[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6263344,"mediaKeyId","3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353","parentId",3107965,"title","Candidate emphasizes PR, grant writing, CTE expansion and 'Choose Us' campaign to attract families to Coffee County schools","audioSeconds",1300,"startMs",1020000,"endMs",2320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353&start=1020&end=2320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353/thumbnail_1020000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6263344/Tennessee/Candidate-emphasizes-PR-grant-writing-CTE-expansion-and-Choose-Us-campaign-to-attract-families-to-Coffee-County-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263344-a81cd2d9c261d0e573b05e74271e89c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422741&Signature=C9I0tLAyQC2b4aN6Yg8oRakct5gnrCKD6PqXulr2cDAEw9i-4tFIgB2xdUmDpqkPp0YgoVKzJ5x7JiGo1Wr24M5lmfrcGRo-xO-cE7S76JgVP4v6Gzp6rRjIfUnOkpdaf9oPsPPXNyGGyTzzBPLDZjrypNZccjrfa1j7VzqKbqqPcbgGJsEw4zI6IHDeL8nVGQN5bWiKGc3Y6Nu6yp8XTMXOEl19vqxdnpX3-a3D3SmwkF8F3wsF3mL7ayL4QcbIabsIpXBupQ-U2F61OkVwPO12o-XlKBCh0XdlSdYsQvdHiorzqA11u8jlg6LNq2F8h3OSA3yz7-AvlrDhJHX7Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coffee County Schools","date","2025-04-24T08:10:12.153Z","article","During her interview with the Coffee County Board of Education, Dr. Crabtree outlined a strategy she called the \"Choose Us\" campaign to grow enrollment and strengthen community ties. Her plan centers on public relations, competitive programming and expanded partnerships.

\"Choose Us campaign basically is a slogan,\" she said. \"The key initiatives would be to designate a public relations officer. That person would be the PR professional at central office, and they would reach out and do those public relations type jobs. We would hire a full time grant writer. There is so much money out there that we are not tapping into. Promote competitive and unique programming. Continue with our CTE, STEM, fine arts, dual enrollment, early college prep classes...\"

She cited Hickerson's local efforts—joining the Chamber of Commerce, expanding community partnerships from 18 to more than 100, and establishing student programs such as the Hawk House Gardens and student-run businesses—as models for districtwide replication. She also suggested using students to support school social media and marketing and named partnerships with TCAT and local employers as recruitment levers.

Why it matters: District enrollment, programming and public perception affect state funding, staffing and community support. Proposals for new central-office positions (PR officer, grant writer) and program expansion have budget and staffing implications.

Details: Dr. Crabtree said Hickerson's student population grew roughly 32% during her tenure (from 179 to 236) and that a grassroots grandparents organization helped raise over $16,000. She recommended increasing membership in local Chambers of Commerce and highlighting Coffee County's CTE offerings (she named \"Skipper's CTE program\" and partnership plans with TCAT).

Ending: These are campaign proposals from a candidate; the board did not adopt any new district hiring or marketing initiatives during the interview.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Coffee County School Board Director Interview","oneSentenceSummary","Dr. Crabtree proposed a district public relations officer, a full-time grant writer, stronger CTE and dual enrollment promotion, greater Chamber of Commerce membership for schools, and a \"Choose Us\" campaign aimed at recruiting students and families to Coffee County schools.","taxTitle","Coffee County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",78394,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263349,"Safety and bullying: candidate calls for Raptor expansion, restorative practices and behavior support staff",481,1539000,2020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353&start=1539&end=2020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353/thumbnail_1539000.jpg","/articles/6263349/Tennessee/Safety-and-bullying-candidate-calls-for-Raptor-expansion-restorative-practices-and-behavior-support-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263349-2c2dafc82c25c995d5bdcbce59361bfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422741&Signature=bNuyq37fLkw1AEHHugbMLkM7GFLbO-djT9nvQDihHLZIfPiXKb985YnzJIzFszkW4BqiLGcWnbKMfOPMGSwgfJGLudMj11beVnIEEh7gZeEBCEte4wMb11BJV4zIwe-ZDPCs18~K-xAtjcvon0T2lXmyJQykbRzAeriGgbGn1owLUqskrL9iow0dBrc-9TBYNTGoIhHYjqWRj6j9rQCfLkrPHE~Yk~tXwh75GiNewI3tqDlSs021VZmnmn9YBVBZVb2Qnc~06FW9aGstlq3WnZRKquqSk1HwYpPQQq9LdpZytsWkut1ReNK-0dMHibL3KP6Ui68jSx2z1oPEXYwNAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","In her Coffee County Board of Education interview, Dr. Crabtree emphasized school safety and anti-bullying measures, proposing specific tools and personnel changes she would pursue as director.

\"School safety is a top priority,\" Dr. Crabtree said. She recommended installing the Raptor visitor-screening system in every elementary school and noted Hickerson's experience using the system.

