Cleveland Middle School Teachers
Win State Awards

TAMS with Dr. Smith: Left to right: Joel Barnes, Shannon Cline,
Sheila Jones, Leneda Laing, and Dr. Ashley Smith
(National Middle School Association Liaison).

TAMS Purple: Left to right: Joel Barnes, Shannon Cline, and Sheila Jones.

The Cleveland Middle School 6^th grade purple team of Shannon Cline (team leader), Joel Barnes and Sheila Jones were awarded the East TN Teaching Team of the Year award at the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools annual meeting on June 19, 2009.  The meeting was held at the Sevierville Events Center at the Wilderness Resort Lodge.  The purple team was praised for their interdisciplinary teaching units where all subjects are taught using a geography theme.  Their project “Oh the Places You Will Go!” encompasses several units such as, “Exploring Egypt,” “My Big Fat Greek Olympics,” and “China, Then and Now.”  They actively seek grant monies to help fund their teaching units.  They have received funding from the Bradley/Cleveland Education Foundation and the Arts Commission.  The purple team was invited to present about these units at the National Association of Middle Schools Annual Meeting this past October in Denver, CO.

TAMS Educator of the year: Leneda Laing.

Leneda Laing, math coordinator and former 6^th grade math teacher at Cleveland Middle School was awarded the East Tennessee Educator of the Year award at the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools annual meeting on June 19, 2009.  The meeting was held at the Sevierville Events Center at the Wilderness Resort Lodge.   Ms. Laing was described as an educator who is innovative and steps outside of the box when creating lessons for teachers and students.  She was described by one parent as:  “One of the most valuable things we have observed in Mrs. Laing’s approach to her students, is the fact that she believes in them and pushes them to be more than they believe that they can be.  She gives them huge responsibility and never questions their ability to deliver; therefore, students rise to the occasion and complete the task admirably.“ Mrs. Laing is a National Board Certified Teacher and a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics.

Autumn O’Bryan Named as
Cleveland High School Principal

Director of Schools Rick Denning announced that Autumn O’Bryan will become the new principal at Cleveland High School replacing Chuck Rockholt who was recently named the Public Relations Supervisor for Cleveland City Schools.  O’Bryan comes to Cleveland High School from Hamilton County Schools where she has served as Assistant Principal at Red Bank High School.  “I am very excited about what Ms. O’Bryan brings to our system.  She is a motivator with tremendous people skills,” says Denning.  “She has a background in secondary curriculum, technology and athletics.  But I am most impressed about her knowledge of organizational and instructional strategies for high schools.  It takes a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm to be a high school principal in this day and time and Ms. O’Bryan certainly exhibits those qualities.  She will be an asset to our school system and to our community,” Denning adds.

O’Bryan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Lee University.  She completed her Master’s in Education from Lee in 2001 and was named in Who’s Who Among Graduate Students in American Universities and Colleges.  O’Bryan served as the Assistant and later the Head Softball Coach at Lee before moving to Rock Hill, South Carolina in 2003.   In South Carolina, she was the Assistant Softball Coach at Winthrop University while working as a Research Coordinator for the Rock Hill School District.  Her responsibilities as research coordinator included facilitation of the Research Triangle Program in two middle schools.  Later, her family moved to Chattanooga where she worked as a Computer teacher and Technology Coordinator for the Chattanooga Middle Magnet School.  She was responsible for computer instruction and technology support for all faculty and staff.  She also trained staff on technology integration and provided multi-disciplinary units supporting the museum magnet concept and was named as Teacher of the Month for August 2003.  In 2004, she was named the Curriculum Coach at Red Bank High School where she implemented a smaller learning communities grant through integration of technology, varied instructional methods, professional learning communities, and collaborative planning. Additionally, she worked with both the district and school administration specifically addressing the needs outlined under local, state and federal (NCLB) standards.  She also coordinated the intervention and freshman transition programs and served in the Leadership team to coordinate school improvement efforts.  In 2006, she was named as the Assistant Principal at Red Bank where she was responsible for all areas of administration and supervision including scheduling, IEP implementation, discipline, building operations, faculty evaluation and school improvement.  She was specifically responsible for professional development, technology, and the 9th grade Academy transition program.

Ms. O’Bryan is married to Robbie O’Bryan and they have two children, Tatum age 5, who will begin Kindergarten this year at D.P. Yates Primary School and Lily, age 3.  Her hobbies include biking, golf, writing, and spending time with her family. She and her family are members of Westwood Baptist Church and currently reside in Cleveland.  Ms. O’Bryan commented, “My family and I are excited to serve the Cleveland community.  I am well aware of the outstanding reputation of Cleveland City Schools and I look forward to the opportunity for excellence at Cleveland High School.”

Copyright ©2009 by Cleveland City Schools - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

06/25/09

Cleveland City Schools does not discriminate in its programs or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap/ disability, sex or age.

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