KCS_EPP

Knox County School District’s Educator Preparation Program

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Today is Day 1 of the @KCS_EPP June Intensive for Cohort 5! Got a little rest last week 🏖️, now back to learning & planning for next school year 📝! We started with the teacher code of ethics and making a curriculum map for a new course. 👏🏻

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

This week’s @KCS_EPP coaching visits to Anderson Co HS on Tues & Oak Ridge & Clinton HSs today. Mr Hagen’s students worked on digital projects, Ms Robinson’s put the circular system in order! Ms Hutchins’ Ss practiced proper handcuffing & Dr No’s used manufacturing software.

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

On Monday night, Cohort 5 met to discuss how to infuse CTSOs into their teaching. That’s what you get with our EPP! Thanks to @srebeducation’s T2L curriculum, we prepare new teachers specifically for their jobs in CTE classrooms, workshops, and labs! @judy_siebert

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Interested in a career change? Come see me at the KCS Recruitment Fair! We are at West HS this morning till 11 am! Connect directly with principals, meet our fantastic Human Resources Team! @KnoxSchools @KCS_EPP

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Yesterday’s @KCS_EPP coaching visit to Cosby HS allowed me to see our new teachers: Mr Huffhines is practicing creating lesson plans with AI that fit his student population & standards & Ms Owen made ice cream for her Ss as they researched pasteurization laws in other countries😋

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

All standards met - no stipulations or areas for improvement! Now come learn with us!!

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

After 5 yrs of operating under ‘initial approval’, going through the TN Comprehensive Review & getting the State Board of Education’s final verdict last month, the @KCS_EPP now has ‘Full Approval’ status!! 🎉 Big thank you to my colleagues Alex, Judy & Janelle!!!

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

@KCS_EPP coaching visits led me to Morgan Co today: Ms Jade in A&P laid out the muscular system 💪🏼, Ms Walker had her students connect their career paths to supply chain 🚂, and Mr Smith’s kids salvaged metal for future projects in Machining 🔧.

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Last night was the last @KCS_EPP session for Cohort 4 before they graduate next month 🎉🎓 Candidates finished their portfolios and instructional philosophy statements with support from EPP Instructor @judy_siebert

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

@KCS_EPP coaching visits in Grainger & Union County yesterday: individual feedback in DE Welding by Mr Cornett 🔥, Mr Hodge’s Dessert 🧁Madness bracket in Cul Arts, Ms Sexton’s students learning abt bones🦴 in Med Terminology, and Ms Holmes is digging into the nervous system.

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Between 🌸 spring break & a snow storm ❄️ the @KCS_EPP was busy yesterday! I went to Lenoir City & Loudon Co to see Mr Murphy teach abt data life cycles & Mr Boyd’s students worked on the day’s newscast. In the pm @judy_siebert taught Cohort 5 abt how to best engage students 👏🏻

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

On yesterday’s @KCS_EPP coaching visit to Alcoa, Maryville & Blount County: hair dying, pizza baking, blueprint drawing and infectious diseases analysis for regional hospitals. These new teachers bring the real work world into their classrooms! 👏🏻

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

Our KCS EPP has had ‘initial approval’ since 2021 & underwent a rigorous audit process in 2025 called TN Comprehensive Review. Our program met all standards & was granted full approval in today’s State Board of Education meeting!! THANK YOU!! 🎉 https://t.co/oxTt7byGz7

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Made my way out to Hamblen Co Schools yesterday to coach Ms Lamb (Cul Arts), Ms Barnett (Health), Ms Bennett (Cosmo), Mr Clark (Construction), & Mr Waddell (Comp Sc). I loved seeing their students interested & engaged and that some of the teachers had new equipment or spaces 👏🏻

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

I got to see Mr Ellis (Culinary, AE) 🥗, Ms Campbell (Marketing, Central) 🏬, Ms Mitchell (Health Sc) Stethoskop 🩺 & Mr Quinton (AV, both Powell) 📸 in action this week. They were engaging students in real workplace problems, like running a store or taking viral signs. 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

EPP Instructor @judy_siebert recently visited Mr Garland, Mr Graves, Ms Andrews, Mr Cox as well as Mr McMahan & Mr Blanton (not pic’d) in Knox & Claiborne Counties to see how they’re implementing in their own classrooms what they are learning in the EPP. @CTE4KCS

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

We are working closely with our candidates this week in both coaching visits and during Cohort 5’s EPP Learning Day. @UllaCarr saw Mr Henry 🚗 , Ms Rhodes 🩺 & Mr Huettel (not pic’d) @southdoylehs yesterday. @judy_siebert leads C5 in engagement & questioning strategies today.

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

It is wonderful to see our former EPP candidates do great things in their schools. The Loudon County School Board recently recognized Mr. Preston, Mr. Webster & Mr Walden for leading their students to win 1st place at the Builders Exchange competition. Congratulations to all!! 🎉

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

The last EPP Learning Day for Cohort 4 is a wrap! 🎉 Instructor @judy_siebert led the candidates through class activities and group work exploring topics around Questioning and Problem-Based-Learning in more depth. They also worked on their portfolios. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Ulla Carr, Ed.S. @UllaCarr]

Picked up @KCS_EPP coaching visits again for the semester after several snow days caused a delay. These 3 teachers will graduate this Spring: Mr Mandell (CJ at HVA), Ms Pipkin (Health Science) & Mr Hicks (IT, Both at Bearden HS). 🎓🎉

[KCS_EPP @KCS_EPP]

Happy 2026! 🎉 We are back at it - tonight with Cohort 5 learning about how the use of instructional technology can enhance the student experience. @judy_siebert