On bullying, she supported relationship-building through morning meetings and restorative practices, greater utilization of school counselors, and swift administrative follow-through on reported incidents. She described a Google form used at Hickerson that alerts counselors when students indicate a need for support and said the practice could be adopted at secondary levels.

Dr. Crabtree also called for more consistent bus-discipline policies, additional training in behavior management for staff, and full-time certified behavior therapists or interventionists to support students with complex needs.

Why it matters: Safety systems and behavioral supports affect daily operations, student well-being and staff retention. Candidate proposals involve purchases and staffing decisions that would require board consideration and budgeting.

Ending: The interview recorded candidate proposals but no formal action or budget commitments; Dr. Crabtree said these are priorities she would pursue if selected.","Dr. Crabtree proposed the Raptor visitor-screening system for elementary schools, recommended restorative practices and counselor-led reporting forms to address bullying, and said full-time behavior therapists and consistent bus discipline policies are needed.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263353,"Candidate outlines data-driven plan to boost TCAP scores, emphasizes early literacy and teacher support",84,1116000,1200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353&start=1116&end=1200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353/thumbnail_1116000.jpg","/articles/6263353/Tennessee/Candidate-outlines-data-driven-plan-to-boost-TCAP-scores-emphasizes-early-literacy-and-teacher-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263353-3a8f1a2cb2d48a326cfb90320a507889/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422741&Signature=K7IOztM-~PAYZTXaGS1DXzCQ5zid~OYr6TfBKKc8zXh7DHaHKz2NRAAYuttA-arDTrSM7FVoekZGOibbraJ5n7TdQeyl7wn1NckZgisCaQ4Ypx9vaJ-dNB8P3KxmivzpQXbbpzCtvp2vSWmZvTKSVh9pJf1myPDiMs716NNqYQhHOwbfDX8r0khLiHZQnIrGRtnr03I7dkEBNL8fjb1WExE5DjMRYOSu4pT1sj8rxiDaVblRJIAGDlD1UXxY8cZJYyAxETHh1xROBAPZaWzgVkx5L0MDSxQrkz4vqk24rR9l-NtBm7lW8eHzYR9WEYuevAvEE3J~TZ-McS407ytIOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Crabtree addressed district academic priorities during her interview, identifying early literacy, teacher training, vertical planning and data-driven instruction as central to improving TCAP performance.

\"We have to meet every student where they are and we have to push them to their potential,\" she said. She recommended strengthening elementary foundational skills—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, basic math automaticity—and matching those gains to secondary expectations through vertical planning between fifth and sixth grades.

She criticized gaps between diagnostic screeners and state tests, saying the district should \"evaluate the state's expectations for Aimsweb and LOEs and compare it to our current district policy\" because differing expectations can create a false sense of achievement at lower grades.

Her plan highlights: learning from high-performing districts, using textbooks with integrity, strengthening professional learning communities (PLCs), focusing on data-driven instruction and providing teachers adequate prep time and training. She cited tools and products the district already uses or has examined, including I-Ready, AR, and PearsonAccessNext data for historical analysis.

Why it matters: Coffee County's TCAP proficiency rates were described in the interview as roughly 35% against a state goal of 70%, a gap the candidate called central to district improvement efforts. The candidate stressed that teacher retention, training and consistent instructional practices are necessary complements to assessment strategies.

Ending: Dr. Crabtree urged district leaders to replicate practices from consistently high-performing districts and to prioritize sustained professional development and schedule structures that protect core instruction time.","Dr. Crabtree told the Coffee County board she would focus on differentiated instruction, vertical planning between grades, stronger professional learning communities, and alignment between diagnostic tools (Aimsweb) and TCAP expectations to raise proficiency from current levels toward the state goal.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263358,"Candidate stresses fairness, documentation and board counsel for employee terminations",47,113000,160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353&start=113&end=160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6263358/Tennessee/Candidate-stresses-fairness-documentation-and-board-counsel-for-employee-terminations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263358-a287e6f3192049d981c78d7855e554c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422741&Signature=l-ACtWx6C2rcm6MJ9uJiL4qXxtF4acTAeuHro2aihcG-3I-fDro~mc6rBNeeie-Qp7ZAXOv7xiSh1UEUh~Eyj~AMqfOorm8R4IRY7F5kPW8DVrOwpeGvCH5F4kShvU4jhD3xfggWxuVJRZHwk7anMYeT5pRqGU4ugvMTxn2Mfj8pkGtLZVvYxutED18jkrPoeiYYD2miAmWZmsyPsbRT2RMQiICvR19ZqPVhyiAydkaUEfzSa2iCp4fTgaBAQ6hWoUMZSh8PeMP-2U4f-3VK1nRXOIiKscI6aHFxo7iPlQ6LenfYigcZIfCwX~9R3iu6jgP7KbJp1-SiksL6W04LTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Crabtree told the Coffee County Board of Education that terminating an employee—particularly a tenured staff member—must follow clear expectations, documentation, and legal counsel.

