After a five-year tenure in the Arlington Community Schools administrative offices, Tonya Hawkins is returning the Arlington Elementary, this time, leading the school as its new principal.

LeMoyne-Owen College has named Vernell Bennett-Fairs its new president.

Germantown’s community has prioritized safety and Superintendent Jason Manuel shared how that impacts its students and staff in its schools.

Collierville High School students will not return to school in January as the district previously announced.

The request would increase to about $50 million annually in the third year as the Memphis district hires more teacher assistants for students in K-2.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services child care assistance program for workers deemed “essential” during the pandemic expires Dec. 31. The state has no plans to renew the program.

The University of Memphis unveiled plans Monday, Dec. 14, for a plaque honoring Miriam DeCosta Sugarmon Willis, the school’s first African American faculty member. 

As parents of students attending Shelby County Schools grapple with how to handle in-person learning once it resumes, larger school districts elsewhere in Tennessee are making plans as well. Related article: Lopsided teacher/student ratio fuel differing decisions

Parents have made decisions about their children’s education for the new year, but a lot of the logistics are still up in the air. Related article: Tennessee school districts share staffing concerns

Granville T. Woods Academy was awarded a $320,000 grant from University of Tennessee’s Extension program. The STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) school was one of two grant recipients in the entire state.

Officials say SCS won’t resume in-person learning until February as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Rep. Scott Cepicky’s bill would stabilize state funding in the 2021-22 school year at this year’s levels, even though a statewide decline in student enrollment this fall would normally decrease the allocation by at least $320 million.

Joretha Lockhart is the West Tennessee Grand Division Principal of the Year.

The options could include entering new charter school agreements, closing schools, or moving some of its 9,000 students to higher-performing schools.

Shelby County has about one primary care physician for every 1,200 people, according to Clint Cummins, executive director of the Memphis Medical Society.

Thirty-two percent of SCS students are expected to be in the classrooms when school starts in January, compared with only 17% of SCS teachers, who will mostly be working from home. Some say schools shouldn’t open at all.

School and child care staff are slated to be part of the second — and largest — phase for immunizing Tennesseans in the state’s four-phase distribution plan.

The contract amendment increases Joris Ray’s annual salary to $293,550, up 3% from $285,000.

Plans are underway to build low-density graduate student housing on Deloach and 500 apartment-style dorms on the Park Avenue Campus.

Some parents are frustrated that their students are learning remotely this week. Superintendent Gary Lilly said staff will “monitor the situation” before deciding to reopen three of its schools to students.

Teachers in exceptional education – formerly known as special education — want to make sure the individualized needs of students are met as the pandemic forces them to continue to pivot.

Tennessee’s online database to inform students and parents about the prevalence of COVID-19 cases on school campuses gives an incomplete picture because of privacy concerns and limited reporting by districts.

Metro Nashville and Shelby County challenged the law because it applies only to their communities without giving their local governments or voters a say.

Faculty raises, promotions and tenure are tied to productivity. For parents of young children early in the pandemic, it was off.

The event is co-sponsored by the Tarik Black Foundation, which works to provide youths access and exposure to world concepts and international points of view.