Members of the 2016-2017 Aspiring Administrator’s Academy are busy preparing themselves for future leadership roles in the Cheatham County School District.

The academy, which was first implemented in 2014, is designed to recruit, train, support and retain high quality instructional leaders dedicated to serving the school district.

The academy’s purpose is to build capacity within Cheatham County teachers for future positions in school administration.

Participants meet once a month. Pleasant View Elementary School Principal Keith Miller and Kingston Springs Elementary School Principal Joy Bauman are the facilitators for this year’s academy.

“The academy seeks visionary and passionate teachers who are eager to assume leadership roles and dramatically increase outcomes and opportunities for Cheatham County students, families and schools,” Interim Director of Schools Stacy Brinkley said.

Brinkley added: “Our district is dedicated to establishing the next phase of county leadership through the ranks of instructors already in our buildings … and this is their first step.”

Members of the 2016-2017 cohort are:
​
Alex Galistel (Pegram Elementary)
Joanna Melton (Pleasant View Elementary)
Karen Hall (Harpeth High)
Maggie Fields (Sycamore High)
Sam Liska (Cheatham Middle)
Tammy Kimbrough (Cheatham Middle)
Tammy Stewart (Pegram Elementary)

The annual Cheatham County Math Contest was held on Friday, March 24 at Cheatham Middle School.
 
The event heralded the top math students from each school in grades 3, 4 and 5.
 
Organizer Dr. Joseph Jones said, “This event showcases our top math students from across the district. We are very impressed with the knowledge of our Cheatham County students, but also encouraged by the support we received from our teachers, parents and administrators.”
 
Jones said the contest would not have been possible without the continued support of Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC).
 
Each elementary school sent their top six math students (three students from third grade and three students from fourth grade). Each middle school sent their top six math students from fifth grade.
 
Math Contest Winners:

Third Grade:
First Place: Chase Steel (Pleasant View Elementary)
Second Place: Cade Krantz (West Cheatham Elementary)
Third Place: Aymin Tawadrous (Ashland City Elementary)
 
Fourth Grade:
First Place: Luke Glasgow (East Cheatham Elementary)
Second Place (Tie): Aaron Higgs (Kingston Springs Elementary)
Second Place (Tie): Sam Miller (Pleasant View Elementary)
 
Fifth Grade:
First Place: Brooklyn Hager (Sycamore Middle)
Second Place: Gabe Scott (Sycamore Middle)
Third Place: Jackson Earle (Sycamore Middle)
 
Math Contest Participants
 
Ashland City Elementary - Third Grade
Brodie Capps
Elijah Paul
Aymin Tawadrous
 
Ashland City Elementary - Fourth Grade
Peyton Hudson
Anna Pentecost
Mia Stuart
 
East Cheatham Elementary – Third Grade
Dylan Atnip
Brendan Monroe
Eli Perry
 
East Cheatham Elementary – Fourth Grade
Luke Glasgow
Noah Loxley
Rilie Nye
 
Kingston Springs Elementary – Third Grade
Jonathan Kendrick
Jake Parsley
Elle Russell
 
Kingston Springs Elementary – Fourth Grade
Aaron Higgs
Maddelynn Mangrum
Thomas Martin
 
Pegram Elementary – Third Grade
Sam Gasser
Brooke Hamilton
Eli Johnson
 
Pegram Elementary – Fourth Grade
Audrey Greer
Maggie Lawson
Ella Qubeck
 
Pleasant View Elementary – Third Grade
Garrett Billiter
Chase Steel
Emily Williams
 
Pleasant View Elementary – Fourth Grade
Xavier Kellum
Sam Miller
Lucas Morris
 
West Cheatham Elementary – Third Grade
Evan Campbell
Wyatt Hoilman
Cade Krantz
 
West Cheatham Elementary – Fourth Grade
Alicia Gilliam
Sydnee Mitchell
AJ Whitehead
 
Cheatham Middle School – Fifth Grade
Austin Campbell
Jayme Lawrence
Christian Long 
Luke Schaeffer
Logan Weakley
Mary Woodard    
 
Harpeth Middle School – Fifth Grade
Weston Brannum
Natalie Brent
Jayla Donnelly
Ethan Holliday
Hayden Penrod
Blake Stuart
 
Sycamore Middle School – Fifth Grade
Jackson Earle
Charlie Easterwood
Brooklyn Hager
Josh Novotny
Gabe Scott
Marissa Spurlock

East Cheatham Elementary School showcased its new “The Leader in Me” program with a special Leadership Day on Thursday.
 
ECES implemented “The Leader in Me” program in August.
 
“The Leader in Me” is Franklin Covey’s whole school transformation process. It teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.
 
“We are in our first year of the Leader In Me process and it has been a wonderful transformation. When I came to East Cheatham three years ago, I quickly learned what an amazing group of teachers and staff worked at our building. Our school had poor academic performance, attendance and behavior issues. I felt like we were missing something and we had the potential to be great,” said ECES Principal Wendy Cox.
 
Cox said Eli Perkins, a Franklin Covey representative, dropped by the school one day and left ‘The Leader In Me’ book. Over the summer, I read the book and felt this process was our missing link. With the support of our supervisors, our leadership team was able to visit other Leader In Me schools and see how the transformation took place into very successful schools,” she recalled.
 
Cox added: “As a faculty and staff, we all read the book and quickly started getting the ball rolling in becoming a Leader In Me school. We received a grant from the Leader.org organization to fund this process at East Cheatham.”
 
All faculty and staff received training over the 7 Habits at the beginning of the summer.
 
