Department of Education
Kevin Huffman, Commissioner

During the Tennessee Education Board meeting the four Title I Distinguished Schools for 2008-2009 were recognized.  The State Board Meeting was Friday, April 17, 2009 at 8:30 AM in the Andrew Johnson Tower conference room.  The Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program is a project of the National Association of State Title I Directors.  It provides an opportunity for Title I schools from every state to be publicly recognized for the positive educational achievements.

The purpose of the Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Program is to identify schools that are ensuring that all children have access to effective instructional strategies and challenging academic content; and demonstrating success in ensuring that all children, particularly educationally deprive children, make significant progress toward learning that content.

Four schools in Tennessee have been recognized as Title I Distinguished Schools for 2008-2009, two national awardees and two state awardees.

• National Title I Closing the Achievement Gap Between Student Groups
  • Burchfield Elementary, Scott County Schools - Randy Shelton, Principal
• National Title I Exceptional Student Performance
  • Centerview Elementary, Cocke County Schools - Pamela Messer, Principal
• State Title I Closing the Achievement Gap Between Student Groups
  • Circles of Success Learning Academy, Memphis City Schools - Shari Catron, Principal
• State Title I Exceptional Student Performance
  • Gleason School, Weakley County Schools - Randy Frazier, Principal

These schools are unique, but share common characteristics of dedicated staff, effective community, and parental engagement as well as excellent district and school leadership.

National Title I Schools were recognized at the National Title I Conference in San Antonio, Texas in February, 2009.

Burchfield Elementary

Scott County Schools

National Title I Closing the Achievement Gap

Duane Limburg, Federal Programs Director, Tonja Crabtree, Teacher, Sharon Wilson,

Director of Schools, and Randy Shelton, Principal

Centerview Elementary

Cocke County Schools

National Title I Exceptional Student Performance

Manney Moore, Director of Schools, Pam Messer, Principal, Ginger Atkins, Teacher,

and Larry Blazer, Former Director of Schools

Circles of Success Learning Academy

Memphis City Schools

State Title I Closing the Achievement Gap

Shari Catron, Principal, Aubrey Bond, Federal Programs Director, and Angela Holloway, Assistant Principal

Gleason School

Weakley County Schools

State Title I Exceptional Student Performance

Randy Frazier, Principal and Doug Braden, Federal Programs Director