Education

Award-winning author Ted Chiang told more than 400 English honor or advanced placement students from all three of Bedford County's public high schools on Friday that his idea of true science fiction doesn't flinch from the progress of technology but recognizes it as inevitable and looks honestly at both its good and bad effects...

Cascade High School won the Middle Tennessee Small Band Championship Grand Championship this past weekend in competition at Forrest High School in Chapel Hill. The band took first place in Class D for Field Commander, Color Guard, Percussion and Band and Best of the Best for Field Commander, Color Guard and Percussion.

The Bedford County Learning Academy book drive, led by the National English Honors Society and Interact, concluded on Friday afternoon. However, Cascade still plans to lend a helping hand. This is Teen Read Week at Cascade as kids and teachers celebrate literature and all its wonders. ...

On Nov. 8, The Webb School in Bell Buckle will open its campus to prospective students and their families for its annual Fall Visitors' Day. The daylong event begins at 9 a.m. with registration and breakfast and concludes at 3 p.m. The schedule includes a tour of the 150-acre campus that will be led by a current Webb student. ...

It will now be easier for students at Tenneessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville to transfer credit to Chattanooga State Community College if they choose to continue their education there. A series of new articulation agreements has been announced between TCAT-Shelbyville and Chattanooga State which will allow Chattanooga State to award credit to graduates from TCAT Shelbyville toward related Associate of Applied Technology degrees...

The Community Middle School Student Council hosted a canned food drive for the Good Samaritan Association Sept 23-Oct. 2. They were able to collect 1,382 cans and food items for the food bank, so many that it took a school bus to transport them. Seventh grade student council members: Audrina Bearden, Landon Berman, Aliyah Blackburn, Guadalupe Cazarez, Stevie Dickenson, Cody Duff, Caitlin Handley, Alexa Montalvo, Emerson Petrie, Mason Smith and Karen Teal. Eighth grade: Emma Armstrong, Lizzy Beasley, Lexi Berman, Thomas Bowling, Addison Cothran, Karla Moreno, Grace Neill, Bailey Welch, Lacey Wilf & Sarah Woolbright.

Tennessee Department of Transportation officials plan to visit the Cascade School campus next week to look at solutions to traffic problems at the intersection of Fairfield Pike and State Route 269 (Bell Buckle-Wartrace Road) — and the solution the state apparently favors is a roundabout...

Cascade Middle School Principal David Parker talked with parents prior to their annual trek to visit classrooms. Parker said recently the new available space, since the opening of the new high school down the road, is a blessing.

Last week at Cascade, the National English Honors Society and Interact club began hosting a book drive. Members of each club decorated cardboard boxes for students and teachers to donate books into. The boxes are placed in each classroom, either in front of the classroom or just near the door. The books are being collected for the BCLA library...

In honor of The Webb School’s 150th Anniversary, the Follin Speaker Series is hosting special guests throughout the 2019-2020 school year. Three speakers are planned this fall to launch the series, an endowed program at school. The presentations will be in the Follin Chapel on the Webb campus in Bell Buckle and are free and open to the public...

The Cascade High School marching band performed well Saturday at the Columbia Invitational Marching Contest, winning First Place Color Guard, Second Place Percussion, First Place AAA Band and First Place Overall Music Award. Seniors, from left, are Kayla Prince, Mallory Vincent, Anna Brown, Heidi Engle, Aubrea Curtis, Junior Drum Major Samuel Maddox, Tristan Bowen, Bryce Ware, Nadiana Jesch, Micheal O’Donnell, Dylan Arnold and Peyton McPeak.

Last week at Cascade, kids were chatting nonstop about the big game that would happen that Friday. While the students were already thrilled to be out of school that day, they were beyond ecstatic to see how the Battle of Bedford would play out between Cascade and Community. However, that wasn’t the only topic circulating the hallways...

Two seniors at The Webb School, Adelia Stanley and Jiahua "Tiger" Wang, have been named as National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists. Senior Dalton Gregory received a National Merit Scholarship Program Letter of Commendation. This year is the 65th year of the National Merit Scholarship Program...

