Board spotlights Cleveland Middle School projects and local Empty Stocking Fund serving about 1,400–1,500 children

The Cleveland City Schools Board heard two spotlights: one from Cleveland Middle School and one recognizing a long-running community program, the Empty Stocking Fund.

Mister Achaona presented Cleveland Middle School’s activities, including student-created projects (a stop-motion biome video), use of classroom chatbots and AI for writing units, field trips to Tennessee College of Applied Technology and Tennessee Wesleyan, and extracurricular achievements — notably a dance team national championship and state qualifiers in DECA and Beta Club.

The board then recognized Brenda Lawson and her Empty Stocking Fund. Miss O’Brien and Miss Bender described the program’s process: counselors and administrators identify students in need, volunteers assemble gift packages and parents pick up items. Lawson said the program began in the mid-1990s and that this year they are serving about 1,400 to 1,500 children. "We're on the radio, every day till December 12 from 7 to 9," Lawson said about the pledge drive. Doctor Elliott challenged board members to contribute at least $50 each as a minimum pledge.

The spotlights combined student achievement examples and a community-service update; both presentations were informational and generated expressions of appreciation from board members.

Next steps: Continued community fundraising and school invitations to see programs in action.