Resetting the Conversation Around Assessment?

By Sally Absher Last week, the Tennessee Department of Education (TNDOE) Commissioner Candice McQueen announced that the department intends to award Questar, a national leader in large-scale assessment, a contract to develop and administer Tennessee’s annual state...

The Chalk Board for July 11, 2016

By Sally Absher Knox County TSA Students Win Big at TSA National Conference Local Technology Student Association (TSA) teams and individuals from the Knoxville area scored in the Top 10 in a number of categories at the National TSA Conference held in Nashville in...

Will Regulations Render ESSA No Better Than NCLB?

By Sally Absher Last month, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander welcomed members of the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) to his Washington D.C. office. KCS Board of Education member Patti Bounds was one of a group of TSBA members in Washington to participate in the...

The Chalk Board for the week of June 27, 2016

By Sally Absher   Zaevion Dobson to Receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award ESPN reports that Zaevion Dobson will be awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYS next month. Zaveion, a Fulton High School football player, was shot to death last December while...

The Chalk Board for June 20, 2016

By Sally Absher Buzz Thomas Joins KCS as Interim Superintendent Appointed Interim Superintendent Buzz Thomas officially took the reins as Director of Knox County Schools on June 15. He’s not quite “flying solo” yet though – outgoing Superintendent Jim McIntyre...