Anderson county schools earn state honors
What makes schools in our county ‘Reward Schools’?
The state of Tennessee made nine schools in Anderson County “Reward Schools” and the calculation is more than just a number for their principals, staff and students.
The designation goes out to schools with a federal accountability score of 3.1 or higher out of four. The score is based on student achievement, student growth, low chronic absenteeism
and the proficiency of students whose first language is not English. Schools in Oak Ridge and Clinton city schools got the designation,
but out of the county’s school systems, Anderson County Schools had the largest number of Reward Schools with Clinton High, Grand Oaks Elementary, Claxton Elementary and Andersonville Elementary winning the designation. The state also named Anderson County Schools an “advancing district.”
CHS Principal Rob Herrell pointed out in an interview he took over recently and couldn’t speak to the secret to achieving the designation. However, he did have thoughts on what to do to maintain it. And to that end, he said he was listening to the teachers and staff who had been there to achieve it.
“They are learning who I am and I am learning who they are,” he said, adding that he’d gotten a chance for them to share ideas with him.
“The No. 1 thing I can do is listen,” he said.
“I’ve learned a lot in the few short months that I’ve been at Clinton High School,” he said. “I think the staff here at Clinton High School deserves an applause for their dedication and service not just to our students but to our community as well.”
Just like he was building a relationship with teachers, they in turn, he said, are building relationships with students.
Grand Oaks is at 1033 Oliver Springs Highway, and Principal Jessica Conatser said she could not be prouder of the Reward School honor or more eager to talk about the reasons behind it.
“This designation is more than just a title;
it reflects the growth and progress of every student at Grand Oaks,” she said. “It reinforces the belief that with high expectations, strategic support, and a collaborative school culture,
all students can learn at high levels. It also serves as a celebration of the work our teachers do daily to ensure students feel safe, supported, and challenged.
“People should know that Grand Oaks Elementary is a place where relationships and rigor go hand in hand,” she said. “We believe that every child is capable
of success, and we work tirelessly to provide the instruction and support necessary to make that happen. Our school operates with the mindset that we will do what is right, not what is easy, and that commitment is reflected in our students’ achievements. The work is not easy, but it sure is rewarding when we see how students achieve success.”
She narrowed down that success to three factors.
First, she cited an
“all hands on deck” approach: Every adult in the building plays a role including intervention specialists, related arts teachers, and educational assistants, she said.
“Our PE and technology teachers lead math interventions,
our librarian and arts teacher provide extra reading support, our school counselor provides social-emotional support, our educational assistants work with small groups of students to reinforce skills, and our teachers and our entire intervention team ensure that students get what they need to succeed. We truly believe that every adult in our building contributes to academic success,” she said.
Second, she listed weekly Professional Learning Communities, in which teachers meet to analyze student data and track progress and collaborate to plan targeted interventions.
Third, she listed student ownership of learning.
“Our students track their own progress, reflect on their data, and set goals, making them active participants in their education,” she said. “They are so aware of their own data and progress that they have become great advocates for their own learning. They will even ask their classroom and intervention teachers for extra support with specific grade-level standards that they want to improve.”
Lastly, she listed “a strong school culture and shared mission.”
