Education

There’s an expression, “the ox is in the ditch.” Bedford County School Board members found themselves there Tuesday night when they hesitantly approved spending $16,462 on a temporary two-inch water line at the new Cascade High School site. “I hate to spend the money on it, but we need to get the building conditioned,” said architect John Davis, who is overseeing the Cascade High building program...

Bedford County Board of Education Chairman John Boutwell painted a picture recently of where local education fits into a progressive world. Like every good artist, he left the viewers to their own devices. "I'm not here to make a judgment ... statement, good or bad, about what I'm going to present," Boutwell said. "I want people to draw their own conclusions."...

With ever-changing state mandates, a major building program at hand and a variety of local educational challenges, Bedford County Board of Education is comparable in its efforts right now to the "Little Engine that Could." If school systems all had that little blue engine to lean on for help, more educational problems might be solved. Locally, they're a board of nine with a few "blue engines" to fall back on...

Motlow State Community College has received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to offer 100 percent of its emergency medical services program at the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy on Unionville-Deason Road...

Members of Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County traveled to Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville to see the musical “School of Rock.” The trip was underwritten by Mr. & Mrs. Bob Prince, who club officials say have been strong supporters of the organization. It was the first time for many of the children to visit TPAC or see a full-scale musical production. (Submitted photo)

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, was enacted just after the Civil War and was aimed at addressing the legal status of newly-freed slaves, whether former Confederate officials could hold office, and the disposition of war debt...

MURFREESBORO -- Two nationally known speakers will offer insights on leadership as well as personal and professional development during keynote addresses at this year's Leadership Summit hosted by MTSU's Jennings A. Jones College of Business. Registration is open for the 2018 summit, which will be held from 10:30 a.m. ...

Motlow State Community College recently recognized faculty, administration and staff members with 40 years of service to the institution during the College’s annual Fall Convocation. Motlow President Michael Torrence congratulates 40-year employee Carolyn Wells.

Elementary teacher Deborah Bates was once reminded by former Principal Hal Skelton that she couldn't save the world. Still, she wanted to try by being the best teacher possible. After 37 ˝ years, it seems she may have very well fulfilled her goal. Bates officially retired in May from Bedford County School System...

Community High School celebrated its football homecoming Friday night. (Submitted photo)

Motlow State Community College recently recognized faculty, administration, and staff members with extended service to the institution during the College’s annual Fall Convocation. Motlow president Michael Torrence, left, congratulates 35-year employee Steve Smotherman.

Bedford County Soil Conservation District went to the Boys & Girls Club of Bedford County this year to teach the kids how to make Soil Babies. Soil Babies consist of taking a knee-high stocking, adding seed in the toe, filling with potting soil, forming it into a ball and decorating. David Scocchio with the Conservation District demonstrated how a seed becomes a plant. Then it was off to make Soil Babies...

Angie Hill and her Cascade High School cafeteria foodies serve students chicken nuggets on Fridays with a side order of hip hop. It’s not unusual to see the nutrition team twirling their spoons and clanking their spoodles to iTunes. Songs like “Runaround Sue” can certainly break the monotony of making 1,000 fruit cups a day...

Motlow State Community College recently recognized faculty, administration, and staff members with 25 years of service to the institution during the College’s annual Fall Convocation. From left are honoree Susan Dickey; Motlow president Michael Torrence; and honorees Dawn Copeland and Stuart Bloodworth. (Motlow College photos)

Motlow State Community College recently recognized faculty, administration, and staff members with 20 years of service to the institution during the College’s annual Fall Convocation. From left are honorees David Jernigan, Gina Burke and Jan Jennings; Motlow president Michael Torrence; and honorees Debbie Finney, Margia Keel, and John Selman. Not pictured is Wes Spratlin. (Motlow College photo)

FirstBank Mortgage has awarded $1,000 scholarships to 66 families as part of the Next Generation Mortgage Scholarship program. In all, $66,000 was awarded to families across Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. FirstBank mortgage banker Julie Farris awarded a scholarship to Kevin McKennon in Shelbyville...

Shelbyville Lions Club members administer vision screenings each year for the Bedford County Pre-K program and for other students throughout the county. Seen here at Thomas Magnet School are Lions Club members Peggy Bush, Jonnie Wright, Eddie Wright and Donnetta Hurt with students Emaleigh Cook, Jake Powell, Caleb Barrera and McKenna Addie. (Submitted photo)

Motlow State Community College recently recognized faculty, administration, and staff members with 10 and 15 years of service to the institution during the College’s annual Fall Convocation.

Col. Jonathan Vannatta, U.S. Army Reserve, graduated from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., earning a master's degree in Strategic Studies on July 27. "The educational highlight of this program for me was an elective on Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). ...

A panel of college professors will celebrate Constitution Day by leading constitutional issue discussions on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Motlow State Community College. The forum, which is free and open to the public, will take place inside Eoff Hall's Powers Auditorium on the Moore County campus from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m...

Tennessee Department of Agriculture has introduced a new Tennessee Milk logo which can be used by processors to indicate that their product comes from Tennessee dairy farms. State Department of Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton announced Wednesday that Middle Tennessee State University and Crossville, Tennessee-based Sunrise Dairy are the first to carry the Tennessee Milk logo on their dairy products being sold publicly....

Each year, the Lion’s Club administers vision screening for Bedford County Pre-K, as well as other students throughout the county. Many times students hav even referred for further vision assessments. We would like to thank these volunteers for their time. Members: Peggy Bush, Jonnie Wright, Eddie Wright, and Donnetta Hurt. Students: Emaleigh Cook, Jake Powell, Caleb Barrera, and McKenna Addie...

Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library will offer two six-week rounds of courses in beginning computer skills. The first round of classes begins on Sept. 13 and ends on Oct. 13. The second round begins on Oct. 25 and ends on Dec. 6. All classes will be in the library's community room at 6 p.m. ...

Six members of the Motlow State Community College faculty recently received recognition of their Tennessee Board of Regents-approved promotions at the College’s Fall Convocation. From left, are Dan McShea, associate professor; Omar Tantawi, assistant professor; Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president; Dr. Lucy Craig, professor; and Dr. David Bethea, associate professor. Not pictured are Eric Claunch, assistant professor; and Brian Mitchell, associate professor. (Motlow College photo)

Ayelen Lopez-Peniche, an East Side School fourth grader, listens attentively as librarian Katie Myers gives a dramatic reading from the next chapter of their study book, “The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963” by Christopher Paul Curtis. Though fiction, the book covers the author’s experiences in the 1960s. The fourth and fifth graders hung on to every word. (T-G Photos by Dawn Hankins)

Erica Wright, a Wartrace native and an acclaimed author of novels and poetry, will be the next guest in the 2018-2019 Follin Speaker Series at The Webb School in Bell Buckle. Wright will speak Sept. 17 at 9:40 a.m. in the Follin Chapel on the Webb campus. The event is free and open to the public...

Six members of the Motlow State Community College faculty recently received recognition at the College’s Fall Convocation for being granted tenure by the Tennessee Board of Regents. In higher education, tenure is a faculty member’s permanent job contract. The award of tenure is recognition of the merit of a faculty member and of the assumption that he/she would meet the long-term staffing needs of the department or academic program unit and the college. From left are Dan McShea, assistant professor; Larry Flatt, executive director of advanced robotics; Dr. Michael Torrence, Motlow president; Dr. David Bethea, assistant professor; Pamela Harris, assistant professor; and Dr. Khalid Tantawi, assistant professor. Not pictured is Paul Sand, assistant professor. (Motlow College photo)

When it comes to community involvement, Dan Reed's name usually comes up in conversation. Reed's name most recently came up on the August election ballot. He ran unopposed and won the District 3 school board seat, vacated after 26 years by Amy Martin...

Middle Tennessee State University students will benefit from a student's thoughtful charitable effort as she collects clothing at her workplace through Friday, Sept. 7. Alexandra Stephens, who is serving an internship at the Nashville-based firm of Thomas & Company, is gathering gently used items from her colleagues for Raiders' Closet, the nonprofit endeavor that makes job interview and workplace-appropriate items available for MTSU students...

Motlow State Community College is sponsoring speaker and award-winning author Tawan Perry to share a series of student success presentations on Sept. 10, 11 and 12, as part of Motlow's Weeks of Welcome (WOW). Perry's workshops focus on transitioning into college and maintaining wellness...

He’s moved up to county mayor while she’s retired, but outgoing school board members Amy Martin and Chad Graham said Tuesday night that they will still be around to assist schools. Martin has represented District 3 for 26 years while Graham has served District 7 for nine...

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville collision repair technology instructor Eric Brown received the People’s Choice Award at a car show held during NACE Automechanika, an automotive industry trade show held recently in Atlanta. A car show was held on the event floor and sponsored by the Collision Repair Education Foundation, I-CAR. ...

The Webb School's 2018-2019 Follin Speaker Series will welcome Chicago Bulls assistant coach Nate Loenser on Aug. 30 at 2:20 p.m. in the Follin Chapel. The event is free and open to the public. Loenser, 39, was named assistant coach in 2017 after serving as head coach of the Windy City Bulls, the team's Development League affiliate. ...

Cascade Elementary recently held its first annual “Back to School Bingo for Books” in an effort to celebrate literacy. Approximately 200 parents and students enjoyed the bingo competition and won books. (Submitted photos)

Barry Bennett, supervisor of student services for Bedford County School System, updated school board members Tuesday night on attendance policy changes. The new attendance policy went into effect this year. It is a policy to help parents identify how to best keep students in school, said Bennett...

The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration recently donated over 9,000 tickets to students in Bedford County schools. Each student was given a free ticket to attend the 80th annual Celebration. Each school was issued tickets for a particular night that affords that student free admission to the horse show. ...

The Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School has been recognized in 2018 National Chapter Award Program from the National FFA Organization. The program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters from throughout the country that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. ...

Tennessee Department of Education recognizes that Bedford County School System has proactive safety goals instead of reactive ones, which is why the state is acknowledging those efforts with grant dollars. Superintendent Don Embry mentioned new school safety dollars awarded during last month’s school board meeting. He said that Bedford County is set to receive a one-time allocation of $250,000...

Harris Middle School School Resource Officer Brianna Gaines is a law enforcement officer, but also a mentor. “It’s about building relationships with the students . . . no walking vests,” said Gaines. Every day she smiles and is pleasant, joking along the way with many students. But the SRO never loses sight of the importance of serving the schools...

Combining the brain’s natural ability to learn language with comprehensible input methodology was the focus of a recent workshop for language teachers at The Webb School that included area teachers. Dr. Shelley Thomas, founder and director of the Center for Accelerated Language Acquisition at Middle Tennessee State University, led the workshop. ...

For the second consecutive year, AT&T has donated $81,000 to the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology to enhance student training programs in Computer Information Technology, which will help address critical workforce development needs throughout Tennessee...

Liberty School is the place to be on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. for a great workout. This class is designed to help improve coordination, speed, agility, strength, quickness, helping with imbalances in muscles, and overall athleticism in athletes ages 7 and up. Athletes will also learn about health and nutrition as well as the importance of stretching. This class is taught by Jeremy Byrd...

Ever heard of Porcupine Sliders? It sounds like something from the Outback. But actually, it was a creative recipe developed by a group of student chefs, through an event sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). While researching a school nutrition story recently, I ran across this great mini cookbook filled with nutritious recipes prepared by students across the country...

Scott Dorsett, with 10 years as director of athletics and personal finance teacher at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, was recognized by The Webb School Parents' Association with the 2018 WSPA Faculty Enrichment Award. Ashlea Shepard, WSPA president, presented the award at the opening of school recognition dinner on Aug. 8...

Ella Hill, 3, was on her way to have lunch with her 5-year-old sister Corley at Cascade Elementary, when she posed for this photo. Her father, Derrick Hill, is an English and fine arts teacher at Cascade High. It’s very probable that little Ella will someday attend the new high school, which is under construction on Fairfield Pike. (T-G Photo by Dawn Hankins)

A thermometer reading confirms that your 8-year-old has a 100.2 degree temperature on a Monday morning. Should you send the student on to school? Kathy Obara, Cascade schools nurse, said it's not always clear to parents what to do when kids are sick. So for that reason, she has included on the school website, "Dr. Kathy's RX."...

The Webb School began its 149th school year on Aug. 13 with a total enrollment of 296 students from 18 countries and 14 states. There are 182 day students and 114 boarding students including 99 new students enrolled for the 2018-2019 school year. On Aug. ...

Motlow State Community College, and mechatronics professor Dr. Khalid Tantawi, have been awarded a $545,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for a 36-month project to introduce the concepts and technologies of Smart Manufacturing to the educators of advanced manufacturing in the United States...