Local Matters

Bob Bell sits down with Cindy Putman, Ready To Learn Project Manager at WCTE in Cookeville. They discuss her work as Ready To Learn Project Manager, what the BEST Program is and the curricula that are available for every level of education, community outreach, student counseling, as well as what Sesame Street, and the Sesame Workshop mean to her.

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Sam Brooks sits down with Matt Manzaro, General Manager of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle Golf Club. They discuss the current state of the Golden Eagle Golf Course, Junior Golf programs in the area, and the tournaments and events that they regularly host for them, as well as what the tournament season in Cookeville will look like moving forward.

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Bob Bell talks with Jason Stickler, ESSER Program Supervisor for Putnam County Schools. They discuss what the ESSER Program is, the recent Best For All Award that they recently received, why Putnam County Schools was chosen for the award, the issue of learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it is being addressed, as well as details surrounding the tutoring program that Putnam County Schools has partnered with Tennessee Tech University's College of Education on.

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Ben Rodgers meets with Katelyn Steakley, Executive Director of the Putnam Education Partnership (PEP) Foundation. The discuss what the PEP is, what her role as Executive Director entails, how the PEP addresses student needs across the county, how they aim to strengthen their community and school system, as well as what led PEP's board to hire on a full time director.

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Sam Brooks talks with White County High School Head Principal Greg Wilson. They discuss his time growing up in Doyle, how White County has changed over the years, his time at Lee University, an overview of his professional career, as well as what brought him back to the Upper Cumberland area, and his take on school athletics from an administrative perspective.

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Bob Bell meets with Dustin Rawls, Area Recruiter and Admissions Advisor at Vol State Community College. They discuss what his roles as an Area Recruiter, and as an Admission Advisor both entail, what a hybrid campus experience is and what it is like for students, the various programs that are offered by the college, as well as what some of the hot job markets currently are that Vol State offers programs for.

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Ben Rodgers sits down with Putnam County Schools Director Corby King, and Jackson County Schools Director Kristy Brown. They discuss the legislation that's looking to change the educational funding for local education in Tennessee, how larger school systems may benefit from the proposed changes more than smaller systems, and why that is, as well as the potential issues that may come about for counties later on years down the road.

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Sam Brooks sits down with Kevin Carter of Austin Peay State University Football fame. They discuss what it was like growing up in Westmoreland, how playing sports affected his life, and what he means when he says that he's "not a good athlete, but a good ball player," as well as what led to him attending and playing for Austin Peay State University, and what that experience was like for him.

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Tiffany Anton meets with Mikel Miller with the Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD), and Jennifer Tollison with Inspired Cleaning Services. They discuss what the UCDD's Inspire Grant is, how it aims to help those recovering from substance abuse issues transition back into the workplace, what Inspired Cleaning Services is, and how it got its start, the various hurdles that had to be overcome in order to start the business, as well as how Jennifer would like to grow her business.

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Bob Bell sits down with Dr. Tom Payne, Dean of the College of Business at Tennessee Tech University. They discuss the various degrees, certificates, ad major concentration areas offered by the College of Business, how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the College of Business, and where he envisions business education will go in the next decade, as well as how well the various generations will be able to adapt to being a part of the post-pandemic workforce.

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