State education commissioner visits LMS

TOP PHOTO:  LaFollette Middle School art teacher Allan Miller talks with Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – LaFollette Middle School had a visit from Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn and several of her staff members on Wednesday morning.

 The commissioner toured the school, visiting several classrooms and interacting with students and teachers during the hour-long visit.  Schwinn has been touring schools around Tennessee, checking out how various districts have been handling challenges created by the COVID-19 virus pandemic.  She also asked district leaders “what they needed from the state” to help meet the challenges.

Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn and assistant director of schools Robbie Heatherly tour the renovated LaFollette Middle School cafeteria.

Afterwards, the education entourage was heading to tour schools in Union and Anderson Counties.

Campbell County School Director Jennifer Fields and other Campbell County School administrators were on site to talk with the commissioner and participate in the tour.

Campbell County is now six weeks into the new year having used a staggered start model beginning on Aug. 5 and going for six days.  Hallways and floors have social distancing reminder stickers and hand sanitation stations to add extra safety measures for students and staff.

Fields told the commissioner that things were “going well and the staggered start went  great, helping to acclimate students with new guidelines and procedures.”

Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn visits with a student during Wednesday’s visit at the LaFollette Middle School.

 Schwinn said it was wonderful to visit Campbell County and LaFollette Middle School.  She commented on the “obvious dedication of the teachers” and “attentiveness” of students engaged in classroom activities such as math, English and art.   Fields said it was “exciting to host Commissioner Schwinn” in Campbell County’s school district and a great opportunity to showcase the teachers and students, as well as all the “safety measures that have been put in place to keep everyone safe and healthy.”

The director of Campbell County Schools also spoke highly of local teachers “going above and beyond” adopting the school district’s plan to reopen schools.

“Out of all of our teachers in the entire district, everyone exceeded expectations in implementing the safety measures and plans for starting schools back; I can’t say enough about our teachers,” Fields said.