Tennessee Scholars workshop draws leaders from seven counties - Program initiative successful in Dyer County

An academic program that encourages students to challenge themselves with more rigorous coursework, thus preparing themselves for today's competitive job market, is off to a strong start in Dyersburg City and Dyer County schools.

Tennessee Scholars began taking root last year when students in eighth grade first heard about the program. Eighth-graders are targeted before mapping out their high school careers as part of the program's overall plan.

In addition, seniors who had fulfilled the requirements for the scholars program last year were lauded as Tennessee Scholars at Dyersburg High School and Dyer County High School commencement ceremonies this past spring. A total of 120 scholars were celebrated, said Ruth Goodall, director of Tennessee Scholars.

The program is an opportunity for students to benefit, said Dyer County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dwight Hedge.

"It's a good program to recognize kids and to encourage them to take more rigorous coursework," Hedge said.

The driving idea behind the initiative is to better prepare students for the job market, said Joe Randolph, director of implementation for the Center for State Scholars. Randolph is retired from Eastman Chemical in Longview, Texas. He said 15 years ago Eastman was facing a challenge in finding qualified job candidates.

"We were having a terrifically difficult time getting kids out of high school or even community college to be able to train," Randolph said. "We had to do something about it."

After investigation, Randolph said, his company discovered students were taking coursework that was not challenging in high school; thus, they were not preparing themselves properly for the work force.

Randolph and his associates rallied business professionals and educators in the community to change the status quo. A student advisory committee was organized as well. Students told community leaders what would serve as incentives for them to enroll in more strenuous classes, and the leaders listened.

"We took most of what they wanted and developed that over the years," said Randolph.

The primary incentive is recognition, Randolph said, but they also wanted perks such as student discount cards for local businesses.

"You start giving them pats on the back and, boy, they love it," Randolph said.

According to Randolph, about eight years ago 20 percent of high school graduates in Randolph's county were meeting the State Scholars Initiative requirements. Now, Randolph estimated, 65 to 70 percent of all high school graduates are completing the course of study.

"It's gone a long way to give students incentive to take rigorous courses," he said.

With effective results, the initiative has spread, and Tennessee and Arkansas were first to express an interest in the program.

The whole State Scholars program effort is coordinated through the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The key for success, said Randolph, is the support and involvement of local businesses, community leaders, educators, parents, and teachers.

Dyer County residents already have shown support for Tennessee Scholars, and students have responded positively as well.

"I would say 80 to 90 percent of the students are on track for the program in Dyersburg, and it's the same way in Dyer County Schools, too," said Woodall.

Business leaders in the community have been responsive also, Woodall said. They are an integral part of the program. Businesses lead Tennessee Scholars, they fund it, they provide volunteers to go into the schools for presentations, they provide incentives and, ultimately, they provide jobs for graduates.

"This whole program affects the business community economically," Woodall said. "It's a work-force issue."

Tennessee Scholars is expected to flourish in Tennessee, but especially in West Tennessee, said Randolph.

An additional boost behind the program is support from the Northwest Tennessee P-16 Council, co-chaired by Lloyd Ramer, superintendent of Dyersburg City Schools; Jimmy Williamson, manager of Dyersburg Electric System; and Dr. Karen Bowyer, president of Dyersburg State Community College.

The goals of the P-16 council complement the Tennessee Scholars program: increase public awareness of the link between an educated citizenry and a healthy economy; strengthen connections between PreK-12, Tennessee Technology Centers and higher education and to improve student learning at all levels; and to work with teacher education programs at the University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee at Martin and Dyersburg State Community College to prepare competent, caring and qualified teachers.

The P-16 Council and Tennessee Scholars both want students to become more qualified to enter the work force.

"We (P-16 Council) have a group in seven counties and Tennessee Scholars is a very important part of it," said Bowyer.

Woodall emphasized the importance of each participating group to the success of the scholars program in West Tennessee counties.

"There's cooperation between the Tennessee Chamber, businesses, the P-16 Council and Dyersburg State Community College," said Woodall.

The Vision XXI education committee, comprised of Jeff Agee and Danny Walden, also is active in the drive for Tennessee Scholars as well as the local Tennessee Scholars committee, on which Benny Greene of Dyersburg Ford serves as chairperson.

To complete a Tennessee Scholars course of study, a high school student would have to take the following courses: four in English; four in mathematics, including Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry and one higher-level math; three in science, including Biology I and two other lab sciences; three in history, government, geography, and/or economics; one in business or a computer course; one in wellness; one in fine arts; two in foreign language (the same language); and technical courses in the same technical track.

In addition, a Tennessee Scholar would be expected to complete 20 hours of community service, maintain a C average in all Tennessee Scholars courses; maintain 95-percent attendance; have no out-of-school suspensions; and successfully pass the Gateway exams.

For more information about the Tennessee Scholars program, contact Ruth Woodall at (615) 256-5141, or visit the Tennessee Chamber's Web site at www.tnchamber.org.