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    TSBA: Your Education Source Podcast

    Welcome to TSBA: Your Education Source - a podcast produced by the Tennessee School Boards Association. Tune in to hear discussions and interviews about legislation, legal topics, policies, and other happenings that affect public education in Tennessee.
    en67 Episodes

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    Episodes (67)

    Cheatham County: A Unified Champion District

    Cheatham County: A Unified Champion District

    In today’s episode, Dr. Cathy Beck, Director of Schools for Cheatham County Schools, and David Risner, Board Chairman of the Cheatham County Board of Education, share the importance of becoming the first school district in Tennessee to be named a Unified Champion District by the Special Olympics. Join us as they cover the steps the district took to achieve this designation as well as the importance of promoting social inclusion throughout the school district.

    https://www.cheathamcountyschools.net/apps/news/article/1810530

    https://www.cheathamcountyschools.net/apps/news/article/1732327

    https://youtu.be/3O2Fxc3pyFs

    https://www.cheathamcountyschools.net/apps/news/article/1644462

    TSBA Awards Program

    TSBA Awards Program

    The Tennessee School Boards Association maintains an awards program that, each year, recognizes school board members who have gone above and beyond for their school district. In today’s episode, Brittany Massey, Director of Finance and Member Services, and Sandy Jones, Board of Directors Services Coordinator, cover the different types of awards and recognitions available for school board members to achieve throughout the year. Visit www.tsba.net for additional award details and applications.

    Cybersecurity 101: How to Protect Your Digital Assets

    Cybersecurity 101: How to Protect Your Digital Assets

    In today’s episode, Nathan Abbott, Information Systems Manager with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury – Division of Local Government Audit, provides an in-depth overview of cybersecurity and speaks to why it is important for school districts to ensure that the appropriate safeguards are in place to protect their digital assets.

    Show Notes:

    Below are a few websites mentioned during today’s podcast that may be helpful to reference when learning more about cybersecurity:

    https://www.cisa.gov/

    https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/la/resources/cyberaware.html

    https://www.tn.gov/cybersecurity.html

    https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac

    Careers in Motion

    Careers in Motion

    In today’s episode, Patty Thomas, Director of Career & Technical Education, Federal Programs, & Nursing Services for Alcoa City Schools, discusses Careers in Motion, a program that encourages students to participate in CTE opportunities. Careers in Motion is a grant-funded project awarded by Pathways TN and the Tennessee Department of Education to Alcoa City Schools, Blount County Schools, and Maryville City Schools in order to promote high-wage, high-demand, high-skill career and technical education-related programs to students.

    Visit the Careers in Motion website by clicking here.

    SafeTN App: Keeping Our Schools Safe with the TN Office of Homeland Security

    SafeTN App: Keeping Our Schools Safe with the TN Office of Homeland Security

    In today’s episode, Greg Mays, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, speaks about the SafeTN app and explains why this platform is vital when keeping our schools safe. Listen in as he provides background information as to why such an application is needed and why it is important to create a positive environment on reporting within a school district.

    For more information regarding the SafeTN app, including posters to promote this platform in your district, please click on the link below or contact Greg Mays at gregory.mays@tn.gov.

    https://www.tn.gov/safety/homeland-security/safetn.html

    Communicating with JMCSS

    Communicating with JMCSS

    In today’s episode, Dr. Ricky Catlett, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, and Greg Hammond, Chief Public Information Officer, discuss why communication is key at Jackson-Madison County Schools. Listen in as they cover the different methods of communication that they have implemented to foster relationships with their employees, students, parents, and the community. To learn more about their district, visit them at www.jmcss.org.

    Focusing on Financial Education with the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission

    Focusing on Financial Education with the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission

    In today’s episode, Bill Parker, Director of the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission, discusses the importance of financial literacy in grades K-12 and the resources available for school districts when focusing on financial education.

    Click here to access a video created by the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission.

    CMA Foundation - Creating a Brighter Future Through Music Education

    CMA Foundation - Creating a Brighter Future Through Music Education

    In today’s episode, Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director of the CMA Foundation & SVP Industry Relations & Philanthropy at the County Music Association, and Franklin Willis, Director of Community Impact at the Country Music Association, discuss the importance of music education in our Tennessee schools and provide resources and recommendations as to how school districts can strengthen their music programs.

    Conducting Your Board Meetings with BOEconnect

    Conducting Your Board Meetings with BOEconnect

    In today’s episode, we discuss the benefits of BOEconnect, an online meeting platform offered by TSBA. Vijaya Subramani, Board Secretary for the Germantown Municipal Board of Education, highlights the many reasons why she and the Board enjoy utilizing this service and how it has streamlined the board meeting preparation process. Listen today to learn how your Board can start streamlining their process today through BOEconnect.

    Discussing School Support Organizations with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury

    Discussing School Support Organizations with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury

    In today’s episode, Christy Tennant, Deputy Director of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, Division of Investigations, is speaking about the role of the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and how it works with school districts when overseeing school support organizations. Listen today to find out more about the board’s role when ensuring these organizations comply with state law.

    For more information, click here to access the procedures manual for school support organizations referenced during today’s episode. Click here to view the investigations map created by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.