“Over the summer everyone painted our building and completely transformed it into a new school. The change in culture at East Cheatham has been remarkable. The students and teachers are practicing the 7 Habits and our academics, attendance and behavioral issues have improved dramatically. The attitude of our students and staff has created a wonderful positive environment. East Cheatham Elementary is such an amazing place. Students are being empowered to set their course in life and learning the 7 Habits to become successful, happy adults,” Cox said.

The Cheatham County School District introduced its first mobile interactive robot for students on long-term homebound on Tuesday to an excited group of Sycamore Middle School students.
 
The students initially approached the Cheatham County School Board in December about their idea to help a fellow student, who was homebound.
 
At the time, the students said the robot would allow the student to navigate the halls of SMS and participate in class via video without leaving their home.
 
At Tuesday’s workshop, the School Board surprised Stokes and the SMS students with the Double 2 robot.
 
“We appreciate the students’ initiative to present this amazing project. The School Board supported this project 100 percent from the beginning, and we are so excited to present our first mobile student,” said Interim Director of Schools Stacy Brinkley.
 
Brinkley thanked the students for bringing the idea to the School Board.
 
“This project shows that the students at SMS are striving to make experiences for all students better. We are so fortunate to have teachers like Mrs. Stokes that give students project-based learning experiences,” she said.
 
Stokes said she is proud of her students’ effort, and she thanked SMS administrators and the School Board for listening to and believing in her students.
 
“They worked for it and initiated change for our county,” she said.
 
The new robot will be named Alpha, representing the district's first robot and project that was student-inspired. 

​Chonda Pierce, one of the country’s top-selling female comedians, will once again headline the Cheatham County Central High School’s Steak Dinner and Auction.
 
The school will host the second annual event on Saturday, April 29 beginning at 5 p.m.
 
Pierce, a 1978 graduate of CCCHS, has agreed to return for a second straight year.
 
“We are glad to have Chonda back. She was a big draw last year, and I think she was one of the reasons we sold so many tickets,” said longtime CCCHS teacher and coach Jimmy Harden, who is helping to organize the event.
 
Harden said many people in the community told him they’d like to hear Pierce again, and she welcomed the opportunity to return to the stage.
 
The inaugural dinner and auction attracted nearly 400 people and raised about $12,000, which exceeded the school’s expectations.
 
As it did last year, the funds raised will directly benefit CCCHS students.
 
The money will provide additional equipment and supplies to enhance the educational experience of all students.
 
“We were super appreciative of the community’s support last year, and everyone had a really good time. It was a good opportunity for the community to come together for something positive,” said CCCHS principal Steve Wenning.
 
Those who attend will enjoy a steak dinner with side items, dessert and a drink. The steaks will again be prepared by Bill Farmer.
 
Guests will be able to bid on items during the silent auction before and after the dinner.
 
Pierce will perform immediately following the dinner in the theatre. A live auction, conducted by David Mahaney, will be held after Pierce’s performance.
 
Businesses in Cheatham County as well as in the Middle Tennessee region are being contacted to donate items for both the silent and live auctions.
 
Harden added that everything, except the meat, was donated last year, and that is the case again this year, too.
 
Many businesses are stepping up to donate the side items, drinks and other various supplies.
 
Tickets are currently available and the cost is $30 for a single and $50 for a couple.
 
Tickets can be purchased from any CCCHS teacher or at the school’s front office.
 
“We encourage everyone to get their tickets early because they will sell fast. We sold out pretty quick last year,” Harden said.
 
For more information, call the school at 615-792-5664, e-mail Harden at jimmy.harden@ccstn.org or visit www.cheathamhighccs.net.

​Cheatham County residents are invited to attend the Cheatham Strong Community Health Fair on Thursday, March 16 at Ashland City Elementary School.
 
The family-friendly fair will feature fun and information for all ages.
 
The fair will be held from 6-8 p.m., and a number of Cheatham County groups, organizations and businesses will be on hand to promote the Healthier Tennessee program.
 
The program strives to increase the number of Tennesseans who are physically active for at least 30 minutes five times a week, promote a healthy diet and reduce the number of people who use tobacco.
 
“The fair will showcase the various health and nutrition opportunities that are already planned in Cheatham County in 2017,” said Claudette Fizer, the Cheatham County School District’s parent involvement coordinator. "Participants will receive a beautiful 12-month calendar as they enter. I know families are going to want to mark dates throughout this event as they begin to plan their spring, summer and fall activities."
 
Fizer said the come-and-go event will also help families to gather information on all that the county has to offer for them to get out and play, have fun and enjoy the beauty and resources available here.
 
There will be demonstrations, giveaways, games, activities and tasting stations for the whole family to enjoy.
 
Representatives from the Parks and Recreation Departments, U.S. Corps of Engineers, Harpeth River State Park, Adventureworks and more are scheduled to attend.
 
The Cheatham County Health Department, Cheatham County Master Gardeners, Cheatham County UT/TSU Extension Office, Cheatham County Community Enhancement Coalition and Cheatham County Public Library will have booths.
 
Members of the Senior Center at Ashland City will demonstrate Tai Chi, yoga, and S.A.I.L. and ACES students will also participate with special demonstrations, including the Cha Cha Slide.
 
The fair is being sponsored by Cheatham County School District-Title I Department, the Cheatham County Health Department and Cheatham County Community Enhancement Coalition.
 
For more information, contact Fizer at 615-792-5664 or e-mail claudette.fizer@ccstn.org.
 
Additional information can be found on the “Healthier TN Cheatham Strong” Facebook page.