KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Monday kicked off a two-day planning program for principals and assistant principals in Knox County Schools.
This is the third year in office for Superintendent Jon Rysewyk. He said he has a five-year plan for ensuring student success and this year is the year of the principal.
Rysewyk said KCS spent the past two years looking at the school system from a district level and now, leaders are ready to look at each school by focusing on their principals. He said principals have the power to keep students focused on what matters.
"What our focus is every day: Is every student in every classroom on task? Doing those actions is going to help them accelerate their learning," Rysewyk said.
Principals in attendance, like Jessica Holman, the Principal of Green Magnet Academy, said she's looking forward to students' professional development. She also said she appreciates Knox County Schools providing principals with the tools and support they need.
"I'm eager to learn about our 'Sacred 60,' how we're going to be in the classroom a lot more this school year as leaders ... and also for strengthening my administration team so that we can all come together and do our best work for our students," Holman said.
Rysewyk said there have been some gains in student success, including over 50% proficiency in English for 4th-grade students, a first for Knox County Schools.
He said programs the school systems have implemented, such as the 865 Academies program, have helped students figure out what they will do after graduation and contributed to their success.
Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs was also at Monday's meeting, and he was recognized as a "champion" of the school systems. Rysewyk said the work the mayor has done over the past year had shown a dedication to students' success.
Jacobs said it was amazing to be recognized and that when students are successful, everyone is. He also said how impressed he is by Knox County School's innovation and believes that's the reason the school system is doing so well.
"We're seeing consistent, incremental improvement and that's what you want to see. So, I think that school districts around the state, really around the country, should be looking at Knox County Schools to see what's going on here," Jacobs said.