    Tango Flight with Cleveland City Schools

    Tango Flight with Cleveland City Schools

    In today’s episode, Dr. Russell Dyer, Director of Schools; Nate Tucker, Board Chairman; Scott Campbell, Aviation Instructor; and Renny Whittenbarger, Supervisor of CTE, discuss Cleveland City Schools’ aviation program, Tango Flight – an innovative educational program that encompasses concepts of aerospace, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and design engineering, with an emphasis on aviation – and how it has benefitted their students. Listen today to learn how to create a similar program in your school district.

    Flight Simulator Take Off Video

    Flight Simulator Landing Video

     

    The Importance of Arts Education

    The Importance of Arts Education

    In today’s episode, Todd Shipley, Director of Fine Arts at the Tennessee Department of Education, discusses the importance of arts education in our Tennessee schools and provides resources and recommendations as to how school districts can strengthen their arts program.

    Ask the Attorney

    Ask the Attorney

    In today’s episode, the TSBA Staff Attorneys are back and answering the most asked legal questions received from board members across the state. This version of “Ask the Attorney” focuses solely on questions regarding the law around open meetings. Questions from “what is an open meeting” to “are there any exceptions to this law”  are tackled during today’s episode.

    Getting on Board: Tips for New School Board Members

    Getting on Board: Tips for New School Board Members

    During this podcast episode, Candy Morgan, 2023 TSBA President (Maryville); Keys Fillauer, TSBA Immediate Past President (Oak Ridge); Dr. Dale Viox, TSBA President-Elect (Arlington); and Marty Burlison, TSBA Vice President (Tipton County) welcome all new school board members and share words of advice when navigating the first few years of service on the Board. 

    Miss Tennessee’s Heart for the Hungry

    Miss Tennessee’s Heart for the Hungry

    Lauren Dickson, Miss Tennessee 2022, discusses her journey on becoming Miss Tennessee and shares why choosing the social impact initiative – Heart for the Hungry: Overcoming Food Insecurity – was so important to her.

    For any questions about the initiative, Heart for the Hungry, or for more information as to how to book Miss Tennessee to visit your school, please contact lauren.dickson@misstennessee.org. You can also find Lauren on Instagram (MissAmericaTN) or Facebook (MissTN). To find out more about Miss Tennessee and the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Organization, click here to visit the website.

    The Boardsmanship Award Program at TSBA

    The Boardsmanship Award Program at TSBA

    Keys Fillauer, 2022 TSBA President & Oak Ridge Board Chair, and Brittany Massey, TSBA Director of Finance & Member Services, discuss the basics of the new and improved boardsmanship award program and describe what board members need to know in order to make the most of this program.

    Click here to download the Boardsmanship Award Program packet.

    Teacher Appreciation with Arlington Community Schools

    Teacher Appreciation with Arlington Community Schools

    Jeff Mayo, Director of Schools of Arlington Community Schools, Kay Williams, Arlington Board Member, and Dr. Dale Viox, Arlington Board Chair, discuss the importance of teacher appreciation within its schools and how these efforts have paid off - Arlington Community Schools has being designated as the #1 Top Workplace in the Memphis-Metro region.

    Show Notes

    For more information as to Arlington Community Schools, click here to access their website. Below are some facts about the school district:

    • ACS was formed in 2014, with them opening their doors in August of the same year.
    • Now, in their 9th year as a school district, ACS has about 4,800 students in four schools: two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
    • ACS has approximately 535 employees.

    Examples of how ACS showes teacher appreciation and support are as follows:

    • Quarterly celebrations – lunches provided by the district every nine weeks;
    • PLUS Experience – recognizes employees for going above and beyond their duties;
    • Employee spotlight – every month, one employee from each school is chosen by administrators to be highlighted in the district newsletter and on social media;
    • Birthday message – personalized birthday message sent from the Superintendent;
    • Monday motivation – the Superintendent sends motivational message to employees every Monday to help kick off the week; and
    • Strategic Plan incentive giveaway – employees are encouraged to post on social media how they are implementing the new strategic plan in their classroom, with a winner selected from each school.

    Maximizing TSBA’s Services

    Maximizing TSBA’s Services

    Ben Torres, Assistant Executive Director & General Counsel, Emily Warren, Director of Government Relations & Staff Attorney, and Jennifer White, Director of Policy Services & Staff Attorney, discuss how the legal, policy, and government relations departments within TSBA can assist school boards in efficiently governing school districts.

    For more information as to the services offered at TSBA as well as the contact information for any TSBA staff member, visit TSBA’s website at www.tsba.net.

    Tackling Food Insecurity with Second Harvest Food Bank

    Tackling Food Insecurity with Second Harvest Food Bank

    In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Nancy Keil, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, and Alison McArthur, the Director of Community Achieves at Metro Nashville Public Schools, as we discuss food insecurity across the state of Tennessee and how partnerships with organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank can be valuable resources to school districts. While Second Harvest Food Bank provides a central distribution center to help provide food for hungry people, it also oversees multiple programs that directly benefit school districts, such as the Afterschool Meal Program, the Kids Café, and the School Food Pantry – to name a few. Listen in today to learn more about how school districts can support students and families who struggle with food insecurity.

    Throughout today’s episode, the below information was mentioned that school districts can utilize to learn more about ways to partner with their local food bank.

    Contact Information for your Local Food Bank:

    More information: