Williamson County Schools

A Williamson County Schools curriculum specialist is being recognized by the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL). ?? WCS Curriculum Specialist Stephen Womack was recently named a 2024 TASL Distinguished School Administrator. Womack received the award at the organization's annual conference September 26-28. "Our WCS librarians are absolute professionals who work to help all of our students and schools be their best," Womack said. "I appreciate that they have allowed me to partner with them to continue to grow together. Being recognized by such a great group of professionals is truly an honor." The award recognized supervisors, principals and superintendents who have shown support for school library media programs in Tennessee. Womack was nominated by WCS librarians. "Stephen does many things to help us have visibility and representation, but it's also the many little things he does daily, weekly, yearly without recognition or notice that makes him the most deserving of this award," the nomination reads. "I hope he knows how much we appreciate him."

Amanda North Elementary is benefiting from the generosity of a local utility company. ??? Recently, Atmos Energy team members, accompanied by mascots Rosie the Skunk and Gus the Gopher, gave a heartwarming surprise to Amanda North Elementary?by donating $10,000 to the school library to purchase new books. "Astonished and a little speechless would describe our reaction when Atmos Energy showed up in our library to make such a generous gift," said ANES librarian Sara Tolstedt. "We are so grateful for their dedication to and support of children's literacy and for helping us put books in children's hands.?We can't wait to add to our collection so we can continue to grow readers among our Coyote community.?" After the new books are purchased, a special sticker will be placed on each one, allowing students to easily identify which books were obtained through the donation from Atmos Energy.

Williamson County Schools is the first district in Tennessee to be named a Model Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work District. WCS received the designation from Solution Tree. Schools and districts are recognized based on strict criteria, including a demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. "Williamson County Schools actually started this journey over 20 years ago at Ravenwood High," said WCS Director of Professional Development?Dr. Pat Boyd. "In those 20 years, our schools have started in different places on a continuum working toward putting in the structures of being a PLC in place. They have dedicated time during the school day for teachers to work in those collaborative teams to create instructional practices designed to best help students demonstrate success." The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to focus on learning, build a collaborative culture and create clear, measurable goals. "It's a collaborative effort among all the teachers in our buildings to ensure high levels of learning for all students," said WCS Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Dr. Dave Allen. "It means that all of our schools, all of our teachers, all of our principals and all of our staff across the county are committed to the work. We're super excited about this designation."

On their first day back after summer break, teachers at Sunset Middle School boarded a bus and hit the road to meet parents, students, and community members while collecting bottled water for local charities.

On their first day back, July 29, Edmondson Elementary teachers spent the morning collaborating and preparing for the first day of school. Later in the day, the teams made a trip to Franklin Lanes for an afternoon of team-building activities.

Don't miss an upcoming opportunity to join the WCS support staff team on Tuesday, July 16. WCS will be looking to hire special education paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, School Age Child Care (SACC) staff, substitute teachers and maintenance workers at the Support Staff Career Fair. From 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., district representatives will be at the Williamson County Administrative Complex to talk to applicants. Attendees should dress professionally and bring copies of their resumes. Interviews may be conducted during the event. The Administrative Complex is located at 1320 West Main Street. To see job vacancies, visit the?WCS Careers page. Email?WCS District Recruiter Chris Lovett?for more information about the event.

Two Williamson County Schools teachers are being honored by the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation for their work in music education. Franklin High's Michael Holland and Page Middle's Evan Burton are two of only 30 music educators nationwide to be named a 2024 CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence. "I'm honored to be selected for this award," said Holland. "The way the CMA Foundation supports music education and music educators is remarkable. Music brings people together and enhances people's lives. It provides opportunities for students to express, create and respond through music all while developing crucial life skills such as teamwork, discipline, grit, time management and more. Music has been part of the human experience well before the invention of writing. It may sound different across generations, but it is a universal language." Music Teachers of Excellence are selected based on their dedication to bringing high-quality music education to their students and their impact on their school community through music. In addition to the night of celebration at the awards ceremony, Music Teachers of Excellence received a $5,000 stipend to help support classroom needs, music programs and professional development. "I truly love my job of helping students develop a love for music, and it is wonderful to be recognized for the work I do," said Burton. "Music education is important in the lives of students because it gives them an outlet for self-expression and opportunity to create beauty and aesthetic experiences. It also develops skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork and the pursuit of excellence." Holland and Burton will be honored at the Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

International Week at Kenrose Elementary was a blast! ?? Students traveled the world, exploring different countries, cultures, and customs. What an incredible way to celebrate diversity and global learning!

WCS Superintendent Jason Golden is the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) Mid-Cumberland Superintendent of the Year. Golden was chosen by his colleagues in the area for this honor, making him one of eight regional recipients in the State. "Jason is an outstanding school district leader who is always willing to support his colleagues in the Mid-Cumberland region and the State," said Franklin Special School District Superintendent Dr. David Snowden. "He is always willing to share his knowledge and expertise as we strive to enhance the lives of all students. We know his focus is always on continuous improvement for all Williamson County schools to ensure the tradition of excellence is maintained. As regional superintendents, we appreciate Jason's willingness to advocate for public education." TOSS is an advocacy organization for public education in Tennessee. The Superintendent of the Year award recognizes exceptional leadership, service to students and more. More information about TOSS is available on the organization's?website. https://www.tosstn.com

A Ravenwood High teacher is the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) Young Music Educator of the Year. Rose Hellmers, the RHS choir director, received her award at the annual TMEA Music Education Conference April 10-13. The distinction recognizes the work of young music educators who have shown extraordinary promise, diligence and success. "I am a music teacher because I love developing in my students a lifelong love for making music, for themselves and for their world," Hellmers said. "I have seen firsthand the positive impact that high-quality music instruction can have on students and their communities, and I love to facilitate that experience." #education #musiceducation #teachers #TennesseeMusicEducationAssociation