MEMORANDUM

RALPH M. THOMPSON, ADMINISTRATIVE TIER DIRECTOR – 9-12 SCHOOLS – K-12 DISCIPLINE

High School Graduations 2005

Attached is a copy of the 2005 High School Graduation scheduling;
including date, time, and location. Please indicate the ceremony or
ceremonies that you would like to attend. Also, let us know whether
or not you would like for a robe to be provided for you and if so,
indicate your school and degree. Return all responses to my
office as soon as possible. Thanks for your participation and we
look forward to seeing you.

DR. JUNE KEEL, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES

Transition to Teaching Program

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools has been accepted to participate
in the Transition to Teaching Program. The program is a five-year grant
award from the U.S. Department of Education that is designed to
support the recruitment and retention of highly qualified mid-career
professionals and recent college graduates as teachers in high-need
schools through the use of alternative routes to licensure. This alternative
program requires a reduced number of hours and the program will provide
$5000 toward the tuition of the eighteen graduate hours required for
each candidate. Transition to Teaching Program focuses on secondary
(grades 7-12) math and science teachers.

Qualified candidates must have a degree in math or science and must
obtain a teaching position in a middle or high school, in one of the
identified districts, prior to the start of the 2005-2006 school year.
Also, the candidate must take and pass the PRAXIS II Exam in the
content area www.ets.org/praxis: Biology 0235, Chemistry 0245, Physics
0265, or Mathematics 0061.

Exit Survey

The HR Department sent letters to 352 former teachers who resigned
during the 2004 calendar year inviting them to participate in our new
online exit survey. This survey was developed by the HR Department
with the assistance of our PALS with the goal of gaining insight into
the reasons teachers choose to terminate their employment
with our school system. You may view this survey at www.wmotion.com/wsurveys/s/359-cdye/.

On-Line Application

Applicants for teaching and substitute positions can now file their
applications on-line! This means that now teaching candidates can file
their application directly with our system from anywhere in the world
at anytime of the day or night. This will greatly reduce the number of
applications that will need to mailed or distributed during our recruitment
efforts and will also dramatically reduce the amount of paperwork
involved in maintaining applicant files in our office. It is hoped that the
ease in filing an application coupled with our on-line interview will result
in a greater number of candidates applying for positions with our school
system. We invite you to view this application by following the “Applying
for a Teaching/Substitute Position” link on our website.

WOODY MCMILLIN, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

• Responded to questions from media regarding former MNPS bus driver;
  bus accidents; governor’s budget proposal; Black History Month activities;
  bus driver possibly injured by students; possible flu outbreaks at schools;
  continuing calls regarding Rose Park principal; ELL programs; Chamber
  Report Card; student issues at Maplewood; lockdowns; tornado drills;
  budget issues; blasting damage to homes during new school construction;
  drugs found in schools; student/teacher altercation; and report of student missing.
• Revised and added content to biographies of Athletic Hall of Fame honorees;
• Continued work on Back the Stack Library Program with Barnes & Noble;
• Met multiple times with team working on website redesign and provided
  input on content and appearance;
• Provided photographs taken by staff and information to web for Citizens
  Panel Report and Lillard collection for tsunami relief;
• Distributed Annual Reports to schools and as requested by others;
• On-site for issuance of Chamber of Commerce Report Card and coordinate media;
• Gathered information requested by Parents Advisory Council;
• Continued work on State of Metro Schools function;
  
• Responded to calls and requests for information from various schools, departments and outside agencies;

PEG/jw

Attachment:

• 2005 High School Graduation Scheduling