Two speakers will present on issues affecting K-12 schools over ESSR (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) federal funds and SEL- Social Emotional Learning. The presentations will be held at 6 p.m. at the Historic County Courthouse on Main Street on July 21. Attendance is free and open to the public.
Fentress County schools have received many millions in ESSR funding. What are the requirements? SEL is bringing a new focus on how students feel about their selves and issues. How are these two programs connected, and what impact can they have on education?
A.J. DePriest will speak on ESSR funds. She is a founding members of TN Liberty Network. TN Liberty Network is an independent, covert think tank that has no public membership and does not accept donations or funding. TN Liberty Network’s 30 members have been instrumental in supplying state lawmakers and other policy leaders across America actionable research and intel on issues ranging from Covid mandates and hospital protocols, illegal immigration, election integrity, and government-run education.
Ms. DePriest appeared upon the national media landscape in January of 2022 with the release of their research on federal funds for ESSR and how that will affect the schools concerning covid policy now and in the future. Their research also showed how the federal government is funding hospitals for covid patients. Specifically, the federal government is funding hospitals in TN $135,000 per person with covid, more for each procedure (respirator and remdesivir) and a bonus upon death. That research is available to the public.
Dr. Beth Meyers will speak on SEL, social emotional learning, in schools. SEL aims at addressing students K-12 to ensure “developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, and evidence-based universal practices focused on: (1) self-awareness; (2) self-management; (3) social awareness; (4) relationship skills; and (5) responsible decision making. However, opponents to SEL warn against the “extremely sensitive nature of evaluating children’s social-emotional makeup and having inadequately trained personnel implementing plans designed to alter students’ psyches.”
Dr. Meyers is a retired National Board Certified teacher with twenty years’ classroom experience, and is an independent research consultant and education advocate. She has spent thirty years in education, twenty of which were as a public-school teacher and in-service developer/facilitator. She has worked with numerous legislators on educational issues and helped draft a data transparency bill that was signed into Louisiana law in 2014. She is a strong advocate of Classical education and parental rights.
Dr. Meyers holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education; a Master’s in Educational Technology; and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. She received her doctorate from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she was awarded the Preston B. Allison Outstanding Dissertation Award for her research on the effects of political culture on education policy. For more information on Beth, visit https://bethmeyersforschoolboard.com.
This presentation will be taped by WDEB radio. It is also sponsored and funded by Tennessee Action Group of Fentress County, TAG. TAG is a group of Fentress county residents who want to use collective action on the local grassroots level to educate our community on issues that support the protection of citizen life, liberty and property in Fentress County and the state of Tennessee. Follow us on Facebook (Tennessee Action Group, TAG) or visit our website at: www.tennactiongroup.org.