By Paul Leach
Correspondent
ATHENS, Tenn - The McMinn County school system will spend more than $1.1 million in Race to the Top grant money over the next four years for professional development of high school Algebra I and English II teachers.
The program funds approved technological and performance initiatives designed to improve classroom instruction and prepare students for college and work. Tennessee recently received nearly $501 million in Race to the Top awards funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
"A year ago we instituted coaches at the elementary level," said Joe Gaston, director of federal programs for McMinn County Schools.
Gaston said the school system received such positive feedback from the elementary teachers that "we asked, 'Why can't we carry this concept K-12?'"
McMinn's Race to the Top proposal stated, "Our goal is to build the capacity for the Professional Learning Community to sustain itself after the four year period even if funding for coaches" is not available.
Barbara Aderhold, one of three new high school instructional coaches, said, "We listen to the teachers and address their needs. It's about a building a rapport and being open."
"What we do is data-driven," she said.
The instructional coaches use classroom observation and test-score analysis to help teachers improve their performance, thereby improving student performance.
Gaston was quick to praise early childhood supervisor Melody Armstrong for her implementation of elementary-level teaching coaches and for her role in developing the coaching idea for high school.
"We made a priority of professional development," she said.
"The teachers were very positive (about the coaches). The only negative feedback was that teachers wanted to have them more."
Mickey Blevins, supervisor of elementary education, said the instructional coaches had been a "lifeline" for helping the teachers assess student data and improving test scores.
"The coaches are a dynamic group. Our grade-level meetings give the teachers a collaborative atmosphere to share strategies and their experiences in a positive way," he said.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. E-mail him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.