On Sept. 21, the Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School traveled to Stewart’s Creek High School in Murfreesboro to attend the 2019 Middle Tennessee FFA New Member Conference. Members attended sessions on various aspects of FFA and were able to bring that information back to their chapter to help others. Back row, from left: Savannah Martineau, Emma Ashworth, Zoe Spence, Alex Ochoa, Allison Davis, Abigail Betancourt, Jacob Stallings, and David Carben. Front row: Shelby Fortel, Betsabe Lopez, Mercedes Quinonez, Joanna Hernandez, Cayla Lynch, and Alissa Cobble.

On Sept. 19, the Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School and Bedford County 4-H traveled to Lewisburg to compete in the Middle Tennessee Land Judging Contest. The FFA team placed third in the Middle Tennessee FFA Region and will move on to the Tennessee FFA State Land Judging Event to be held in Oak Ridge on Oct. 21. The 4-H A Team placed fifth in the region and Abigail Betancourt competed as an individual for 4-H. The teams are as follows:...

Two members of Cascade FFA competed at the Tennessee State Fair on Sept. 9. Emily Yates and Macy Legate wrote, memorized and practiced their 3-4 minute speech as they prepared for the FFA public speaking contest in their respective age divisions. On Sept. ...

As part of Motlow State Community College’s 50th Anniversary celebration, the college is hosting the Fourth Annual Chamber Super Mixer, titled the “Super Motlow Mixer” (#supermotlowmixer), Oct. 15 from 5-7 p.m., in the quad on the Moore County campus. Motlow will welcome Chamber members from Tullahoma, Manchester, Franklin County, Lincoln County, Moore County and Bedford County. Door prizes from each Chamber, and Motlow, will be given away. Chamber members interested in attending can RSVP with their local chamber. Front row, from left: Sharon Bateman, assistant director Motlow College Foundation; Brenda Cannon, Motlow executive director of community relations; Carolyn Denton, Fayetteville-Lincoln County Chamber executive director; Michael Torrence, Motlow president; Tisha Fritz, Tullahoma Chamber membership coordinator; Christy Glenn, Motlow coordinator of special events; Katy Riddle, Manchester Chamber executive director; and Michelle Earle, Franklin County Chamber executive director. Back row: Phyllis Daniel, Motlow College Foundation executive secretary; Whitney Collier, Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber director of membership; Ray Tucker, Moore County Chamber president; and Tony Millican, Motlow chief learning officer.

Charles E. Gavin III, a Bedford County resident and founder of MFG Chemical, and the Gavin family have received multiple honors from Auburn University. In a special ceremony held on Sept. 13, Auburn University's Harbert Business College officially named the rooftop terrace of its new business building the "Gavin Terrace" in memory of Charles "Chuck" Gavin IV, who became CEO of the company his father founded, MFG Chemical...

Cascade High School alumnus Chad Fletcher has returned home to Bedford County to work as the new school system federal programs supervisor. Fletcher was hired in August following the retirement of predecessor Connie Boutwell. A native of Fairfield, Fletcher and family currently live on his family farm there. His Bedford County roots run deep, especially within the local education system...

Hadley Griffy, a senior member of Cascade's girls' basketball team, is one of the many who help in The Grind. The Grind is a coffee stand run by the girls' basketball team and was introduced the beginning of this year to raise money. Hadley says, "We started The Grind to raise money and pay off our new uniforms, basketball lockers, and trophy cases. ...

Community High School recently held its football homecoming festivities. Pictured, front row, left to right, are attendants: Emma Bentley, Riley Davis, Jadyn Greer, Shelbie Williams, Payton Davis,Yurley Anica, Hannah Garrett, Jemima Ramos, Meredith Simmons, back row, left to right, Mason Russell, Riker Reid, Chris Land, Hunter Barlow, Lane Williams, Eric Gochee, Morgan Reid, Delvin Ballinger, Dallas Grooms.

