By Kendall Patterson
Last Friday, after school was dismissed for Christmas break, the Chester County Community, along with leaders from the State of Tennessee, celebrated East Chester Elementary for being awarded the high honor of ESEA (National Elementary and Secondary School Act) Distinguished School.
The award is described online as, “The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program is a project of NAESPA that publicly recognizes qualifying federally-funded schools for positive educational advances and the outstanding academic achievement of their students.”
Applause broke out when former East Chester Principal Kim Scott shared what she learned during her 30 years at East Chester – “Do what is right for the children, and the data will take care of itself.”
This proves true as the faculty at East Chester received recognition for their diligence and dedication to educating students.
“Teachers are a crucial factor in all our lives. They shape and mold each person into who they become whether intentionally or not,” Scott said.
Freed-Hardeman University President David Shannon also spoke, congratulating East Chester for a job well done and reflecting on how some of the children that go through East Chester become FHU students.
“In thought of what this means to our students and our children that live here, what a blessing it is to be a part of such a great community. A community will never rise above its quality of education. Today, we see a lot of good things being reflected with this award of a distinguished school,” Shannon said.
He echoed Scott’s earlier comments about teachers shaping and molding students and reflected on a quote from a book of an architect that he believes can be applied to educators as well.
“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight or present use alone. Let it be such work that our descendants will thank us for and let us think as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See this our fathers did for us.’”
“All of us here can look back at our time of being educated, and we can point to quality teachers. Teachers that invested in us. They helped us build our lives,” Shannon said.
Current East Chester Principal Paden Buckley stated, “Teaching is not merely a profession; it is a calling. A vocation driven by an unwavering love for learning and a profound desire to impact lives. Love is the driving force behind the dedication of great teachers. It’s a love for their subject matter. A love for the process of learning and most importantly a genuine love for the students they teach.”
Scott explained, “Teachers don’t get enough credit for the hard work they continuously do….Our teachers don’t teach so that someone would recognize them. They teach because they want to help others.”
While they may not seek recognition, the community commends the teachers and faculty at East Chester for all they have done.
Senator Page Walley presents a proclamation recognizing the hard work of East Chester faculty for achieving the prestige of being honored as an ESEA Distinguished School. Pictured left to right is Senator Walley, former ECES Principal Kim Scott, current ECES Principal Paden Buckley and Director of Schools Troy Kilzer, II.
