Data-Driven Student Success Leads to a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for Murfreesboro Teacher Raeven Brooks

Brooks is seen as a school and district leader, opening up her Black Fox Elementary classroom to mentor other teachers

For the direct link to the video of Raeven Brooks’ reaction, visit https://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/newsroom/videos/view/raeven-brooks-murfreesboro-tennessee

For full bio, photos and video, visit https://www.milkeneducatorawards.org/educators/view/raeven-brooks

Santa Monica, Calif., (April 7, 2022) — You could say Raeven Brooks was born to be an outstanding educator. Raised in a family of educators in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the second grade teacher is now giving back to a new generation in the community at Black Fox Elementary, teaching alongside some of the same teachers whose classrooms she learned in as a child. Brooks holds high expectations for each of her students, combining school data and differentiated instruction to build pathways to success based on students’ challenges and strengths. Brooks’ students regularly meet or exceed the school’s annual measurable progress on TNReady. Today, in a fitting celebration of Brooks’ accomplishments, she was recognized with a surprise national Milken Educator Award in front of appreciative colleagues, students, education officials and media.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Commissioner of Education Dr. Penny Schwinn joined Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Dr. Jane Foley to present Brooks with the national recognition, which includes a $25,000 cash prize that she can use however she likes. Brooks will join the national Milken Educator Network of more than 2,800 exceptional educators and leaders across the country dedicated to strengthening K-12 education. She is the first recipient awarded in Murfreesboro City Schools.

“Through her talent and dedication, Raeven Brooks has made an indelible impact as a student – and educator – in the district and broader community she calls home,” said Dr. Foley, who is herself a 1994 Indiana Milken Educator. “Raeven’s use of data to inform decision-making, combined with her skill for keeping students challenged and engaged, create the ideal environment for each child to succeed. Her leadership is inspiring and serves as a model to follow.”

“Dedicated teachers ensure Tennessee students have opportunities to thrive in the classroom and beyond,” said Governor Lee. “I thank Raeven for her service to Murfreesboro City Schools and congratulate her for being recognized as an outstanding educator.”

“Raeven Brooks exemplifies the kind of teacher who does whatever it takes to serve not just their students and school, but their entire community,” said Commissioner Schwinn. “Like Ms. Brooks, I, too, come from a family of educators, and I understand the dedication and commitment it takes to both provide students with an excellent education and become a model of strong practice and leadership for fellow educators. Ms. Brooks chose to serve in the community where she was educated, and she has clearly chosen a path of service where she can have strong, positive, lasting impacts on student success. Congratulations to Ms. Raeven Brooks for being awarded the prestigious Milken Educator Award in honor and recognition of her hard work and enthusiasm.”

Brooks is among more than 60 educators nationwide who will receive the recognition during the 2021-22 school year and the second recipient from Tennessee. Tyler Hallstedt, a social studies teacher at Mt. Juliet Middle School, was presented with the Award this morning. He is also the first Award recipient in his district, Wilson County Schools.

Hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching,” Milken Educator Awards inspire and uplift with the unique stories of educators making a profound difference for students, colleagues and communities. The Awards are not designated for lifetime achievement. Recipients are heralded while early to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities inherent in the Award.

Oprah, a longtime education advocate, shared her congratulations to this year’s recipients in a video message thanking “the most incredible educators around the country” and acknowledging her deep appreciation for the “tireless work” they do.

More About Raeven Brooks

Differentiated Instruction: Brooks builds a supportive community of learners where children believe they can reach any goal. Brooks is a cluster teacher whose classroom includes gifted students as well as those with learning and behavioral challenges. But when class is in session, every learner is fully engaged in the high-level tasks Brooks puts in front of them, which emphasize reasoning and problem-solving. She runs an intervention math group for students who are one or more years behind grade level.

