Franklin, Rhea get teacher grants

Verizon awards $5,000 to each school system toward the development and training of educators.

Two area school systems were among 10 in Tennessee that got part of $ 50,000 in grants awarded by a national cellphone company foundation to enhance teacher development and pay for training so they can boost student performance.

Regionally, Franklin County Schools and Rhea County Schools each got a $5,000 slice of the money pie aimed at enhancing science, technology, engineering and math programs — known among educators as “STEM” programs. Franklin and Rhea were among 10 grant recipients to receive funding, Verizon Foundation officials said.

Rhea’s grant allowed Rhea County High School chemistry teachers Stephanie Able and James Harrison to attend the Tennessee Science Teachers Association annual conference in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Rhea County assistant director and secondary education supervisor Walta Tolliver said.

All high school juniors under the Tennessee Diploma Project must take either chemistry or physics, Tolliver said, so the extra help in the area of science and technology is well-timed to help teachers deliver the material better.

“We’ll compare their spring ACT scores with their sophomore plan scores,” she said.

The grant for the Franklin County School District will allow the district to implement the use of the foundation’s Thinkfinity.org site for professional development for about 20 teachers, according to Franklin County Director of Schools Rebecca Sharber.

Franklin’s school staff already has a “Thinkfinity” trainer on board so funding could be spread around more, Sharber said.

“We are using it with three schools who were targeted