Teaching is hard work. And no matter how experienced a former educator is, no one knows what it's like to teach during a pandemic except teachers who are teaching during the COVID-19 era. I wanted to show my gratitude to our educators by taking a moment to visit and just say THANK YOU! Andrew Jackson provided the perfect setting for such a visit. I got a chance to greet members of the cafeteria staff - and that was important to me because I missed them during my Superintendent Roadshow stop at Andrew Jackson in August. I was throughly impressed by the teachers I saw teaching students who were in the classroom and those students attending virtually. Our return to the traditional 5-day school week will present challenges for several educators. However with proper leadership, teamwork, and planning ahead, this district will continue to meet its most sacred mission of educating students safety - no matter the odds. That's what I witnessed today at Andrew Jackson; home to a Level 4 school that is led by a remarkable principal in Ramonica Dorsey. The Eagles are rising. Stay Tuned.
No Excuses University
One of the first things visitors to Andrew Jackson probably notice are the college flags on the outside of every classroom door. Andrew Jackson is a part of the NEU (No Excuses University) network. This network is a diverse and dynamic association of like minded schools from across the United States. Andrew Jackson teachers believe in college readiness for all, which means that every student deserves the opportunity to be educated in a way that prepares them for college if they choose to attend. "No Excuses" schools know they have the power to make that dream a reality. There are only two schools in the state of TN that are apart of the NEU network. There is an application process to be apart of the network. Andrew Jackson was the first school in TN.