Student Success: Murfreesboro City Schools administers benchmark assessments three times each year; Brooks’ students grow substantially while in her classroom, meeting or exceeding the school’s annual measurable progress on TNReady. With data in hand, Brooks develops action plans to tackle the areas where she and students need to improve. Strengths in data analysis, differentiated instruction and classroom management help her bring out the best in each student.

School Leadership: Brooks represents Black Fox’s second grade team in the district’s Math Network, which meets monthly to identify weaknesses in standards, develop lesson plans and professional development, and integrate math into other disciplines like literature. Brooks was an original part of the STEAM leadership team at the elementary school, working to build a culture authentic to the school and students. The school applied for STEM designation and will find out soon if they move forward with the designation process.

Beyond Black Fox: She co-leads and coordinates district-level data analysis for the school’s Response to Instruction and Intervention-Behavior (RTI2-B) team, and helps recruit new teachers with the Job Fair team. Brooks mentors new teachers in the school and district as well as student teachers from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). She often invites educators from around the district to observe in her classroom. For two years, she participated in professional learning through Project Inspire, a joint project of Murfreesboro City Schools and MTSU.

Learning Adaptation: Brooks values her community and has great rapport with parents. When COVID-19 closed school buildings in spring 2020, Brooks focused on connecting with families to ensure student participation, recognizing and celebrating parents for their hard work and collaboration. Students uploaded work to portfolios using the ClassDojo app, with Brooks providing near-instant feedback and Zooming with the class weekly to motivate pupils to continue learning. With a second grade colleague, Brooks shared a camping-themed video lesson incorporating reading and writing skills via Murfreesboro City TV, which aired televised lessons from local teachers while children were learning at home. For the 2020-21 school year, Brooks served as Hybrid Teacher for her grade level.

Education: Brooks earned a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Middle Tennessee State University in 2015. She is currently enrolled in the university’s Administration and Supervision Graduate Program.

More About the Milken Educator Awards: “The future belongs to the educated.”
Along with the financial prize, Milken Educator Award recipients join the national Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,800 top teachers, principals and specialists. The network serves as a rich resource for fellow educators, legislators, school boards and others dedicated to excellence in education.
· In June, the honorees will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to increase their impact on K-12 education. In addition, they will learn about how to become involved in the Milken Friends Forever (MFFs) mentoring program, in which freshman Milken Educators receive personalized coaching and support from a Milken Educator veteran on ways to elevate their instructional practice and take an active role in educational leadership, policy and practice.
· Over the years, more than $140 million in funding, including $70 million for the individual cash awards, has been devoted to the overall Milken Awards initiative, which includes powerful professional development opportunities throughout recipients’ careers.
· Veteran Milken Educators frequently go on to serve in leadership roles at state, national and international levels.
· “We find you. You don’t find us!” Unlike most teacher recognition programs, the Milken Educator Awards initiative has no formal nomination or application process. Candidates are sourced through a confidential selection process and then reviewed by blue ribbon panels in each state. The most exceptional candidates are recommended for the award, with final selection made by the Milken Family Foundation.
· The $25,000 cash award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. For instance, some have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
To get regular updates on the surprise Milken Educator Award events or to watch the award events unfold, follow and use the #MilkenAward hashtag on Facebook (@MilkenEducatorAwards), Twitter (@Milken), YouTube (/MilkenAward), Instagram (MilkenFamilyFdn), and TikTok (@MilkenAward).
For more information, visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772.
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About the Milken Educator Awards
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by the Milken Family Foundation in 1987. The awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. Recipients are heralded in early to mid-career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. The initiative was created by the Milken Family Foundation, which celebrates 40 years of elevating education in America and around the world. Learn more at MFF.org.

The Murfreesboro City School (MCS) five-year strategic plan known as “Empowering MCS” was endorsed by the MCS school board during the March 22, 2022 school board meeting.  This plan will guide MCS decision making into the year of 2027.

