The University of Tennessee, Knoxville supports University-Assisted Community School initiatives in Knox County and rural Morgan County. In operation since 2012, our University Assisted Community Schools (UACS) strategy creates challenging learning opportunities for students to excel by providing a nurturing environments supported by family, community partners, students, faculty, staff and University partnerships.
Working in tandem with the communities we serve and a Community School Coordinator at each site, we use a myriad of qualitative and quantitative measures to determine progress and outcomes. In partnership with the University of Tennessee, a UACS Research group meets weekly to tackle various challenges that are faced at our schools. This results in better served communities, more engagement with families, and increased participation from partners that fit the mission and vision of each site.
The University of Tennessee partners with Cattywampus Puppet council to provide high quality arts programming that incorporates grassroots organizing, creative expression, and builds self-confidence in students. The organization is able to identify and target families and children to work with through our Knox County Community School strategy. The students walk away away feeling empowered and able to share what they are passionate about through art. A long-time partner, we recently performed in their Cattywampus parade downtown during Big Ears, an international avant-garde music festival with international recognition.