Archives for 2018

M Aaron Christian

ELPS Graduate M. Aaron Christian selected for the Tennessee Governor’s Academy for School Leadership

by

UTK VOLS Lead graduate, M. Aaron Christian, was recently selected  for the Tennessee Governor’s Academy for School Leadership, one of only 29 assistant principals selected from across the state of Tennessee.

Aaron was nominated by the Washington County Director of Schools and will start the 1 year program in January.

Aaron states that: “I attribute these early successes to the education I received during my time in the VOLS Lead cohort. Not only was the program rigorous and well designed, it was, most importantly, immediately applicable. I am regularly able to overcome a lack of experience by relying on my education received at UTK.”

Aaron is currently Assistant Principal at Boones Creek Middle/Elementary School in Washington County.

Mary Lynne Derrington presenting in Scotland

Derrington Works With Scottish School Leaders in Glasgow

by

Mary Lynne Derrington, Associate Professor in the department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, was invited to work with Scottish school leaders on global perspectives of principal and teacher evaluation systems November 20-24, 2018. Following her presentation Supervising and Evaluating Principals:  Assisting with Challenges, she met with University of Glasgow academic staff, leadership programs heads, and national school inspectors in a discussion seminar. Later that day she met with principals and PhD students. Following a presentation, Supervising and Evaluating Teachers in an Era of Policy Mandates, there was a question and answer exchange.

While in Glasgow, Derrington also delivered two presentation at the Scottish Educational Research Association. Her presentation, Using Longitudinal Qualitative Research to Examine Change Over Time was based on her just released Sage Publications book. She also presented, with University of Glasgow faculty, in an invited seminar on Middle Leadership in Schools, the Critical Axis for Change and Improvement.

UTK Attends SACSA Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC

UTK Attends Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC

by

More than 40 University of Tennessee Knoxville students (undergraduates and CSP – College Student Personnel), faculty, and Division of Student Life practitioner-educators recently attended the 2018 SACSA Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC (November 3-5, 2018).   Below are several highlights from the annual conference.

  • Tanisha Jenkins (ELPS Doctoral Candidate; Director, UTK Office of Multicultural Student Life) presided over the 2018 conference serving as SACSA President.
  • Luke Sciuilli (Cohort 2019), Aaron Dixon, Karen Boyd, Talisha Adams, Kelly Phillips, Kerri Lovegrove, Abby Grogan, Danny Glassman, Lori Smith, and David Ndiaye presented at the conference.
  • Luke Sciulli (Cohort 2019) and Madison Merrifield (Cohort 2019) finished 1st in the Case Study Competition. Each received a $150 award.
  • Karis Hill (Cohort 2020) and Olivia Stevens (Cohort 2020) finished 2nd in the Case Study Competition. Each received a $100 award. (There were 13 teams in the case study competition).
  • Jheri Wills (Cohort 2019) was the first SACSA Presidential Intern and chaired the Graduate Student Symposium.
  • Dorian McCoy was awarded the SACSA/CAS Ted K. Miller Award for Excellence (to recognize outstanding accomplishments in advancing standards of practice and quality assurance in educational programs and services in higher education).
  • We had approximately 30 members of the Vol Nation attend dinner Sunday at the Flying Fish.  Thanks to Abigail Brumfield for organizing. Tanisha Jenkins hosted a reception in the Presidential Suite after dinner (just for the Vol Nation).
  • Chris Ndiritu (Cohort 2018) chaired the Undergraduate Symposium.
  • The UT Baskets auctioned for $155.  For the second consecutive year, the UT Baskets generated the most dollars for the SACSA Foundation. Basket 1 auctioned for $100 and Basket 2 auctioned for $55.  Thanks Karis for “putting together” the baskets.
Rachel Hodges and Michelle Clayton, from Cohort 8 of the Leadership Academy