Murfreesboro City School leaders spent a year conducting research as well as receiving feedback from board members, parents, educators, community partners and administrators. Over two months was spent analyzing results to develop the plan’s component parts; and several weeks were devoted to turning those into high-quality communications focused on ease of understanding by our staff and community.

Empowering MCS outlines 39 objectives based on four student centered emboldened truths and 42 strategies to achieve the objectives.

Understanding the four student centered truths enables MCS to move forward with integrity and precision.

• Known – Every student will be known through whole-child programs and support.
  • MCS will support the whole child by ensuring access to mental health staff, engaging in partnerships with high-quality providers, providing relevant classroom extension opportunities, supporting family involvement, and focusing on positive behavior supports.
• Safe – Every student will be safe through equitable access to buildings, facilities and infrastructures that meet their needs
  • MCS will ensure operational excellence and prioritize safety, technology, resources, allocation, and facilities to meet the needs of our growing community.
• Challenged – Every student will be challenged by learning from highly effective educators and employees.
  • MCS will recruit, retain, and train highly-qualified and culturally competent educators and employees to ensure MCS is the place where talented individuals choose to work.
• Empowered – Every student will be empowered through academic success.
  • MCS will ensure all students, especially those who have been historically under served, grow and achieve at high levels in all content areas.

“The five-year plan recognizes that equity is key in meeting the needs of the whole child,” says Dr. Trey Duke, Director of Schools. “Our goal is to give students tools for success that will last far beyond their years at Murfreesboro City Schools and to give our employees the support to ensure that MCS is a top workplace.”

Through Empowering MCS, MCS will continue to embark on a path of success through planning, implementing, and empowering our staff and students to succeed. Each student will engage in rigorous standards-based curriculum while receiving the wrap-around supports they need. The MCS workforce will be challenged, trained and culturally competent. Additionally, our community will have increased and intentional opportunities to partner with MCS for the success of students and staff.

Murfreesboro City Schools is the 22nd largest school district in Tennessee with 13 schools serving over 9,500 students.

Read the entire plan by clicking: Empowering MCS.

For the 2022-23 school year, the State of Tennessee adopted new laws stipulating how school districts must consider zone exemption requests. Following the guidelines of this law, Murfreesboro City Schools will conduct the open enrollment period for zone waivers from April 1-May 1, 2022.  During this time, a parent or guardian of a student may seek to transfer their child to an open zoned school for the 2022-23 school year. (If parents submitted zone paperwork during the priority period in March, no further action is required.)

Zone waivers submitted during this zone waiver time frame are subject to approval through a lottery system as directed by this new state law.  To ensure your zone waiver is considered, it is important to submit your waiver between April 1 and May 1, 2022.  The waivers will be approved based on a lottery system using the open seats listed below.

• Bradley Academy – 50 seats available
• Erma Siegel Elementary – 50 seats available
• Hobgood Elementary – 20 seats available
• Mitchell-Neilson School – 50 seats available
• Northfield Elementary – 50 seats available
• John Pittard Elementary – 50 seats available
• Reeves-Rogers Elementary – 50 seats available

The following schools have been designated as closed zone schools with no zone waiver option for 2022-23: Overall Creek, Salem, Scales, Cason Lane, Black Fox, Discovery School.

Parents may pick up a zone waiver at your school or download the waiver from this website.  Instructions on submitting zone waivers are included on the zone waiver form. After reviewing these documents, please feel free to call MCS central office with any questions.

(Download the 2022-23 Zone Waiver)

Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced that Murfreesboro City Schools was one of 68 districts in Tennessee receiving statewide recognition as a “Best for All” district for significantly investing federal COVID-19 stimulus funding to drive student achievement and improve academic outcomes.

“We are excited to be recognized by the State for the commitment and fidelity we are showing with investing relief dollars directly into student services,” says Dr. Trey Duke, director of Murfreesboro City Schools.

Best for All Districts will receive financial, operational, and resource benefits in appreciation for districts’ planned investments to spend their share of the federal COVID-19 relief and stimulus funding directly on services, resources and supports that will help students achieve academically.

“MCS is focused on providing multiple opportunities for our students to succeed,” says Sheri Arnette, Asst. Superintendent of Instruction. “This recognition is a validation that we are serving our students with a commitment to excellence.”

Murfreesboro City Schools has a clear focus on academic achievement and helping students succeed. Relief dollars are specifically being set aside to enhance student learning including extended school day opportunities. Additionally, relief dollars are being used for closing learning gaps in students and social and emotional support.
#bestforallday

The MCS School Board passed a minimal rezoning plan for the 2022-23 school year including zone waiver changes for all students currently attending any MCS school. Students currently attending a MCS school on a zone waiver should reapply for zone waivers during the priority period of February 28-March 11. Any zone waivers submitted after the priority period will be subject to approval through a lottery system as directed by a new state law (referenced at the end of this page).  To ensure your zone waiver is considered, it is important to submit your waiver during the priority period.

Please carefully review the dates and details below for changes that may affect your child.

Timeframe for waivers:

• Priority Waivers – February 28 through March 11
• All Other Waivers – April 1 – May 1 (lottery system)

Open Zone Schools for 2022-23

Erma Siegel, John Pittard, Mitchell-Neilson, Northfield, Bradley, Reeves-Rogers, Hobgood

Closed Zone Schools for 2022-23

Overall Creek, Salem, Scales, Cason Lane, Black Fox, Discovery

Zone Waiver Instructions

• Print the out-of-zone waiver application and answer questions completely. (Please complete one waiver per child.) Zone waivers without a reason listed will be denied.
• Carefully read, date and sign the Declaration of Understanding.
• Take this completed application to the school you want your child to attend for the principal to review.

ZONE WAIVER FORM 2022-2023

Where’s my Zone?

Click this link to see your zoned school for 2022-23.

MAP MY HOME

Grandfathering and Sibling Attendance Plan

GRANDFATHERING RULE:

• If rezoned to a new school, rising 5^th and 6^th grade in-city students may remain in their current school or attend their new zoned school. If they remain in their current school, no transportation service would be available for this option. Students can complete their elementary schooling at the school if they can provide their own transportation and if MCS has the type of class offered to appropriately educate the student.
• For Salem Elementary, the grandfathering rule would apply to rising 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders who reside in the city limits. This ensures the district is not moving a student to more than 2 schools during their elementary years.

SIBLING RULE (Grandfathered Students):

• Younger siblings who have a sibling taking advantage of the grandfathering option can attend the grandfathered school along with the sibling as long as both were in the school when this zoning plan was implemented (2022-2023). The younger siblings can remain in the grandfathered school as long as the grandfathered student remains at the school and MCS has the type of class offered to appropriately educate the student.  No transportation service will be available for this option if they remain out-of-zone under the sibling rule.

Out-of-Zone Waivers

• Salem, Overall Creek, Cason Lane, Black Fox, and Scales will be considered closed zone schools and will not accept or renew any out-of-city waivers for the 2022-2023 school year unless it is attached to MCS employment. Rising in-city 5^th and 6^th grade students and rising out-of-city 5^th graders on zone waivers will follow the grandfathering rule outlined above.
• These students may apply for a zone waiver at another open-zone MCS school with available space that is accepting waivers.
• Proposed Open Zone Schools: Bradley, Erma Siegel, Hobgood, John Pittard, Mitchell-Neilson, Northfield, Reeves-Rogers.

OUT-OF-ZONE RULE:  (Applies to all students grandfathering or following a sibling)

• Grandfathered and sibling students will require an “Out-of-Zone Waiver” form to be filled out each year to go through the out-of-zone evaluation process. Students attending an out-of-zone school have to meet specific criteria to maintain the out-of-zone privilege.  Students not meeting the criteria will forfeit their out-of-zone status and be reassigned to their zoned school or another MCS school as determined by the district.

GRANDFATHERING AND SIBLING ATTENDANCE PLAN

New Tennessee Law Referenced in Parent Letters Overview

(overview from TSBA)

Last year, the General Assembly passed Public Chapter 479. This law goes into effect for the 2022-2023 school year. During this legislative session, the General Assembly is poised to take further action on this topic.

Public Chapter 479 requires districts to make changes to their open enrollment policies and practices. To comply with the law, districts must take the following actions:

1. Identify each school that has space to serve additional students;
2. Post the number of spaces available for enrollment at least 14 days prior to the open enrollment period. This number of spaces is not required to include those reserved for students who may transfer to the district in the coming year, students who have a sibling enrolled at the respective school, or students who may have a parent who teaches at the respective school;
3. Conduct an open enrollment period of at least 30 days before the start of the school year; and
4. If the number of applications for transfer exceeds the number of spaces available, then the district must conduct a lottery to select the students who will be chosen to transfer.

Below is a link to the text of the law.
https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/112/pub/pc0479.pdf

Eleven Murfreesboro City Schools have been selected as Model of Demonstration (MOD) Schools for Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI²-B)!  This recognition is based on the schools’ partnership with the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project during the 2020-2021 school year.

Model of Demonstration Schools—Gold Level 

Black Fox Elementary

Cason Lane Academy

Erma Siegel Elementary

Hobgood Elementary

John Pittard Elementary

Overall Creek Elementary

Reeves Rogers Elementary

Scales Elementary

Model of Demonstration Schools—Silver Level

Discovery School

Model of Demonstration Schools—Bronze Level

Mitchell-Neilson School

Salem Elementary

MOD Schools are implementing one or more tiers of RTI²-B with high fidelity and have applied the framework to improve their school climate and culture, student engagement, and school connectedness. Selected schools have been a participant in training and technical assistance provided by TBSP and have undergone the process of implementing a positive and proactive behavioral systems framework for all students. The RTI2-B framework consists of: identifying common behavioral expectations across campus, teaching, re-teaching, reinforcing, and regularly acknowledging students, faculty, and families for exhibiting these expectations.

Due to the growth on the west side of Interstate 24 and schools in those areas being at or over capacity, Murfreesboro City Schools will be implementing a rezoning plan for the 2022-23 school year.  This plan will affect some families in the Overall Creek and Salem school zones.

We invite you to look over the current zone maps and rezoning maps attached below and attend the town hall rezoning meetings scheduled for:

• January 27 at Overall Creek – 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• January 31 at Salem Elementary – 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• February 1 – Virtual Zoom – 3:30 p.m. (for link to virtual meeting, please email lisa.trail@cityschools.net)

These town hall meetings are designed to have open discussion and communication regarding the zoning plans for 2022-23. The same information will be shared at all meetings and parents may attend any meeting regardless of the location or school.

Overall Current

Overall Rezone draft

Salem Current

Salem Rezone draft

Grandfather Draft 2022-23

Click this link to see your zoned school for 2022-23.

MAP MY HOME

To submit feedback regarding the MCS Rezoning Proposal, please click here.

We are excited to announce our 2021-2022 Teachers of the Year for Murfreesboro City Schools.

Teachers from each school were nominated by their peers for the prestigious education award given by the Tennessee Department of Education.

School Level Teachers of the Year are:
Black Fox – Kim Inglis and Kristy Lewis
Bradley Academy – Macari Harrison and Donna Beers
Cason Lane – Amy Walker Kristy Timberlake
Discovery – Kelly Holman and Melissa Carnes
Erma Siegel – Devontae Kelley and Jennifer George
Hobgood – Nichole Bell and Olivia Calvo
John Pittard – Francina Jackson and Stephanie Stephens
Mitchell-Neilson – Amy Adcock, Ashlee Walker, and Clinton Staggs
Northfield – Rachel Davenport and Shirelle Ford-Jackson
Overall Creek – Anna McDonald and Amanda Turnbo
Reeves-Rogers – Malia Rankins and Brittany Davison
Salem – Kimberly Kahle and Lance Pearcy
Scales – Jessica Sorth and Kayla Embry

Kim Inglis from Black Fox and Lance Pearcy from Salem were selected System-level honorees and will represent MCS at the regional level.

We’re Hiring!

Murfreesboro City Schools is an exemplary district of 13 schools with approximately 9,000 students and 2,000 employees focused on meeting the needs of the whole child.

We are hiring substitutes, ESP staff, and interim teachers.

We offer:
Competitive pay
Benefits packages for full-time employees
Professional development opportunities
Personal, vacation, and sick leave for full-time employees

Apply online at the following link: https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsfinmurfreesborotn/rappljoblst483.w

The City Schools Foundation distributed over $48,000 in grants to teachers in 2021. Twenty-two grants were selected for funding for the 2021-22 school year. The Foundation asks educators from Murfreesboro City Schools to submit proposals for funding that will help them acquire resources not ordinarily provided by taxpayer dollars.
“The range of requests were outstanding and ranged from vermicomposting to math fluency,” says David Scott, Grant Committee Chair, The City Schools Foundation. “It is remarkable to see how educators are utilizing hands-on learning opportunities to enrich the classroom.”
Grants are submitted anonymously and are judged on their merit by a committee. The funding for grants ranged from Books for Math and Science at $100.50 to Learning Outside the Box: Exploring Nature through an Outdoor Campus funded at $10,000. The grant recipients are as follows:

Cason Lane Academy
1 Bot 2 Bot BeeBot BlueBot – Julie Seymour
Vermicomposting – Rachel Cairo
Let’s Get Cooking! – Tara Tedder
Accessing STEM in Special Education – Helen Belcher

Discovery School
My Great Migration Station – Kristy Mall
Mmmmm…Raspberry Pi – Hannelore Dickerson – Amy Ritter
Mistake-Proof, Hands-On Exploration: Place Value Misconception Edition – Angela Bunyi
Walk This Way! STEAM Walk, Listen, Do, Learn – Angela Bunyi

Erma Siegel
Creating Music from the Palm of Your Hand – Mark Hale
Beats From Around the World – Rachel Friedman
Learning Outside the Box: Exploring Nature Through an Outdoor Campus – Emily Clark

Mitchell-Neilson
Math by the Book – Gina Graham
Aqua-FUN-ics – Anita Morton

Northfield
Wild About Reading, Robots, and Real-World Readiness – Heather Eskridge

Reeves-Rogers
Math and Literacy: It All Adds Up! – Ashleigh Stone

Salem
Learning A-Z; 1, 2, 3! – Sarah Chumney
“MakeDo” Tools for Cardboard Design Projects – Kimberly Kahle
Onward and Upward – Sarah Chumney
The Little STEAM Cart that Could! – Kathy Latondress & Beth Wood
Books for Math and Science – Lucie Abbott
Pondering Thoughts – Sarah Chumney

Scales
Fact Fluency with Tang! – Alexis Hutchens

Most grants covered an aspect of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.) STEAM allows students to explore subjects in hands-on activities giving our students additional ways to succeed in this rapidly changing technology-based world.

Trustees for The City Schools Foundation include: David Scott, Kimberly Robertson, Joe Faiz, Justin Burris, Stephanie Roach, Travis Lampley, Kimberly Robertson, Vicki Eastham, Charlie Patel, Ellen Slicker, Andrew Young, Katherine Layman and Robin Bayne. Additionally, Dr. Trey Duke and School Board Member Wesley Ballard serve as non-voting members of the Foundation.
To date, The Foundation has raised over $1,000,000 dollars for Murfreesboro City Schools. The City Schools Foundation is a private, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Chartered in 2005, the Foundation was created by volunteers from the community who wanted to supplement the resources available to the Murfreesboro City Schools System. More information can be found at www.cityschoolsfoundation.com.