Coffee County schools report improved teacher retention, expanded apprenticeships in year‑3 strategic plan update

Allison Spade, who presented the district's year‑three strategic plan update, told the Coffee County Board of Education the district has seen measurable progress on multiple fronts.

"We've continued to expand our academy and workforce course models," Spade said, citing gains in CTAE pathway completions, dual enrollment and work‑based learning. She said the district's student apprenticeships increased to four and that partnerships with local businesses are a priority to give students on‑the‑job experience.

The presentation included districtwide metrics Spade highlighted as indicators of progress: the district doubled messages delivered through its ParentSquare communications tool (from about 113,000 to roughly 236,000), teacher retention rose by about 5 percentage points to 89%, and 94% of teachers were reported fully certified. Spade also said the district is emphasizing LETRS training for pre‑K–3 teachers to strengthen early reading instruction.

Why it matters: The numbers—teacher retention, certification and employer partnerships—are core to the district's stated goals of improving instructional consistency and connecting students to careers. District officials framed the developments as incremental but sustained progress midway through the strategic plan.

Board members asked clarifying questions about program scale and participation; Spade described ongoing audits and annual training that cover safety topics such as human trafficking awareness and school emergency procedures. She said audits (system and activity audits) have been completed and returned "clean."

Spade closed by noting efforts to retain school resource officers and to launch recognition programs for staff and students districtwide.

The board moved next to routine consent items and personnel matters; no formal vote was recorded in the strategic‑plan presentation itself, which the board received as an update.