Nashville, TN—The Tennessee Department of Education and Edvantia, Inc. continue their longstanding partnership in support of creating stronger schools and higher levels of student achievement. As the new school year begins, the partners have two major efforts under way to target these goals.
Tennessee Exemplary Educators
In July, the Department extended Edvantia's contract for the Tennessee Exemplary Educators program through June 30, 2010. The $7.2 million extension marks the fifth year of a $28.7 million contract—and the 10th year of making a real difference for students in Tennessee.
Edvantia has operated the Exemplary Educators program since 2001, providing management and professional development services to more than 186 Tennessee educators who have left retirement to continue working toward better teaching and learning in the state’s schools. Over the past eight years, Exemplary Educators have helped 176 schools and several districts achieve good standing. The program received recognition at the national level in 2007, when it was selected for a Top 50 Innovations in American Government Award from Harvard University.
High School Redesign Initiative
Late last year, the Department announced its plan to use federal school improvement funds to help high schools redesign instructional practices to better address the state's new and more rigorous learning standards. Staff from the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at Edvantia worked with the Department to design a competitive grant process for high schools to apply for funding and a support structure to help schools implement their proposed redesigns.
With the application process nearly complete, Edvantia is under contract to operate the support structure. With approximately 33 schools expected to receive funding, this structure includes seven Redesign Grant Facilitators, who will each work with four or five schools, and a manager, who will supervise the Facilitators. These staff members all have experience in Tennessee schools, and have received training from Edvantia for their new roles.
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About Edvantia: Edvantia is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 1966, that partners with education agencies, foundations, publishers, and service providers to apply expertise in research, evaluation, professional development, and technical assistance to help schools and students succeed. Specialty areas include district and school improvement, teacher quality, systems development and alignment, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), 21st century skills, and college access. Learn more at the Edvantia Web site or contact Dr. Tony Marchesi (see above).
