By Deborah Thomas, LSB member
Against the backdrop of the Gaylord Opryland Resort, decked out in its twinkling lights and Christmas finery, members of the Lakeland School Board (LSB) along with Lakeland School System (LSS) Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell attended the 2019 Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) Leadership Conference and Annual Convention Thursday (11.14.19) through Sunday in Nashville.
The conference was a combination of the inspirational and the educational. On Thursday afternoon, we heard a FedEx executive talk about how FedEx has searched out students with little opportunity or success and offered them a path to a career in areas such as coding. It’s a powerful thing when businesses decide to invest in our students.
Other school districts from around the state also shared strategies for ensuring that students are “future-ready,” which is a term used by many systems across the state.
It’s more than just a buzzword. Students need the assurance that they can walk across the graduation stage with a firm grasp on what their next steps will be, whether they will attend technical school, begin a four-year college program, enter the military or find a job.
InsideOut Initiative
Another impactful partnership discussed at the Leadership Conference was the InsideOut Initiative, which focuses on youth sports. Specifically, this initiative is encouraging those involved in coaching youth sports to focus on the growth of students—instead of just winning. The presenter emphasized that sports are about more than what the scoreboard shows. Too often, coaches focus on wins and losses and not the valuable lessons to be gained in both winning and losing. I’m so grateful that we offer so many clubs, fine arts programs and sports at LES (Lakeland Elementary School) and LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School). It’s critical that each student find a niche with a supportive sponsor, teacher or coach who cares about the student on a personal level.
Keynote speaker
The most inspirational part of the conference was the keynote address, which was delivered by Manny Scott, one of the original Freedom Writers. The 2007 movie Freedom Writers follows several at-risk teens who are rescued from their cycles of poverty and failure by an idealistic teacher. Because Erin Gruwell [Manny’s teacher] invested in him when no one else did, he did more than just survive. He thrived. Ideally, every student has that teacher who makes an impact but, more importantly, a genuine connection. The best schools are the best schools because they’re built on relationships forged among staff and students.
Legislative, Legal Workshops
Michelle Childs and I attended the Legislative Workshop to learn the latest about two pieces of legislation affecting public schools across the state—one for the establishment of charter schools and the other for ESAs (Education Savings Accounts, or vouchers). Chairman Kevin Floyd and Dr. Horrell attended the Legal Workshop.
Breakout sessions
Along with Mrs. Childs, Mr. Floyd, Dr. Horrell and Board Member Jeremy Burnett, I attended breakout sessions to learn about other school systems’ successes in areas such as CTE training. Mr. Burnett commented, “This was a great time to be able to attend sessions in preparation for and anticipation of opening our high school.”
Delegate Assembly
Mrs. Childs and I represented Lakeland as delegates at the Delegate Assembly, which voted for nine resolutions that TSBA will use to promote the mission of public schools during the upcoming legislative session. Resolutions range from a proposal to allow alternative licensure for people wishing to teach, to requiring students using ESAs in private schools to be assessed using the same methods used to assess our public school students. The ESA program currently provides for no tracking of these students, who use per-pupil money from public schools to attend private schools.
All in all, the weekend reminded all Board Members of the importance of school boards in every system because it is the school board’s vision that drives the system. Mrs. Childs stated, “As the newest board member, it was very informative and a great reminder that our students always come first.”
… Photos courtesy of LSB