The Youth Leadership Bedford Class of 2019-2020 had its retreat day on Sept. 7. It started at Shelbyville Municipal Airport, where pilots Travis Houser, Jake Garrette and Ben Kuper from the Middle Tennessee State University aerospace program took the youth for a brief ride around Shelbyville. The class then to The Webb School for the rest of the day, which included an etiquette class, lunch and team-building exercises on the ropes course.

A Shelbyville Central High student accused on social media of threatening to bring a gun to school Friday does not have access to weapons at his home, Sheriff Austin Swing said Thursday night. “We have been to the student’s home and checked to make sure no guns are available,” Swing said. “We talked to him and his parents.”...

Bedford County Board of Education moved unanimously Tuesday night to draft an immediate letter to Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham and County Commission clarifying its desire to continue selecting school architects. Historically, the board would make the recommendation and the final contract would be considered and approved by the county commission and or its finance committee. But the county has begun interviewing architectural firms...

Mercedes Jones, center, of the Shining Stars program was an honorary captain of the Shelbyville Golden Eaglettes soccer team Tuesday night.

On Sept. 9, the Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School traveled to the Tennessee State Fair to help with the Tennessee FFA Ham Breakfast and compete in the Tennessee FFA Dairy Handlers CDE. The chapter members were able to speak with state dignitaries while enjoying a country ham breakfast. They were also responsible for helping set up and clean up after the event...

Last week at Cascade High School students celebrated their first Homecoming week in the new school building. Everywhere you turned, you saw someone dressed in a wacky outfit that was personalized to reflect their personality while sticking to the category of that dress up day. ...

On Sept. 5, the Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School competed in the 6th Annual Bedford County Land Judging Invitational Contest held in Shelbyville. The team placed first out of the nine teams competing. By winning the event, the team also won the District X championship for the Middle Tennessee FFA Region. Team member Allison McCarty was the 1st high scoring individual and Khloe Davis was the 2nd high scoring individual. Bedford County Soil Conservation District sponsored the meal for the event; Sam Davis provided the property for the event, and Bedford County FFA Alumni sponsored plaques. From left are Cali Mason, Khloe Davis, Dorothy Brandon and Allison McCarty.

Four Community High School students face marijuana charges after THC was found in vape pens Wednesday, according to a Bedford County Sheriff’s Office report. The vape pens were being sold for $40 by two of the students, School Resource Officer Tracey Harvey’s report said...

What are you concerned about within your county? I hope at least in some part it's local schools. Everyone's a stakeholder in the education process. I suggest reading "Budget 101-A Citizen's Guide to the Budget." As boring as that might seem, it's a free document from Bedford County Board of Education featuring a wealth of school data...

In celebration of homecoming, Cascade High School students and teachers dressed up Wednesday as “Rednecks” for a day. While the attire is not their usual choice of school clothing, the main point of this event was to garner school spirit. These guys received an “A” for their effort and for being such good sports. From left, Alex Allison, Brandon Overby, Elijah Smith, Jayden Burns, Michael Gentry and Cole Smith.

Kristopher Grant Frazier of Shelbyville was named to The University of Alabama President's List for summer 2019. A total of 477 students enrolled during the 2019 summer term at UA were named to the Dean's List with an academic record of 3.5 or above or the President's List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's)...

NOTE: This is the second installment of three articles about Bedford County Board of Education's 2019-2024 Strategic Plan for Tennessee Department of Education. For 14 years, Glenn Forsee sat on the right side of the Bedford County Board of Education. Recently, fellow board members elected him to come front and center as chair -- a position he says he accepts with great enthusiasm...

Bedford County Retired Teachers met Wednesday at Urban Plantation for a luncheon meeting. Connie Gatlin of Cleveland, Tennessee, was the speaker. Gatlin is a retired drama teacher in Bradley County, a past education director of the Museum at 5ive Points and the current owner and director of the Cleveland City Ballet dance studio...

Magician Bruce Amato has performed at Southside Elementary School every year for 30 years. This year’s program was called “Who’s Who in You?” kindergarten volunteer Jacie Bryan assisted Amato on stage during his last trick.