Angelle and McIntyre to Present at Annual UCEA Convention in Houston

by

Pamela Angelle and Jim McIntyre will jointly present a paper entitled “Aspiring Leader Internship Experiences in a Full Time and Online Internship” at the annual meeting of the University Council for Education Administration in Houston, Texas, on November 16, 2018. The paper explores the common elements of success between the non-traditional aspiring school leader internships offered by the University of Tennessee’s two prinicpal preparation programs, VOLS Lead and the Leadership Academy. (Pictured above are Rachel Hodges and Michelle Clayton, from the 2017-2018 Leadership Academy Cohort)

Ishitani and Flood Published in Research in Higher Education Journal

by

Congratulations to Dr. Terry Ishitani, Associate Professor of Higher Education, and Lee D. Flood, Higher Education PhD student, whose article “Student Transfer-Out Behavior at Four-Year Institutions” is listed first in the November 2018 issue of Research in Higher Education, one of the leading journals in the Higher Education field.

Online Leadership Studies Program at The University of Tennessee – Knoxville made the ranking of 24th for Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership.

by

SR Education Group, a leading education research publisher founded in 2004, has just unveiled their 2019 rankings on GuidetoOnlineSchools.com.The new best online colleges lists are the first to offer all-encompassing rankings of online colleges using up-to-date alumni salary data from PayScale and tuition rates across degree level and program. Inclusion on this list shows high return on investment and commitment to affordability, two key factors for prospective students. The University of Tennessee – Knoxville made the ranking at 24th for Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership.

The full list is available here: https://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/degrees/educational-leadership#best-value-masters

The methodology for these rankings employs median mid-career salary data, as well as manually researched tuition rates. Since salaries differ by degree level and program, SR Education Group utilizes bachelor’s, master’s, and program specific salary data for the rankings. Manually collected tuition rates are also specific to degree level and program.

“We are excited to offer the most comprehensive and diverse collection of online school and program rankings. Our resources give prospective students transparent and accessible information to help them make important decisions about investments in their education and future career paths,” said Sung Rhee, CEO of SR Education Group.

Derrington Presents at COPIS Annual Conference

by

Mary Lynne Derrington, Associate Professor in Educational Administration, presented a paper titled, “Longitudinal Qualitative Research: A Method for Understanding Change in Teacher Evaluation and Supervision Practice and Perceptions” on October 13, 2018, at the annual conference of the Council of Professors of Instructional Supervision (COPIS), at The University of Maine. Membership in COPIS is by nomination and limited to 100 prominent national researchers in the field of supervision and instructional leadership.

NREA-Awards-AsPIRE-2018-UTK

UT Center for Educational Leadership Recognized with National Award

by

The National Rural Education Association (NREA) has recognized the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Center for Educational Leadership with the 2018 NREA Exemplary Practices Award for its Administrators Planning Innovation for Rural Education (AsPIRE) rural school leadership initiatve.

The NREA Exemplary Practices Award is given to an individual or organization for demonstrating exemplary practice in one or more of the following areas: curriculum or staff development to provide more equitable educational opportunities for rural children, enhancement of communications within and among local school districts, promotion and development of state and rural delivery systems, curriculum planning and/or instructional strategies to utilize effectively the rural environment, and financial efficiency in school operations.

The award was received at the annual NREA Convention on Friday, October 12, by public school principals Christie Amburn and Ginny McElhaney, both participants in AsPIRE. Amburn is the principal at Loudon Elementary School in Loudon County, Tennessee, and principal at the Washburn School in Grainger County, Tennessee.

AsPIRE is a unique collaborative effort to enhance rural school leadership in Tennessee,facilitated by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and funded by SCORE and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The initiative was developed to address the challenges of rural school leaders, including a diverse array of responsibilities, limited quality learning opportunities, and the scarcity of mentoring and professional networks.

AsPIRE represents a groundbreaking principal-driven delivery system of collaborative professional learning experiences to support and develop exceptional rural school leadership. Participating principals have designed and are implementing a series of collaborative professional learning opportunities for their rural colleagues, including mastermind groups and a cohort learning experience.

