Updates
November 6, 2024
Issue 9: July 2024 – October 2024
The mission of the Knox Education Foundation is to be a catalyst for the transformation of public education by investing in and advocating for innovative programs, partnerships, and initiatives to achieve excellent outcomes for all students.
Knox Education Foundation continues to support collaborative efforts to overcome barriers, advance opportunities, and empower all students. We hope you enjoy the updates highlighted in this issue of Knox Education Station.
First Annual Back to School Breakfast Success
Knox Education Foundation (KEF)’s inaugural Back to School Breakfast, held on July 31, 2024 at Bridgewater Place was a major success with over 200 people in attendance. The event was designed to unite the Knox County community in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year.
The event saw an impressive turnout, with attendees hearing from prominent speakers, including Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk and KEF CEO Mike Taylor. Both speakers shared valuable insights and updates on the upcoming school year, focusing on strong priority-driven initiatives and emphasizing the critical role of community and business partnerships in fostering educational excellence.
“We are thrilled with the community’s response to our inaugural Back to School Breakfast,” said Mike Taylor, KEF CEO. “The enthusiasm and support from our attendees demonstrate a collective commitment to navigate beyond expectations to ensure success for our schools.”
The organization unveiled an aspirational video demonstrating how it gets “to the point” to help all students chart their own path to success.
“We believe in getting to the point to navigate beyond expectations in education, and that means building strong connections between our schools and the community,” Mike Taylor said.
Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk highlighted key successes from the 2023-2024 school year, emphasizing the district’s four priority areas. He also introduced additional initiatives aimed at further supporting and expanding the district’s dedicated focus on these priorities.
The Back to School Breakfast was proudly sponsored by SouthEast Bank. The foundation looks forward to building on the momentum generated by this event and continuing to support educational excellence for public schools in Knox County.
Save the Date for the second annual Back to School Breakfast, July 31, 2025!
Playspace Fund Ribbon Cutting Celebrations
Knox Education Foundation proudly hosted ribbon cuttings across the county for multiple schools who were honored to be selected for Phase 1 of the Playspace Fund.
BELLE MORRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SARAH MOORE GREEN MAGNET ACADEMY
WEST HAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SPRING HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FOUNTAIN CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, over $1.4 million was raised to support 11 new playgrounds across seven schools for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. View our Playspace Donor Wall that recognizes all these generous donors. To learn more about the Playspace Fund and how you can support future phases of this initiative, visit knoxed.org/play.
Summer Institutes Provide High School Students with Post-Secondary Opportunities
Knox Education foundation was excited to partner with three of our higher education institutions to offer the Project GRAD summer Institutes to over 200 students from Austin-East and Fulton high schools. The summer experiences were hosted at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College, and Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville. Out of the 234 applicants, 195 students participated in the summer institutes with 92% completing the experiences and earning a $250 stipend. Students who attended TCAT-Knoxville summer institute also earned certifications in their completed programs. 70% of students who completed a satisfaction survey indicated an increase in knowledge of the importance of postsecondary education and pathways available to them.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
Nineteen Fulton and Austin-East High School students participated in the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Summer Institute. Scholars had hands-on experiences in Cosmetology, Industrial Machine Tooling and Transportation pathways to align with the 865 Academies. During the two-week institute, scholars in the Industrial Machine Tooling earned NC 3 Certifications for 3D printing and learned how to operate the laser cutter/engravers. In the Transportation pathway, scholars earned certificates in torque, precision measuring, battery starting and charging. The scholars who participated in the Cosmetology pathway earned hair braiding and salon hygiene certifications.
Pellissippi State Community College
Seventy-Five students from Austin-East and Fulton High School attended the PSCC Summer Institute. This program offered students hands-on exploration of their specific 865 high school pathways: Business, Communications, Health and Public Service, and STEM.
Each student also completed a class in Dream to Degree, which offered insight on how to transition from high school to post-secondary, including self-awareness, financial literacy, and career readiness. Scholars visited multiple Pellissippi State Campuses and various industry/career partners. The students also had an opportunity to represent Pellissippi in Knoxville’s Juneteenth Parade.
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Eighty-six students from Austin-East and Fulton High School attended the University of Tennessee Summer Institute. Scholars experienced a 1 week residential exposure to college. Aligning with the 865 Academies, scholars experienced career-specific courses in Business, Engineering, Health and Sports Management, Nursing, and Sports Psychology. Scholars also completed college courses in Research, English, and Math.
CEO Champions visit Karns High School
The CEO Champions, led by Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk and Knox Education Foundation CEO, Mike Taylor, are dedicated to advocating for the 865 Academies within the community. This collaborative group of industry and community leaders meet three times a year to engage with students, school staff, and district leaders, gaining insight into the impact of the 865 Academies. These champions are essential voices to guide the district’s decision-making process, provide input on key community and industry needs to assist Knox County Schools in strategizing ways to mobilize community support. Their contributions are crucial for driving the ongoing transformation of the high school experience for all students.
Recently, they toured Karns High School’s 865 Academies, experiencing firsthand the innovation and engagement within:
– Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship
– Academy of Creative and Technical Innovation
– Academy of Health Science and Human Services
We were excited to highlight the various opportunities at Karns, and the students’ stories of success served as a powerful reinforcement of the impact of the 865 Academies at Karns and across our district.
National Association of Education Foundations
The National Association of Education Foundations (NAEF) is thrilled to announce that Knoxville, TN will be the host city for the ImpactED 2025 Conference!
Save the Dates: Tuesday, March 25 – Thursday, March 27, 2025
Join NAEF’s ImpactED Conference with other education foundation industry leaders for insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and innovative ideas that will shape the future of education. To learn more, visit https://www.educationfoundations.org/.
Meet the newest member of the KEF Team
Knox Education Foundation is excited to welcome Sherri Fredette to the team as our Administrative Specialist.
Sherri Fredette serves as an Administrative Specialist for Knox Education Foundation. She performs general administrative, clerical, record-keeping functions and provides operational support to our Executive Leadership Team and all Knox Education Foundation staff by handling administrative tasks such as greeting guests, managing phone calls, organizing meetings, and maintaining records. The role involves managing a complex calendar, handling donations, and assisting with fundraising efforts.
As a Knox County School graduate, Sherri has been a dedicated Knox County resident. Joining KEF in August of 2024, Sherri has been in various sectors of the service community. She worked in Property Management for eight years and then shifted to the Finance Industry. She possesses excellent skills and experience in all aspects of administrative support. Sherri resides in Knoxville and enjoys reading, book clubs, baking, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family and dogs. Sherri is eager to find the perfect fit for her to support through volunteerism to showcase her volunteer spirit.
“As a graduate of Knox County Schools and a parent of children attending KCS, I am grateful to be a part of and support a team dedicated to serving our schools and communities by prioritizing education and student success.” – Sherri Fredette
To the Point Campaign
Our aim at Knox Education Foundation is to get to the point to navigate beyond expectations in education by investing in educational excellence through innovative strategies, strategic partnerships, and data-driven initiatives that impact student outcomes.
To learn more, please click here to watch a short clip of how KEF gets to the point with educational initiatives and strategies to continue supporting Knox County Schools..
In Memory of Christi Kirk
For over 20 years, Christi was deeply committed to the mission of Project GRAD, where her passion for supporting students from kindergarten through post-secondary education touched countless lives, inspiring hope and achievement. We celebrate the incredible legacy Christi leaves behind. Please click here to read the legacy of Christi Kirk.