Elizabethton High School – Technology Integration into the Curriculum
This partnership is designed to successfully integrate technology into core subject areas. By building the necessary infrastructure, this partnership will also facilitate the expansion of virtual learning opportunities for students at Elizabethton High School.
Greeneville High School – Virtual Learning Partnership.
The Virtual School Foreign Language Partnership is designed to use state-of-the-art technology to deliver foreign language courses in a virtual setting. At present, French I and French II are being offered to students at Greeneville High School. Additional courses, such as Mandarin Chinese, are being developed.
Greene County -- County-wide reading initiative
In its third year, all 12 elementary schools in Greene County have identified and trained two mentor/coaches in reading intervention. While all teachers were provided training in the use of specific computer software designed to provide on-going assessment of student’s progress and prescribe remediation activities, the mentor/coaches were given additional support and are responsible for the on-going training of their respective facilities, maintaining the software systems, and providing teacher support to insure success. These mentor/coaches are also conducting the after-school tutorial sessions. Both students and adults are participating in the after-school/evening sessions.
Greene County -- Career Guidance
A team of seven school counselors developed a career guidance course. This course is required for all 9th graders. The class is designed to help identify each student’s strengths and interests, provide one-on-one counseling, and develop an individualized “career plan” for each student. The career plan will include the necessary high school, technical school and college requirements to prepare the students for his or her chosen career.
Greene County -- Instrumental Band Program
The Niswonger Foundation’s first partnership was to provide instrumental music programs for Greene County Schools. West Greene High School and Chuckey-Doak High School band programs are continuing to show excellent student participation. The new band rooms for South Greene and North Greene will be ready for use in the fall of 2008. The band programs for all 7th and 8th grade students continue to prepare students to participate in their high school band program.
Greene County / Greeneville City – Career Technical Partnership
In an effort to increase the enrollment, rigor and relevance of the Career Technical Center, the Foundation has committed funds to add Project Lead the Way (a pre-engineering program) and to enhance the existing Health Science Program.
Hancock County -- Middle School Improvement Partnership
The focus of this partnership was centered around improving student performance in science and language arts. The Synergistic System for Science (a state-of-the-art science program) was installed and teachers were given extensive training in the use of this system. Teachers have also received training in the use of Compass Learning software for reading /language arts instruction. Mobile technology labs have been purchased to facilitate the use of technology in each classroom.
Hawkins County -- PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Program)
The PBIS program has a proven track record and represents a solid approach to solving the growing problem of students dropping out of school. A system-wide mentor/coach has been hired to coordinate the implementation of the PBIS program.
Jefferson County – Reading Initiative
This partnership addressed the literacy needs of students in grades 6-12. It focuses on providing an intervention program for struggling readers, district-wide teacher and administrator professional development, an infusion of appropriate and interesting texts for classrooms, and a student achievement management program.
Johnson County -- High School Improvement Partnership
The thrust of this partnership is two-fold. First is to enhance the use of technology in curriculum and instruction. This was accomplished by hiring a “tech” coach to assist teachers in integrating technology into their regular classroom instruction. The second is to create virtual/distance learning opportunities for Johnson County students.
Johnson County – Middle School Improvement Partnership
The Johnson County Middle School Partnership has identified and is pursuing steps to increase academic performance of students. These steps include: extensive professional development for teachers; on-going mentoring/coaching for administrators and teachers; new educational software additional; technology hardware; creation of a virtual science lab using a 3D dissection system; and additional material for the related arts program.
Washington County -- Preschool Initiative
In its first year, this partnership is designed to create a model preschool program for Washington County. Not only will this program provide unique learning opportunities for preschool age children, It will also provide family consultation, parenting skills training, home visits, technology literacy and opportunities for parents/family to participate in the program.
