The Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) hosted the South Central Fall District Meeting at Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville on September 14. “TSBA’s Fall District Meetings provide our staff with the opportunity to speak with our members and listen to their concerns on multiple topics. This allows us to advocate effectively on their behalf while providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions for the students in their community,” said TSBA Executive Director Dr. Tammy Grissom. During the meeting, members of local boards of education and superintendents from the region participated in a survey where they expressed their opinions on a number of issues for the upcoming General Assembly.
AREA STUDENT HONORED
Each year TSBA honors one student from each of its nine districts who has achieved distinction in the areas of academics, community leadership, and engagement as part of its Student Recognition Award program. One of those nine students will win the statewide Student Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in November, which will include a $2,000 scholarship. The 2023 South Central District winner is Brady Welch of Tullahoma. As a Senior at Tullahoma High School, Brady has maintained a 4.0 GPA. He is the President of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, FBLA, and Mu Alpha Theta. He is the current 1st chair percussionist in the THS Symphonic Band, made the MTSBOA Mid-State Silver Band 2 years in a row, and teaches private lessons to students in the band program. Brady volunteers at the Tullahoma Henry Center and is a member of the Tullahoma’s Mayor’s Youth Council. He was selected to be a part of a Mentorship Program to help freshmen students struggling to fit in and was selected to be on the Student Advisory Council.
AREA SCHOOL VOLUNTEER HONORED
Each year TSBA honors one school volunteer from each of its nine districts who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating exceptional commitment to volunteerism in a local school district. The district winner has exhibited exemplary leadership, creativity, cooperation and hard work in their service to a school. One of those nine volunteers will win the statewide School Volunteer Recognition Award to be presented at the TSBA Annual Convention in November, which will include a $1,000 grant to the school of their choice. The 2023 South Central District Volunteer Recognition Award winner is Tina Corley of Bedford County. In June of 2020, Tina Corley started the Bedford County Adopt-a-Teacher campaign, which raised around $25,000 toward classroom supplies. During the summer of 2022, the campaign put over $90,000 worth of school and classroom supplies in Bedford County Schools. For this program, people sign onto Ms. Corley’s platform, view the wish lists made by teachers, purchase the items, and ship them directly to classrooms. The campaign runs for just over six, spearheaded solely by Ms. Corley. She has also worked with other districts across the state to help them expand their campaign or start a new campaign. Last year, she had a few hundred hours invested in this project.
AREA BOARD MEMBERS EARN HONORS
Several South Central District school board members earned TSBA Boardsmanship Awards in 2023. The awards are presented to individual board members who have achieved one of five levels of boardsmanship standards over the past year. The program is designed to recognize school board members for participation in board activities beyond the local level through a commitment to training, willingness to participate in workshops and a volunteer spirit. The Boardsmanship Award honors not only the quantity, but also the quality of participation. Levels I-IV are given at Fall District Meetings, while Level V Boardsmanship is awarded at the association’s annual convention in November. South Central District board members who were honored for their achievements this year were:
LEVEL I
Shanna Boyette, Bedford County
Barton Williams, Bedford County
Larry Crabtree, Coffee County
Gary Cordell, Coffee County
Sarah Marhevsky, Franklin County
Mary McCloud, Giles County
Nicky Hartsfield, Lawrence County
Jerry Dryden, Lawrence County
Royce Neidert, Lawrence County
Cody Mitchell, Lewis County
Rex Dunn, Lincoln County
Amy Dodson, Tullahoma
LEVEL II
Larry Crabtree, Coffee County
Mary McCloud, Giles County
Andy Whitt, Tullahoma
LEVEL III
Dan Reed, Bedford County
Mary McCloud, Giles County
Paula Dyer, Lewis County
Sammy Tucker, Lincoln County
Gigi Robinson, Tullahoma
LEVEL IV
Paula Dyer, Lewis County
Gigi Robinson, Tullahoma