“These collaborative learning experiences are bringing together small groups of rural principals to learn with and from each other,” said Jim McIntyre, director of the Center for Educational Leadership and facilitator of the AsPIRE initiative. “Through this innovative programming, rural school principals will explore and address shared problems of practice, enhance knowledge in critical areas, cooperatively problem solve, and develop strong professional support networks.”

The Center for Educational Leadership began in 2010 as a collaborative effort between UT’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and local school districts to grow and support the next generation of outstanding school principals and to meaningfully enhance educational leadership in Tennessee.

—

CONTACT:

Jules Morris (julesmo@utk.edu, 865-719-7072)

Grant Kobes

Honors Leadership Program Student Leads Vex U Robotics Team to World Championship and International Community Service Award in its First Year

by

It is common to find Leadership Studies minor students in the traditionally recognized student leadership positions and honors. Each graduating class of the Leadership Studies minor, since its inception in Fall 2015, has included at least one TorchBearer and Chancellors Honors Award recipients including 2 Extraordinary Campus Leadership and Service recipients. By its 4th graduating class in Spring 2019, the LSM alumni will include 5 student government executive officers (including 2 presidents and 2 vice presidents) and a President of the Panhellenic Council. It might be helpful to share that in addition to our students graduating as exemplary student leaders, this year a freshman pursuing the honors leadership studies minor and a member of the inaugural Honors Leadership Program shows what our students can do with a little support and nudge.

Grant Kobes – a first year Honors Leadership Program student completing an assignment for his first foundations of leadership course within the minor – created a strategic leadership plan to found and serve as the chief engineer for UTK’s Vex U Robotics Team, YNOT.  Grant secured a team mentor and started a new student organization after writing a budget, constitution, holding interest meetings/ individual member skills evaluations/ and officer elections.  His team spent the fall serving as volunteer referees and judges at high school events in order to gain experience with game strategy.  With no sponsor or work space, Grant and his teammates created their first robot iteration in the floor of his dorm room!  Team YNOT had an amazing first season, ranking 5th in world in autonomous programming and driver skills, and competing at the 2018 Vex Robotics World Championship.

One of Grant’s top leadership goals is reflected in Team YNOT’s mission statement: a focus on mentoring younger teams in the Knoxville community. Their work last year included creating an alliance of more than 15 area high school teams, all of which were personally coached by UTK’s team members.  The impact of this collaboration was recognized and praised by judges, resulting in team YNOT receiving the prestigious Community Award at this year’s World Championship.  This award is presented to the university level team that has demonstrated the most meaningful leadership and influence toward promoting STEM education in their local community.  Grant’s goal is to use competitive robotics to recruit the most talented high school students from the Knoxville area to the Tickle College of Engineering in the coming years.

Grant was also honored with an invitation to attend the 2018 Vex Robotics Event Partner Summit in Greenville, Texas.  This all-expense paid trip allowed leaders in Vex robotics from around the world a chance to meet at Vex headquarters to discuss the coming season.  As the youngest attendee in Vex history, Grant connected with many key individuals at both the state and national level.

This summer, Grant recruited over 50 new members while promoting his team at 11 of 13 orientation sessions.  His leadership philosophy focuses on personally getting to know each perspective student’s strengths and interests so that he can help them become a valued team member.  Grant invites anyone interested to contact him at gkobes@vols.utk.edu or the team Instagram @YNOTrobotics.

Kenneth Carrico

V.O.L.S. Lead Graduate Kenneth Carrico is New Farragut High Director of Bands

by

Kenneth Carrico completed the V.O.L.S. Lead online program, along with his principalship license, and graduated in May of 2018 with a Masters in Educational Administration.

Knoxville News Sentinel article: Click Here

(Photo courtesy of Michael Patrick/News Sentinel)