Schools awarded $91,712 Dual Enrollment grant

Rhonda Thompson, Haywood Schools Grant Development/Information Specialist

Haywood County Schools are on the receiving end of another large grant, according to Director of Schools Marlon King. He commended the system’s new Grant Development/Information Specialist Rhonda Thompson on her work to seek funds for new and ongoing programs in the schools. This grant of $91,712, which is a Perkins IV Secondary Reserve Grant, will be used for a dual enrollment program between Haywood County Schools and the University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dual enrollment allows students to earn high school and college credits in the same program of study.

Mrs. Thompson, formerly Director of the Career and Technical Division at Haywood High and a veteran grant-writer, applied for the grant to increase student level of participation with post-secondary institutions by offering more duel, articulation, and distance learning opportunities. Other objectives are to increase non-traditional participation and completion in a Career and Technical program of study, and to improve language arts, writing and math skills by integrating rigorous academics into the Career and Technical program of study.

Among other costs associated with the program, the funds will be used to develop two computer labs with laptop computers for students to access myUTMartin at home and during class. The myUTMartin Portal is a website that UT Martin students can use to access UT Martin services to include the Blackboard Course system which can be a tool for individual assessment of student achievement. Computers can also be used for classroom assignments. According to the grant application, Mrs. Thompson said the program will be used to prepare all students for employment or post-secondary opportunities in a high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand occupation. She cited emerging industries and economic and workforce development in the areas of energy production, including biofuels, solar and wind areas, as targets for learning.

“With alternative energy investments increasing, science and technology education will need to be strengthened in rural areas through improved curricula, dual enrollment, and/or learning opportunities,” Mrs. Thompson said. “Haywood County has a much larger share of workers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing, and manufacturing than the state or the nation.” She added, “The establishment of a structured Distance Learning Program with the University of Tennessee at Martin will help to ensure Haywood County students bridge the gap between high school agriculture and undergraduate programs of study.”

“We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Thompson on our team searching for grants for our school system,” Haywood County Schools Superintendent Marlon King said. “Each time we receive a grant, it expands our students’ learning opportunities, many times including new technology for our classrooms. This benefits all of our schools because we can utilize our budgeted resources in other areas. It’s a win-win situation for our schools. We appreciate Mrs. Thompson’s expertise in grant-writing and her success in expanding the educational offerings in Haywood County Schools.”

Funding for this program was available beginning on July 2.