\"Fairness above everything. The policy states that if a tenured employee is going to be terminated, there must be documented reprimands and then an improvement plan, unless there's grounds for immediate dismissal,\" Dr. Crabtree said. \"If a tenured employee was going—we were looking at terminating a tenured employee, I always want to contact the board attorney to make sure that we were following all the steps necessary to do that. You have to stick to the facts.\"

She added that supervisors should not handle such actions alone and that another supervisor should be involved. Dr. Crabtree repeatedly framed decisions around \"what's best for students and the district, not personal agendas.\"

Why it matters: Employee discipline and termination procedures involve legal and contractual obligations, particularly for tenured staff. Adherence to district policy and consultation with legal counsel reduce legal risk and protect due process.

Details and context: Dr. Crabtree recommended maintaining clear expectations for all employees—friends and others alike—and relying on documented corrective steps before termination except in cases with immediate dismissal grounds. She emphasized factual record-keeping and staff support rather than unilateral action.

Ending: The candidate did not propose policy changes during the interview; she described how she would follow existing procedures and involve the board attorney when tenured-employee termination is being considered.","In her Coffee County director interview, Dr. Crabtree described following documented reprimands and improvement plans for tenured staff, consulting the board attorney for termination steps, and prioritizing student needs over personal relationships.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263363,"Director candidate backs districtwide Community Eligibility Provision despite potential Title funding trade-offs",53,173000,226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353&start=173&end=226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3107965-4e71c2072455f980c90aeaaf17a3e353/thumbnail_173000.jpg","/articles/6263363/Tennessee/Director-candidate-backs-districtwide-Community-Eligibility-Provision-despite-potential-Title-funding-trade-offs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263363-863581776f8bb5575c0b9b24c1d6101c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422741&Signature=U3gGtUjrOyZWWJeBCRBMVnKtW1GkGWU7CQOgwKVdcTY3DoGcUUuda0Hl047coRpG1~Hpha9Tyz3vDTlgF~tIUFAbSTzWQACHT72gVKRLrMXYWrUBNsoPNdRM4c3IIg8cKB1LZlrjLM8nhxykei~RYnRoIn8g1qnvS-iJi-lPq2C8I7d4SRMfm~mw3TnaQxquU~2CbydlSodSG0jGXDq6nie-4DMkzy3-mLFOYD0yAPl1FB4833UeVtAHFU-kgVxtNlqQzDXln-SLgG2QiAigfQe7ks0NI6DGtIVexiQbfDvH6m-wGJymyR9mZEo0MF8422c3nj7g6bnYUUxG5EtW6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Crabtree, principal of Hickerson Elementary and a candidate for Coffee County director of schools, told the school board she would support implementing the federal Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, systemwide after reviewing research and local trade-offs.

\"Ultimately, everyone wants to feed our children for free,\" Dr. Crabtree said. \"After researching this program, I've decided yes, I would support this program. It may, we may take a hit in Title funding for doing this program, but after research, I found that No Kid Hungry and the Center for Best Practices showed that the likelihood of students increased with feeding them. They would have improved student outcomes, increased attendance, and increased likelihood of passing through this tenth grade.\"

She said the district could recoup some funding through improved attendance and state incentives such as TESA bonuses tied to student outcomes and attendance. Dr. Crabtree described the decision as one that should be made only after research and planning to understand budget impacts.

Why it matters: CEP is a federal option that allows qualifying schools to provide free meals to all students. Districts often weigh direct benefits to students—reduced food insecurity and improved attendance—against indirect financial effects on Title and other need-based allocations.

Dr. Crabtree emphasized research-based benefits and recommended a district-level review before committing to systemwide adoption. She pointed specifically to external research and advocates (No Kid Hungry; Center for Best Practices) as informing her view that universal meal access can improve attendance and academic outcomes.

Details and context: Dr. Crabtree said the district should evaluate the net budget effect before universal adoption and monitor whether attendance and achievement improvements offset any reductions in Title funding. She proposed engaging principals and central office staff to examine effects on school budgets and Title allocations, and to communicate the trade-offs clearly to stakeholders.

Ending: The board conducted this interview as part of its director search; no decision on CEP adoption was made during the session. Dr. Crabtree said she would support further study and planning for any systemwide rollout.","During a Coffee County Board of Education interview, Dr. Crabtree said she would support implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) systemwide after researching effects on attendance and student outcomes, while noting the district could lose some Title funding and would seek compensating gains through attendance-related bonuses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Candidate emphasizes PR, grant writing, CTE expansion and 'Choose Us' campaign to attract families to Coffee County schools

Safety and bullying: candidate calls for Raptor expansion, restorative practices and behavior support staff

Candidate outlines data-driven plan to boost TCAP scores, emphasizes early literacy and teacher support

Candidate stresses fairness, documentation and board counsel for employee terminations

Director candidate backs districtwide Community Eligibility Provision despite potential Title funding trade-offs