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A chart showing Sullivan County Achievement Data for the 2017-18 school year year compare to 2018-19
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Sullivan County schools

Sullivan school system all 3, 4 or 5 in value-added scores, gets seven Reward Schools

The system in achievement data had progressin all measured subjects except Algebra I.

Aug 14, 2019 at 11:15 PM
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Sullivan County schools

Screenings show reading gains for Sullivan elementary students

A school system official attributed the results to investments in new reading curriculum, teacher training and strategic intervention for at-risk students.

Aug 13, 2019 at 1:51 PM
Thursday night was the first Sullivan County Board of Education meeting for new Director of Schools David Cox, shown here near the start of the two-hour meeting.
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Sullivan County schools

Sullivan school system to pay for employee background checks

BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County school system employees won’t be footing the bill for mandatory background checks every five years, thanks to a unanimous vote of the Board of Education.

Aug 12, 2019 at 9:58 AM
Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy speaks at a news conference to announced the donation of 30 bulletproof backback inserts that retail for $30,000 by StotStop, the company that made them, in cooperation with the Blue Blood Brotherhood and Cassidy.
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Bullet-proof backpack inserts

Donated bulletproof backpack inserts will protect most vulnerable Sullivan students

BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County Schools on Friday received a donation of 100 bulletproof backpack inserts worth $30,000 from the Ohio-based company that makes them. The inserts were donated in memory of former School Resource Officer Steve Hinkle, who was shot during a standoff on Feb. 23.

Updated Aug 10, 2019 at 12:07 PM
HUGHES
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Sullivan County schools

Sullivan school board votes not to amend budget revenue projections

Chairman Michael Hughes said the Sullivan County Commission approved the school system’s bottom line for expenditures but did not provide enough money to fund the budget, which he said means it would not meet Tennessee maintenance of effort requirement.

Aug 9, 2019 at 11:30 AM
Immediate past Sullivan County Director of Schools Evelyn Rafalowski.
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Sullivan County schools

Rafalowski worked under eight superintendents before she became one

The four-year director of schools, who formally retired effective July 31, has worked under eight superintendents or directors: Paul Nelson, J. Craft Akard, Jim Fleming, Wallace Ketron and O’Dell as a teacher and building administrator and O’Dell (the last elected superintendent and first appointed director), Glenn Arwood, Jack Barnes and Jubal Yennie in central office.

Aug 3, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Left ro right: Sullivan North High School graduate Sara Watkins listens as Sullivan County Director of Schools Evelyn Rafalowski presents her a proclamation from Gov. Bill Lee naming her an Ambassador of Goodwill from Tennessee.
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SkillsUSA

North graduate named Tennessee Ambassador of Goodwill

Sullivan North High School graduate Sara Watkins finished seventh in the nation in Job Interview in the recent national SkillsUSA competition in Louisville, Kentucky. Word of her people-winning ways got back to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who has made Watkins an Ambassador of Goodwill for the Volunteer State.

Aug 1, 2019 at 3:30 PM
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Sullivan County schools

Sullivan school board approves $134K contract for new director

The board also boosted the pay of retiring Director of Schools Evelyn Rafalowski for July, her final month via a contract extension the board also approved Thursday night.

Jun 7, 2019 at 6:00 PM
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Sullivan County Pinnacle Awards

Pinnacle Awards honor Sullivan County school employees

BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County School’s Sixth Annual Pinnacle Awards honored 34 school system employees for the 2018-19 academic year.Tuesday’s ceremony marked the last Pinnacle event for Director Evelyn Rafalowski, who is set to retire June 30 after a 42-year career in the system.

May 15, 2019 at 10:00 PM
Left to right, actress Viola Davis, Kennedy Musgrave of Nashville and Courtney Good of Sullivan County at the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.
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Sullivan County schools

Sullivan County student honored for volunteerism

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Courtney Good, a sixth grader at Innovation Academy of Northeast Tennessee in Blountville, was among those honored in the nation’s capital Sunday night at the 24th annual presentation of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

May 8, 2019 at 10:00 PM
L to r: Sullivan County Director of Schools finalists David Cox, Corey Gardenhour and Patrick Fraley answered questions in a called 4:30 p.m. Tuesday school board meeting in Blountville, with a vote to choose one during a 5 p.m. meeting there Wednesday.
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Sullivan County schools

Sullivan school director finalists talk about being instructional leaders and collaboration

The finalists interviews were Tuesday. By Wednesday evening, the Board of Education plans to rank them overall by choosing one of the trio to lead the largest school system in Northeast Tennessee that has almost 10,000 students. 

Updated May 8, 2019 at 9:08 AM
L to R: Carter Gibson; Joseph Rutherford Jacob Smith (South High aviation); Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable; Jonathan Almen (South aviation); Jacob Rouse; and Austin Ramsey (East machine tool).
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Career Academy

NSCC Career Academy celebrates 37 dual enrollment graduates

The college’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Office recognized the newest crop of high school students set to earn their high school diplomas and first college credentials in the same semester at a Career Academy graduation celebration held April 29 at the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing or RCAM in downtown Kingsport.

May 6, 2019 at 8:30 PM
Students front, L to R, Joe Cox, Rebekah Skaggs, Taylor Odham, Kristi King; back Dom Coughlin, John Harbaugh, Emily Roberts, Gabe Aquino. Chaperones far left Brent Palmer, far right Aaron Flanary.
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Sullivan County schools

Eight Sullivan County students attend student congress

Sullivan County students joined some 349 of their high school peers in Murfreesboro to express their views on public education in Tennessee. The program is designed to give students a voice where public education issues are concerned and to involve young people in finding solutions.

Mar 22, 2019 at 11:45 AM
Left to right, eighth grade piccolo player Kayleigh Winegar, senior piccolo player and section leader Sierra Strattaon and eighth grader Alexis Arnold practice with the Sullivan North High School band Thursday.
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Sullivan North High School marching band

North band heading south for Disney parade performance

Sullivan North High School’s Marching Raiders are headed to Disney World in Florida Friday evening for a Sunday performance in the Main Street USA parade at the Magic Kingdom.

Mar 22, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Innovation Academy of Northeast Tennessee science teacher Ryan Lovelace
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Utrust grants

Sullivan schools receive $61,000 in Utrust grants

Most of the 11 mini grants, for which teachers applied, were in the $6,000 each range. They were used to buy everything from a telescope and computers to music equipment and software.

Mar 21, 2019 at 9:30 PM
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