Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Schools selects Teacher Leaders

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The Oak Ridge School system has announced its selections for Teacher Leaders for the 2014-15 school year.

The Teacher Leader initiative was conceived and launched as a result of the Tennessee Department of Education’s push to create a differentiated pay scale for teachers in all counties. The department encouraged systems to either adopt a structure where teachers receive pay bonuses based on student test scores and eliminate increases in pay for advanced degrees or years of service, or adopt programs that ask teachers to take on greater responsibilities in schools.

“When presented with the opportunity to reward teachers for their dedicated and outstanding service, we decided not to get rid of our steps and lanes that reward teachers for their time and dedication to the classroom and earning advanced degrees, but rather recognize teachers that step up and take on greater leadership roles around STEM, analyzing data, and reinforcing professional learning communities,” said Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools superintendent. [Read more…]

Letter: Proud to vote for Fillauer

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To the Editor:

I want to take a moment and voice my support for Mr. Keys Fillauer, who is running for Oak Ridge School Board re-election. I have known Coach Fillauer since I was a seventh-grader at Robertsville Middle School in 1978. I have also been able to see him wear many different hats in the community throughout my life, such as teacher, coach, mentor, and school board member.

First, I knew Keys Fillauer as a teacher and a coach. He was extraordinary in both roles. He was always well prepared and knowledgeable whether on the court or in the classroom.

As a teacher and a coach, he led not just in words, but also by his actions. When I think back on those days, he taught me so many lessons on the court and off, but even more importantly, in the classroom.

To me, he was the best.

As a matter of fact, he influenced me on my career choice as a coach and teacher. He had a unique way to teach civics; he made it incredibly interesting and also got the material across to the students. He was consistently starting new programs to make the civics community a lifelong memory to his students. The lessons taught to me by Keys will be used the rest of my life.

When I returned to Oak Ridge to teach in the late 1980s, I was able to be mentored by Keys at Robertsville Middle School. He was very patient and thorough in sharing the tricks of his craft with me. He was once again always amazingly prepared, and Keys was a leader for the students, staff, and the entire school community.

After Keys retired, he turned to serving the Oak Ridge community on the school board. As an educator and a member of the Oak Ridge community, I know Keys is always prepared to do what is best for the schools and the community. He has worked diligently to learn about all of the changes going on in education today, of which there are many.

He has also attempted to get more out of education with fewer resources. Coach Fillauer is not one to shrink from these challenges, but instead flourish like he did on the court as a coach and in the classroom as a teacher. He is an amazing leader and is respected throughout the community.

My wife and I are proud to vote for Keys Fillauer for the Oak Ridge School Board.

David and Michelle Scott

Oak Ridge