Sumner County Schools

Superhero Student Donates Life-Saving Bone Marrow to Save his Brother

Indian Lake Elementary second grader, Davey Araoz, is a perfect match for his brother that is battling a rare form of leukemia. Next week he will undergo a bone marrow transplant to save his brother's life. Davey's school paid tribute to his heroism with a special send-off fit for a superhero.

"Indian Lake Elementary was honored to support our second-grade hero today with the help of the Hendersonville High School community," Indian Lake Elementary Principal, Jennifer McCay said. "We are in awe of his courage and sacrifice, and we look forward to seeing him when he returns."

A sea of blue, Davey's favorite color, extended around Indian Lake Elementary as Davey enjoyed a parade in his honor which included Hendersonville High School's band, football team, dance team, cheerleaders, basketball players, community members and his classmates.

"We're thankful and appreciative that everyone came together to show him support and to root him on," Davey's mom, Brandy Araoz said. "I think it will be helpful for Davey to look back on the pictures while he's going through everything. I think it will mean a lot to him for encouragement too because it can be scary going into a hospital at seven years old."

For more pictures, visit https://photos.app.goo.gl/zGB9iqab1KfW2onKA

Shelby Foundation Gives Gallatin High School Student a Voice

Gallatin High School student, Zachary Tignor, doesn’t speak but that won’t stop him from communicating thanks to a donation from The Shelby Foundation. Zachary received a communication device called Nuvo from AdaptHealth. The device looks like an I-pad and has pictures that Zachary can tap that produces words on his behalf.

“Zachary can do a little bit of sign language, but not to the degree or complexity to what sign language is,” Zachary’s father, David Tignor said. “He is non-verbal, so he can't tell you if he is hurting. The tablet is a magic wand of communication for him. It allows him to have a voice.”

Zachary will continue to work with his teachers and speech language pathologist to program the device to fit his needs.

The Shelby Foundation is named after Shelby Hickman, a young girl with special needs, that passed away in January. Her parents, Joey and Susan Hickman are the founders of the charity that work to support children and young adults with disabilities. The Hickman’s saw a story on WKRN News 2 by Nickelle Smith regarding another Sumner County student that received a device and that motivated them to help more children. The Shelby Foundation purchased a communication device for a Portland East Middle School student. Once the donation was published online, an anonymous donor was inspired to contribute to The Shelby Foundation, specifically requesting that a Sumner County Schools student would benefit. The Hickman’s are hoping the trend continues, so that other children will benefit.

“Our organization is excited about giving students the ability to communicate,” Shelby Foundation Founder, Susan Hickman said. “The Shelby Foundation would like to thank the donor that made the purchase of this device possible. We hope that another person will hear this story and make a donation to purchase one of these devices for another student.”

The Tignor family says they are grateful and look forward to paying the gesture forward in the future. For more information about The Shelby Foundation, go to ShelbyFoundation.org.

Gallatin Chamber Surprises Teachers

The Gallatin Chamber of Commerce surprised three teachers Tuesday afternoon. Congratulations to Guild Elementary Teacher, Kim Harkreader; Benny Bills Elementary Teacher, Stacy Benton; and Bethpage Elementary Librarian, Marissa Wells. The trio received more than $3,000 combined after applying for the Gallatin Chamber Foundation's education grants. Since 2014, the Gallatin Chamber Foundation has given out nearly $120,000 to Gallatin schools. The donated money is raised from chamber events including a Hocus Pocus movie night (October), Gallatin Shamrock Run (March), and outside contributions from the community.

In 2020, the Gallatin Chamber Foundation expanded its awards to include scholarships for graduating seniors, to honor the late Jim Hawkins, a Sumner County Schools Board Member. The James B. Hawkins Good Neighbor Scholarship is available to seniors at Gallatin High School and Station Camp High School who exemplify the traits of a good citizen.

Sumner County Schools Earns Top Score from State

Sumner County Schools continues to smash records after receiving the highest score on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment Systems, known as TVAAS. TVAAS is a 1 to 5 scale that measures student growth year over year. The district earned a Level 5, making Sumner County Schools a top performing district in the state.

“The work our schools have done to drive this high growth is outstanding,” said Chief Academic Officer, Scott Langford. “Our teachers and administrators work incredibly hard for our students, and it’s exciting to see that hard work pay off. Their commitment to serve our children is exemplary.”

While this data is impressive, it’s only part of the district’s picture. Sumner County Schools leads the state in STEM / STEAM Education with 11 schools receiving state designation. The honor recognizes our schools for their commitment to promoting and integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics learning for all students that ultimately prepares them for post-secondary college and career success in the 21st century.

The district also leads the state in Tennessee Pathways Certifications with 25 courses of study. The Tennessee Pathways Certifications range from coding to culinary arts and recognize a strong alignment between Sumner County high school programs, postsecondary partners and high-quality employment opportunities in the region.

The district had more than 1,000 Advanced Placement (AP) students including 213 scholars, 110 honors and distinction scholars and 1 AP Capstone Diploma recipient. Less than 40 schools in the state offer the Capstone program. In addition, more than 920 students earned an industry certification with 183 dual credit exams passed and 61 credits earned via dual enrollment courses.

Five more career and technical education (CTE) classes, formerly known as vocational, have been added for the 2022-23 school year. They include aviation, mechatronics, teaching as a profession, cosmetology, and A/V production. In total, Sumner County Schools offers 130 different CTE courses.

For more information about TVAAS, visit www.tn.gov/education/data/tvaas.html