TSBA: Your Education Source Podcast Tennessee School Boards Association

In today’s episode, the TSBA Staff Attorneys are back and answering the most asked legal questions received from board members across the state. This version of “Ask the Attorney” focuses solely on questions regarding the law around board policy. Questions from “what is the function of the policy committee” to “how can a board member propose a policy change” are tackled during today’s episode.

In today’s episode, Dr. Cathy Beck, Director of Schools for Cheatham County Schools, and David Risner, Board Chairman of the Cheatham County Board of Education, share the importance of becoming the first school district in Tennessee to be named a Unified Champion District by the Special Olympics. Join us as they cover the steps the district took to achieve this designation as well as the importance of promoting social inclusion throughout the school district.
https://www.cheathamcountyschools.net/apps/news/article/1810530
https://www.cheathamcountyschools.net/apps/news/article/1732327
https://youtu.be/3O2Fxc3pyFs
https://www.cheathamcountyschools.net/apps/news/article/1644462

The Tennessee School Boards Association maintains an awards program that, each year, recognizes school board members who have gone above and beyond for their school district. In today’s episode, Brittany Massey, Director of Finance and Member Services, and Sandy Jones, Board of Directors Services Coordinator, cover the different types of awards and recognitions available for school board members to achieve throughout the year. Visit www.tsba.net for additional award details and applications.

In today’s episode, Nathan Abbott, Information Systems Manager with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury – Division of Local Government Audit, provides an in-depth overview of cybersecurity and speaks to why it is important for school districts to ensure that the appropriate safeguards are in place to protect their digital assets.
Show Notes:
Below are a few websites mentioned during today’s podcast that may be helpful to reference when learning more about cybersecurity:
https://www.cisa.gov/
https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/la/resources/cyberaware.html
https://www.tn.gov/cybersecurity.html
https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac

In today’s episode, Patty Thomas, Director of Career & Technical Education, Federal Programs, & Nursing Services for Alcoa City Schools, discusses Careers in Motion, a program that encourages students to participate in CTE opportunities. Careers in Motion is a grant-funded project awarded by Pathways TN and the Tennessee Department of Education to Alcoa City Schools, Blount County Schools, and Maryville City Schools in order to promote high-wage, high-demand, high-skill career and technical education-related programs to students.
Visit the Careers in Motion website by clicking here.

In today’s episode, Greg Mays, Deputy Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, speaks about the SafeTN app and explains why this platform is vital when keeping our schools safe. Listen in as he provides background information as to why such an application is needed and why it is important to create a positive environment on reporting within a school district.
For more information regarding the SafeTN app, including posters to promote this platform in your district, please click on the link below or contact Greg Mays at gregory.mays@tn.gov.
https://www.tn.gov/safety/homeland-security/safetn.html