David Adcock and Adcock Seal Coating, Pressure Washing and Snow Services donated his time over the summer to repaint the lines of the Southside Elementary School parking lot, and several students are seen here showing off the new markings. The school also reports that Traders Bank funded this year’s Salamander Stroll.

Students in need in Bedford County will have the necessary school supplies for the 2019-20 school year thanks to the generosity of area industries, banks, businesses and one civic club participating in United Way of Bedford County's annual "Stuff The School Bus" campaign...

Bedford County Board of Education recently approved its 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, which explains to its stakeholders and Tennessee Department of Education exactly how the district will focus on becoming an "exemplary" ranked school....

Several politicians and regional dignitaries visited the 81st annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration on Thursday night including Middle Tennessee State University president Dr. Sidney McPhee, seen here with Sadie Fowler of Shelbyville.

After 20 years of providing resources for students to take out, the James E. Walker Library at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro is offering the community a chance to give back. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the library is launching its “20 for 20” campaign to raise funds to continue current services and launch some new ones...

For nine years, Tennessee Department of Education has invited educators to complete Tennessee Educator Survey (TES). The 2019 results, a mixed impression of state education, were recently released. This year, the state received its greatest response. To break it down, 42,068 teachers and a couple thousand school administrators offered their opinions...

Based on recent discussions, there’s nothing more Bedford County Board of Education would like to do than get rid of 40 aging portable buildings located on school campuses. The board moved recently to declare eight unoccupied portable structures at Cascade Middle and Elementary schools surplus property. This move means Cascade will no longer have any portables — a sight all too familiar for decades in Bedford County...

The Webb School’s 150th school year began this month with students gathering on the school’s football field to form a “150.” Festivities are planned throughout the year with special events in U.S. cities and abroad, a “Coast-to-Coast Toast” on founder William Robert “Sawney” Webb’s Nov. 11 birthday, distinctive speakers and classroom activities. The celebration will culminate with an anniversary party in April 2020 and the 150th graduating class on May 23, 2020. The private prep school, which has both boarding and day students, is located in Bell Buckle.

Excitement rolls through Cascade as everyone prepares for the first pep rally. Pep rallies have a part of Cascade for years and represent the students, teachers, and staff's support for sports teams, band members, and Homecoming. They are held multiple times throughout the year to rile up everyone for upcoming events that occur in fall, winter, and spring...

Billy Hix, professor emeritus at Motlow State Community College and founder of the Motlow College Foundation STEM Outreach program, was selected as one of seven astronomy professionals from across the nation to travel to Chile as part of the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program, or ACEAP. This program was funded through the National Science Foundation and Associated University Incorporated...

The election of a new school board chair, state accountability scores and a 5-year strategic plan were among agenda items discussed during Bedford County Board of Education's business meeting Tuesday night. "I do not wish to be chair this coming year and will not accept being chair again this year," said outgoing chair John Boutwell...

Lana Craig from EdSouth recently came to speak to Shelbyville Central High School seniors about how to choose the right university, college or tech school for them after high school graduation. She also talked to them about the costs of attending these schools and how to find scholarships.

To start off only the second week of school at Cascade, classes and lunch were delayed as the fire alarm was set off. Students and staff were instructed to evacuate the building Monday morning, as it was not a drill. Within 10 minutes, fire trucks began to enter the staff parking lot, the student parking lot, and the bus area. Fifteen minutes after the alarm sounded, five fire trucks had surrounded the school as kids filmed with their phones. ...

Measured comparatively with its peers on spring testing, Bedford County is slowly climbing Tennessee Department of Education's accountability ladder, receiving a recent "Satisfactory" for academic growth, according to the yearly accountability report released Thursday...

Jeff Mitchell, with 14 years as a math teacher and coach at The Webb School, was recognized by The Webb School Parents' Association with the 2019 WSPA Faculty Enrichment Award. Denise Ledbetter, WSPA president, presented the award at the opening of school recognition dinner on Aug. 7...