process Control before graduating from high school. The partnership then expanded as other industries joined. The newest partner has a strong interest in STEM. His company, along with others, funded every STEM project presented to them by the school district.

They are also very proud of their federal Farm to School curriculum. One of their high schools provides lettuce and tomatoes to their schools' cafeterias. Students participate in educational activities related to agriculture, food, health, and nutrition. The program now provides hydroponic produce to all of cafeterias. Through cooperation with the school nutrition department, they have overcome such obstacles as preparation, freshness, longevity, and delivery of produce to the school cafeterias.

Mr. Rawlings’ favorite part of his job is working with a school board and administrators that recognize the importance of student growth. He also says that he is constantly amazed by how supportive his fellow Directors when he asks for advice. [<- That is what we love to hear at TOSS! Keep it up, members.]

When we asked Mr. Rawlings to share a funny memory from his time as a superintendent, he said, “I think I can safely say I am probably one of the most knowledgeable Directors when it comes to stacking sand bags to prevent a school from flooding (since we have 3 schools on the banks of a creek that constantly comes out of it banks). Yes, there is a correct way to stack sand bags. I forgot to take that class in college.” He joked, “As we interview teachers for a position at these schools, I always ask, ‘How many sand bags can you stack in 30 minutes?’”

Platinum Partner Spotlight: Energy Systems Group (ESG)

ENERGY SYSTEMS GROUP® (ESG) is a leading energy services provider that specializes in energy efficiency, sustainability, and infrastructure improvement solutions. Since 1994, ESG has been helping K-12 schools overcome the challenges of aging infrastructure and rising operational and energy costs by providing turnkey, budget-neutral solutions that directly enhance the quality and safety of learning environments. Through its core business of energy performance contracting, ESG helps Tennessee schools install new energy efficient building systems, where guaranteed savings from operation budgets help fund the capital improvements. ESG also offers a full range of sustainable infrastructure solutions including waste-to-energy, distributed generation, and renewable energy. To learn more, visit www.energysystemsgroup.com.

ESG is currently working with several TN school districts, including: Anderson County Schools, Bradley County Schools, Cleveland City School District, Lawrence County School System, Oak Ridge Schools, and Warren County Schools