I see nothing but positive things happening to our schools in the past three years. Almost every measurement of vital signs is positive. In reviewing the accomplishments in the school system over the past two+ years I see an extraordinary body of work, which in my opinion is the reason for the renaissance in our school system.
Teacher attendance us up, student attendance is up, graduation rates are up, test results are up in every grade level, virtually every area of curriculum, and every ethnic group. These academic achievements have been written about two different times in the Knoxville News Sentinel – both times Roane County has been listed as the top county system in East Tennessee.

• Implemented the Student Support Program in 2007. Provides additional support needed by students at risk of not being successful in school.
• Expanded the Literacy Program in 2007. Each elementary school now has a literacy leader. Reading scores improved again in 2007.
• Increased the programming at a number of schools with the addition of Career/Technical programs, and regular academic programs.
• Implemented Credit Recovery at each high school in order to improve the Graduation Rate and help students graduate on time.
• Developed collaboration with Tennessee Technology Center at Harriman to allow high school students to enroll in programs for dual credit.
• Supports and encourages Dual Credit with Roane State and have one class at RHS this year.
• Promoted and led the effort to raise standards for our high school graduates with the policy requiring four maths to graduate and increasing the number of credits to graduate.
• Increased the programming at a number of schools with the addition of Career/Technical programs, and regular academic programs.
• Working on a pilot project with the University of Tennessee in reading.
• Launched the Tennessee Scholars program in 2007. Spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce – Director serves on the committee.
• Utilized technology in instruction, administration, and to provide hard-to-get classes (i.e. Latin via on-line). This was only achieved by her persistence.

• Implemented School Wide Positive Behavior program at several schools. All schools now tracking discipline referrals in order to make data-based decisions. Improved behavior in all schools using the system.
• Improvements at the Alternative School with the addition of certified math and English instructors.
• Established seven (7) Pre-K programs. These are in collaboration with Head Start and our model has been recognized at the state level and will be recognized at the national level this fall.
• Reviewed and revised the Student Code of Conduct since its implementation in 2006. Result is uniform consequences across the system.
• Set up new program with the Juvenile Court to address the truancy problem. Working quite well at this point.

• Monthly having a representative from each school to a luncheon where she cooks and visits with staff informally. I have never heard anyone who has attended one of these sessions that did not come away with a feeling that it was worthwhile.
• All Administrators are now evaluated annually. Here our administrators learn their strong points, weak points and what steps they need to take to become a better administrator.
• Classified Employees Handbook implemented – A handbook that describes what is expected from them and how to learn administrative procedures in the school system.
• Classified Employee 90-day evaluation system implemented. Another good evaluation procedure.
• Improved teacher benefits with new insurance. Another reason for teachers to come to Roane County.
• Implemented Direct Deposit for employees. Approximately 75% now using it. A long overdue business item has resulted in extensive use and buy-in by staff.
• Implemented an Aspiring Administrators program in 2006-07. Thirteen graduates with several moving into administrative positions. Next cohort will be in 2008-09. Have provided the model to several other systems. Possibly the most important thing the Director has done. This academy has already produced new principals last year. More importantly, it lays the foundation so that the groundwork is laid to hire our new administrators from within – not having to leave the county.
• Selected highest quality principals for several key positions. The Director has had to appoint nine principals during her two years. As the Aspiring Administrators academy matures, more selections will come from this pool of trainees – further ensuring local appointments in the future.
• Supported the selection of the highest quality teachers available. This has not been an easy task. Over the past two years there have been close to 80 teachers hired. This is 17% of our entire teaching staff of around 550. Virtually all of the retiring teachers were of retirement age and that kind of turnover strains any business. But we have seen academic improvement, even with this loss of hundreds of years of experience. All teachers are highly qualified and all para-professionals are highly qualified. All of this in my opinion is truly remarkable.
• Hired new Central office Supervisors and redistributed the work so that each instructional level has a direct contact in the central office for the first time ever. When the director first came here, all central office staff was located at another facility. The first thing she did after being hired was to bring personnel to the central office so there could be direct interaction with her. Then with the retirement of two coordinators (Jim Lett and Pearl Williams) the Director was forced to replace both of them. When she did so she created a third position so we now have coordinators for elementary, middle and high schools – all three appointed from within the system and all three enthusiastic and have had a significant impact on keeping information flowing between our principals and central office.
• Training of substitute teachers began in 2005 for the first time. An extensive course that benefits the substitutes as well as gives them guidance on issues related to legal and administrative issues.
• Implemented a Principals’ development program with book studies, summer conference and monthly audio lectures.
• Each school has developed a Crises Plan and reviewed with the Emergency Management Director (Howie Rose). Drills are conducted regularly with confirmation kept at each school
• A Wellness Policy is under development and contains all the components of the required federal and state status.
• Every employee has participated in training on handling blood borne pathogens and body fluids. This is designated to protect staff from possible infection from HIV/Aids, Hepatitis, etc.
• School check out procedures for students is conducted for all.
• Profession growth plan is now part of administrator’s evaluations.
• Nationally known speakers were brought to the school system in the summer of 2006 so that teachers had an opportunity to learn new ways to interact with students.
• A Directors newsletter was implemented
• Director meets with RCEA leaders on regular basis to discuss issues
• Hired an attendance supervisor (Jody McLoud) who works diligently to improve attendance rates.

