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Bredesen Appoints Tennessee First to the Top Advisory Council

Released on Mon, Jun 21, 2010 - 3:25 pm under
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today announced 14 appointments to the Tennessee First to the Top Advisory Council, a broad-based group of Tennesseans and national experts who will provide strategic guidance, direction, and thought leadership to state policymakers overseeing Tennessee’s Race to the Top grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
“Tennessee’s education agenda has accelerated in recent years because of the shared commitment to improving education that has been developed among stakeholders including teachers, administrators, business leaders, philanthropy, and advocacy groups,” said Bredesen. “They play a vital role in helping Tennessee carry out the vision of a world-class public education system that prepares students for college, career, and life in the 21st century. The ongoing involvement of the groups represented by the First to the Top Advisory Council will help ensure we fulfill our Race to the Top goals.”

10 Million Free Books Delivered to Tennessee Children Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Released on Mon, Jun 21, 2010 - 9:59 am under
Governor's Books from Birth Foundation and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Celebrate Milestone
 
NASHVILLE – The Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library are celebrating a significant milestone: more than 10 million free books have been delivered to Tennessee children in all 95 counties since the program began in 2004, developing their vocabulary, school readiness and a love of learning.
 
The milestone comes on the heels of the announcement that Tennessee is one of just two states awarded funding in the first round of President Obama’s Race to the Top competition, recognizing our state’s forward thinking in education reform and changing the way the nation views Tennessee’s commitment to education. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a part of that commitment, giving all Tennessee children access to free books and encouraging a lifetime of learning.

2011 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced

Released on Wed, Jun 09, 2010 - 10:27 am under

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce the finalists for the 2011 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Award. The nine finalists are comprised of elementary, middle and high school educators from each grand division of the state. Grand Division winners and Teacher of the Year will be chosen from this group this fall.

“I am very proud to have such outstanding teachers in this state,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “These teachers were instrumental in implementing the Tennessee Diploma Project this year and are examples of the kind of support we will need to successfully implement our Race to the Top efforts statewide. Teacher of the Year is about just one teacher, but I want to thank all of our teachers for the tremendous work in ensuring the success of every single Tennessee student.” 

Commitment of Bredesen and Tennessee General Assembly to Pre-K Lauded in New Pew Report

Released on Thu, May 20, 2010 - 11:03 am under
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and the state of Tennessee earned national commendation in a report released today for the state’s consistent and firm commitment to high-quality pre-kindergarten. The state-by-state analysis entitled Leadership Matters: Governors’ Pre-K Budget Proposals Fiscal Year 2011 was released by Pre-K Now, a project of the Pew Center on the States.
 
“Our dedication to Pre-K in this state has been unwavering and it shows,” Bredesen said. “Pre-K classrooms are one of the best investments we can make in the lives of our young people and even in difficult budget years, with the continued support of the Tennessee General Assembly, we’ve made this valuable educational opportunity available for parents and families who want their children to attend.”

Bredesen Addresses Knox County Academic Achievers

Released on Fri, Apr 16, 2010 - 9:08 am under
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Phil Bredesen addressed more than 300 Knox County high school seniors along with parents and school leaders Thursday night at the annual News Sentinel Academic Achievers banquet. Bredesen spoke of his own high school experience and the importance of that experience in shaping his success in college and professional life.
 
“I can now look back at my time in university, in business, as Mayor of Nashville, and now as Governor, and I know: there was something about my school in Shortsville that helped me get to, and succeed in, each of these ventures,” Bredesen said. “School didn’t only shape me as a student; it also helped shape me as a human being. Schools matter. They mattered to me, they mattered to you, and they will matter to Tennessee’s future generations.”

ECD, TVA Announce Energy Management Workshops for K-12 Schools

Released on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 - 12:16 pm under

Statewide Seminars Help Schools and School Systems Ease the Grip of High Energy Costs

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced today it will partner with the Tennessee Valley Authority to host statewide Energy Management Workshops to help K-12 schools lessen the impact of energy costs on school budgets. The free, one-day workshops will help schools and school districts develop multi-disciplinary energy management plans to provide real solutions and savings on energy expenses.

Tennessee Wins Race to the Top Grant

Released on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 - 1:04 pm under
Tennessee and Delaware Successful in Competition's First Round
 
NASHVILLE — Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that Tennessee is one of just two states selected to receive millions of dollars for education in the federal government’s Race to the Top competition. The U.S. Department of Education announced Tennessee and Delaware as the competition’s first round winners earlier today.
 
Tennessee will receive approximately $500 million to implement its comprehensive school reform plans over the next four years.
 
“This is a landmark opportunity for Tennessee,” said Bredesen. “Our success in Race to the Top speaks to the commitment we’ve made to meaningful and significant improvement in public education, and the funds provided by the grant will carry us forward in a dramatic and positive direction.”

Tennessee to Receive More Than $255 Million in Additional Recovery Funds

Released on Thu, Mar 25, 2010 - 3:58 pm under
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Education has announced that an additional $255,794,562 is now available to Tennessee under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) program. Tennessee received $635 million in phase one stabilization funds in May 2009. The funds announced today are additional funds available made available to the state upon approval of its phase two SFSF application.
 
Read the full U.S. Department of Education press release here.

Tennessee Named Finalist in Race to the Top Competition

Released on Thu, Mar 04, 2010 - 12:17 pm under
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that Tennessee is one of 16 finalists in the first round of the federal government’s Race to the Top competition, which will award $4.35 billion in competitive grants designed to encourage and reward states that are pursuing education innovation.
 
The U.S. Department of Education announced the first-round finalists earlier today. Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted applications in January.
 
“I’m very pleased we’ve been named a finalist for the first round of funding, and believe that’s due to our shared commitment to making significant and meaningful improvements to K-12 education,” said Bredesen. “Tennessee is considered competitive in Race to the Top by national education reform experts because of the continued efforts we’ve demonstrated to public education reform. I want to thank the General Assembly, which adopted further landmark education reform legislation earlier this year with the support of the Tennessee Education Association and educators across the state. I have no doubt this was a significant part of our success.”

Bredesen Names Appointments to Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee

Released on Tue, Mar 02, 2010 - 4:37 pm under

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed nine men and women to serve on the Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee established by the recently enacted Tennessee First to the Top Act of 2010.

“I am grateful to the individuals willing to serve in this capacity to help move Tennessee public education forward in bold, new ways,” said Bredesen. “I am confident that with the level of experience each of these Tennesseans brings to the table, we can accomplish this goal for teachers and their students across the state.”

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