Editor’s note: This is the first installment of the Daily News Journal’s weekly education roundup. Each week, we’ll share events at public, charter, and private schools in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, as well as home schooling in the area. Story ideas? Contact reporter Nancy DeGennaro at [email protected].
Here’s the latest news from schools in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.
book for teenage authors
Chris Steadman, a senior at La Vergne High School, has self-published his first young adult book on Amazon.
The book, titled “Time to Scrap”, chronicles the struggle of protagonist Joseph, who aims to win a fighting tournament and emerge from a life of poverty, gangs and violence in his urban neighborhood.
“A lot of kids like me in my community just want to play sports or music, but it’s different and it can show them and inspire them to do different things,” Steadman said. “It can also encourage young people and teenagers to read. Many don’t see it as “cool”, but if they see someone like them doing it, then maybe they would see it differently.
The 133-page book is currently available for purchase on Amazon. A digital version of the book is also available free to current Kindle subscribers.
Teacher wins national award
Brittany Taylor doesn’t want her students to sit and listen while she teaches history lessons — she wants them to be fully engaged while they learn.
Taylor is the latest winner of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year award.
Taylor began her teaching career in 2012 as a student teacher at Rockvale Middle and has always had a passion for teaching at the school since her first year.
“I fell in love with middle schoolers, and I fell in love especially with Rockvale. So I added my endorsement and taught a year at Smyrna Middle with ELA. Then I’ve been here since teaching history,” said Taylor said. .
The wall behind Taylor’s desk is decorated with certificates and plaques of recognition for her teaching achievements. His nomination for TCSS Teacher of the Year 2019 is there too. The price is nice, Taylor said, but the students are more important.
“What I love about my job is kids and seeing them learn something new and finally get it,” Taylor said. “Just the excitement they bring to the content itself. I love thinking of ways to help them understand something they might be struggling with or make something more fun.”
From lesson plans to classroom engagement, social studies students at Taylor have something to look forward to every day in their history lessons.
“My favorite thing some kids tell me is, ‘You know – I didn’t like the story before – but you make it really fun. ”
“Best for All”
The Tennessee Department of Education has designated schools in the city of Murfreesboro a “best for all” district for significantly investing federal COVID-19 stimulus funding to boost student success and improve student achievement. school.
“Best for All” districts will receive financial, operational and resource benefits in recognition of districts’ planned investments to spend their share of federal COVID-19 relief and recovery funding directly on services, resources and supports that will help students to succeed academically.