• Implemented the Coordinated School Health Program. All schools participating in the physical activity requirements and developing numerous other opportunities for students to be healthy.
• Purchased a substitute finder computer system. This system in it second year is now beginning to be accepted by staff. Overall, the system has already saved thousands of hours of staff time trying to obtain substitutes. It also allows teachers the piece of mind knowing that a substitute is going to be found for them when they are sick or have family emergency. This was a learning curve on the system, but it is now becoming an integral part of school business and has allowed staff to do other education items, rather than dialing the phone looking for a substitute.
• New Safety Plans developed in collaboration with the Emergency Management Agency.
• Hired two Food Service Coordinators and got program through federal review without demerits. New food requirements by the federal government are not easy to implement and of course students are not happy with the new nutrition guidelines. But, we have been able to prevail and meet the new requirements with new accounting software and education of schools and cafeteria staff.
• Every school has a website and every teacher has a web page. While this is still a works in progress, it is a giant step in our staff communicating with the outside world of parents, students and other interested parties. A good example of how everyone benefits form this is what is going on at Roane County High School. Every teacher puts assignments and lesson plans online. Parents and students can log into the system to obtain pertinent information on their child.
• Roane County schools now has a working website with up-to-date information. Visitors can find policies, code of conduct documents, school calendars and school contact information. This also is a works in process, but still becoming a valuable communication tool.

• The Director has continued to maintain the facilities in good condition. Despite the age of several of the schools, they are clean, bright, well ventilated and healthy.
• Opened old entrance to Midtown Elementary to enhance safety of traffic movement at the school. Very successful. Several parents personally thanked the Director.
• Hired new Technology Coordinator and implemented checks/balances procedure for technology purchases. (This was an important procedure to implement)
• The schools have continued to be fiscally responsible and have lived within our budget.
• Provided a balanced budget each of the two years – again a very difficult thing to do with escalating costs and federal and state demands.
• We have established a sound financial reserve.
• For the first time has SMART R up and working. Maps can be printed with a variety of information on it. This enables us for the first time to see where students in our schools live and will be a vital piece of information for any potential re-zoning or building programs.
• The Director put together the summary document for the $47 million building plan the Board proposed and over the past two years has met with county commission to keep the informed as to what needs the school system has.

• No Due Process cases filed since 2005 (one that was pre-existing). This is very significant as there used to be ongoing litigation in a number of special education areas and dealing with parents of special education children consumed an enormous amount of staff time.
• With no additional cases and the fact that the Director requires all contact with our Attorney to go through her, we have seen a significant drop in legal costs to the school system.
• Continued to improve our Special Education program – receiving a Commendation in 2006
• Developed a long range plan for the system with the help of community, parents, and teachers.
• The Director serves on several community and county committees.
• Developed good relationship with Roane County News and is able to get stories published that are good news.
• Had area meetings for two years for community input.