SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT: Robert Greene (Dayton City)

The Superintendent Spotlight for July is Robert Greene.  Though he has served as a superintendent in multiple districts in Tennessee, starting in 1981, he came out of retirement last year to take on the position in Dayton City.    

As a recent addition to the school system, Robert and his team have been working to build the instructional program from the ground up.  

Since they are a district of one school, Robert loves that his office is in the school with the students.  He also enjoys training the new principals and seeing them grow.  Some of Robert's best memories from his superintendency come from time spent with his awesome administrators that he has had the opportunity to hire, train, and get to know over the years. 

AASA Women in Leadership Awards

Let’s show the entire country how hard we are working to improve education in Tennessee.  Join me in nominating our women leaders for the AASA “Women in School Leadership Awards”.

The AASA Awards for Women in School Leadership, sponsored by Horace Mann and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, recognize female educators whose talent, creativity and vision are exemplary.  Three awards are presented annually at the AASA National Conference on Education.

Nominations must be completed online at http://womensleadership.aasa.org/, and may be submitted as soon as possible.  The final deadline for submission of nominations and applications is October 12, 2018.

Three awards are available for women who are “front-line female leaders who make a difference in the lives of students every day.”

Three awards are available:                                                                               

1. The Superintendent Award---awarded to any female superintendent who meets the selection criteria for the AASA award.
2. The Central Office/Principal Award--- awarded to any female central office or building level leader. Titles eligible for this award might be assistant superintendent, central office administrator, school based principal/assistant principal, etc.
3. The School Driven Leadership Award--- awarded to a female non-superintendent/principal in a leadership role. Equivalent job titles may include: Guidance Chair, Supervisor, etc. Leaders at this level may be nominated or may apply themselves.

Each candidate is judged on the following criteria:

• Leadership for Learning
• Communication
• Professionalism
• Community Involvement

Nominees will submit an application online at http://womensleadership.aasa.org/. 

Nominees must submit their applications by October 12, 2018.

Finalist will be announced on November 19, 2018.

The winners will be announced at the AASA conference on Friday, February 15, 2019. Winners receive a plaque, a check for $1,000 and travel and lodging for the AASA conference in February.

Platinum Partner Spotlight: Education Elements

This month, we're spotlighting TOSS's newest Platinum Partner, Education Elements!  

Education Elements is a national education consulting firm.  Founded in 2010, they have worked with more than 36 states, 150 districts, and 650 schools.  Most of the work they do focuses on helping schools and districts to design and implement blended and personalized learning instructional models.  They also help districts, regional service centers, and state education departments with curriculum adoption, competency-based education, leadership development, and strategic planning. 

Education Elements is currently working with Putnam County Schools to design and implement personalized learning at their five middle schools. 

They look forward to supporting you, your work, and your schools across Tennessee!

If you would like to learn more, reach out to their representative Angela Chubb (angela@edelements.com). 

Platinum Partner Spotlight: NGU Risk Management, Inc.

Our May 2018 Platinum Partner Spotlight is an organization that has supported TOSS and school districts across TN for many years, NGU Risk Management, Inc.  

As Program Manager of the Tennessee Risk Management Trust, NGU is the risk management vendor of choice to over 100 TN public school systems. They provide the broadest package of P/C and workers compensation coverage for Tennessee public entities. Their services are second to none. Their claims and loss control staff, as well as their panel attorneys and other vendors, deal only with issues and claims involving TN schools.

NGU has 100+ public school system members, including Union City Schools, Monroe County Schools, Fayette County Schools, White County Schools, Wilson County Schools, Oak Ridge City Schools, Lebanon Special School District and Johnson County Schools.

"Thanks for your work in this crisis. TNRMT has been a blessing to our district." Troy Kilzer, Director of Schools, Chester County Schools

SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Steven Barnett (Johnson City Schools)

TOSS's April Superintendent Spotlight is Dr. Steve Barnett who is finishing up his first year as Director of Schools in Johnson City.  It has been great welcoming Dr. Barnett to TOSS and getting to know him this year!  

Dr. Barnett shared with us two initiatives Johnson City Schools is currently working on.  First, they are now offering the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma for students at Science Hill High School, which will include a new year-long seminar and research component.  Additionally, they are supporting their 1:1 Digital Transformation in grades 3-12 by entering year three of their technology teacher leader initiative.  This is building capacity in their schools to lead the changes in teaching and learning that new technologies are bringing to schools.

We asked Dr. Barnett what his favorite part of his job is.  He said, "we have so much to accomplish and so many different things to do and work on each day. It's exciting to get up each day and make decisions that impact our students and teachers in positive ways." 

Fun Fact: Dr. Barnett is the 5th of 12 children!  He said that having 11 siblings taught him to appreciate the things in life that really matter.