With Chamber support, state’s 13th-ranked FHS kicks off Admiral FUNd

Farragut High School Education Foundation kicked off its Admiral FUNd campaign as it hosted Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce’s networking in the school library Thursday, Jan. 13.

While FHS principal Dr. John Bartlett referred to student diversity and many academically gifted students at his school, FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said FHS was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 13th- ranked high school in Tennessee.

“But it keeps support to keep the high school performing at that level,” she added.

“If you talk about comprehensive high schools — not magnet high schools — we’re in the top five,” Bartlett added. “We have 19 National Merit semifinalists this year.”

He explained the Admiral FUNd is FHS’s annual fundraiser, reaching out into the community to express its needs.

Last year the fund benefited the school’s electives.

“We kicked off three different (Career and Technical Education) programs last year,” he said. “They were construction, agriculture — ag science with a focus on small animal care and vet tech — and also engineering.

“I’m proud to say that we have enough demand for those three CTE programs that, if I had the funding for additional teachers, I could hire an additional teacher in each one of those three areas because we have enough kids who say they want those programs,” Bartlett added.

To help jump-start this year’s fundraising effort, The Knox Fox Group presented FHS with a $5,000 check toward the campaign.

“This is my third year being involved with the Education Foundation,” said Eric Whitener, co-owner of The Knox Fox Real Estate Group with wife, Teri Jo Fox. “I’ve got to say, I’m really impressed with what the Education Foundation does for the high school.

“First of all, they look at every want and need that’s presented to them,” he added. “They determine if it’s the best use of the funds and if it’s going to impact the children, so they’re very good stewards of the money that’s presented to them, which makes me feel really good.

“And, Dr. Bartlett is amazing. He knows everything going on in the school — and he knows what his teachers need, he knows what his kids need — and he’s very involved with the Education Foundation as well.”

Bartlett said this year’s fund will benefit FHS’ science department.

“A lot of times, it’s those big purchases, the microscopes and the other stuff — I couldn’t even tell you what they do — but they say ‘this is what we need’ … my job is to provide their needs, and they’re expensive,” he said.

“It’s something the school system doesn’t have money to replace, and what we do here at Farragut and for our kids is top-level stuff,” the principal added.

Previously, “this library renovation was made possible by our Foundation,” Bartlett said. “We can’t operate and do what we do without our business community.

“Our business community is really, really important to the health of our school and our school system,” he added.

On that note, “you’re probably hearing some things going on in the community,” he said. “Here’s some changes at the high school level at seven high schools in Knox County. We’re talking about Small Learning Communities.”

In a recent letter to parents, Bartlett explained, “In an effort to make large schools more student centered and create a more stable structure where students are known by their teachers for their entire high school experience, Knox County Schools is partnering with Ford Next Generation Learning to create small learning communities within our schools.

“The concept of small learning communities is not new and has proven very successful in all types (sizes/achievement level/demographics) of schools,” he stated. “The purpose of the communities is to create a framework of educators that get to know their students and better serve them throughout their high school career, enabling the community of teachers to have conversations about student support from year to year.

“It also enables the community of teachers to have conversations across related content areas focused on student needs,” Bartlett added.

Besides FHS, he said Hardin Valley Academy, Knoxville Central, Fulton, Austin-East, Bearden and Karns high schools are involved with Small Learning Communities.

“The remainder of the schools will start in a year or two,” Bartlett added.

During the networking, he said there are some academy approaches in SLC, but “it’s really also one of the key components — engaging our business communities, our industries, our retail communities — in helping support our students in this reciprocal relationship because we want to make sure we’re producing.

“Our graduates have to be ready to either enroll in college, enlist in the military or be employable,” Bartlett added.

“Being ready for employment in a key industry is important for us.”