Latest news with #Testerman
02-07-2025
- Politics
Trump administration pauses $6B in education programs ahead of school year
President Donald Trump's administration is pausing over $6 billion of congressionally-appropriated federal funding for after-school, student support, teacher training, English language and other education programs, according to a Department of Education memo obtained by ABC News. In a letter to Congress from the agency's office of legislation and congressional affairs Monday afternoon, the DOE said a notification would be sent to certain grantees alerting them that funding for the upcoming school year would be reviewed on July 1 and decisions concerning this academic year have "not yet been made." "The department will not be issuing grant award notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1 prior to completing that review," the memo reads in part. "The department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the president's priorities and the department's statutory responsibilities." The statutorily mandated special education funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have been awarded to states on time, according to a DOE source. But school budgets for the year are typically approved in May or June and are ready to be allocated by July 1, according to education finance experts. The abrupt messaging from the administration gave scant details on how the key programs would be impacted moving forward and comes just weeks before many state education agencies return students to the classroom. The 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman, an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor in Tennessee, told ABC News any withholding of funds will affect schools. "School budgets are already very tight, so withholding funds for required programs -- such as those for English learners -- will certainly place a burden on school systems," Testerman wrote in a statement to ABC News. "This likely will mean that systems will face the difficult decision to make budget cuts in other areas, affecting students. In rural systems like mine, this could mean a reduction in overall staff or the elimination of crucial supports for students such as afterschool and tutoring programs," Testerman added. House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., called the move to withhold the appropriated funds a violation of federal law with potentially devastating consequences. "The halting of these critical funds harms the students, educators, and schools that strive to provide quality public education with the meager funds and challenges they face," Scott wrote in a statement to ABC News. "Cash-strapped school districts, particularly those in low-income and rural areas, cannot afford this delay and will likely be forced to either lay off staff or cut back on programs and services while the White House Office of Budget and Management 'reviews' the funding," Scott said. State attorneys general are expected to sue the administration over the reviews, according to a source familiar with the matter. Parents groups and education advocates decrying the decision are also mounting lawsuits against the administration, the source confirmed. Advocates accuse the administration of undermining public education in a "cruel betrayal" of students. "Schools are already grappling with severe teacher shortages, burnout and under-resourced classrooms, and here comes the federal government ripping resources away from public schools. It is outrageous and unconscionable," said National Education Association President Becky Pringle. "Educators and parents will not be silent while students are undervalued, unheard and unsupported," Pringle wrote in a statement, adding, "We will stand up, speak out and take action to ensure every classroom is a place of dignity, opportunity and respect." Education providers are sounding the alarm about the funding that impacts millions of students, teachers, and families, telling ABC News they fear that low-income students and families will be left in a bind with no other options of care for their children. The Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization, said, "If these funds are not released very soon, we will quickly see more children and youth unsupervised and at risk, more academic failures, more hungry kids, more chronic absenteeism, higher dropout rates, more parents forced out of their jobs, and a less STEM-ready and successful workforce as our child care crisis worsens dramatically." The pause comes as efforts to dismantle the Department of Education have been blocked by lower courts. The Supreme Court is also expected to weigh in on the firing of nearly 2,000 employees at the agency. The DOE referred additional questions to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). An OMB spokesman told ABC News the pause is due to an "ongoing programmatic review" of education funding, adding no decisions have been made yet. Many of the programs "grossly misused" government funds to promote a "radical leftwing agenda," the OMB spokesperson added. In some cases, the programs allegedly promote illegal immigration advocacy and queer resistance in the arts, according to the spokesman.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Educators learn to use AI tools at Niswonger School Success Symposium
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – At this year's Niswonger Foundation School Success Symposium, teachers from around East Tennessee gathered to learn more about changing technology in the classroom, including the uses of AI. Niswonger Foundation CEO Steve Barnett said the topic of the symposium was chosen by the teachers attending. This year, Barnett said teachers decided to learn about how AI tools can be used in the classroom. 'It's emerging and it's going to continue to change over time,' Barnett said. 'And we want to make sure that it's something that teachers feel comfortable with because they see your students use it, teachers can use it and we want to make sure everybody has what they need to be able to be successful with our use of AI in the classroom.' 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman spoke to over 600 teachers about how even though AI will change things, human connection with students will always be needed. Testerman said, for example, AI tools will not help students who may be nervous about a test. 'It is something that we're going to have to embrace because we want our students to be prepared for the future,' Testerman said. 'We just have to figure out a way to take in all the advantages that we can of ed tech while we maintain that spirit of humanity.' Live music, kids fishing day and more | Weekend events in the Tri-Cities Beth Zeisenis, also known as 'Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend,' was this year's keynote speaker for the symposium. 'Teachers have such a tough time right now with the whole concept of AI and so what I tried to do was give them some tools that they can use right away, plus some bigger concepts about how it works and where it's going,' Zeisenis said. Zeisenis went through many AI programs including Chat GPT and Magic School Plus. She said teachers can use AI tools to complete small tasks such as making lesson plans. Zeisenis also said teachers need to have conversations with students about how to properly use AI instead of trying to stop students from using it altogether. 'We need to go into conversations with our students about trusting each other and about learning this together, because if we go in with a defensive posture, if we go in distrusting each other, then you have a challenge because it's there all the time,' Zeisenis SAID. 'It's going to be like calculators in our pockets. They're going to have it for the rest of their lives. So how can we teach students and each other how we can use that rather than being afraid of it or feeling like it's an affront to what's going on?' Zeisenis and Testerman both encourage East Tennessee teachers to talk to school administrators about the ways AI can be used in the classroom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
05-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. pier's massive redevelopment is taking shape with a new generation of makers
They are designing sneakers and brewing beer, arranging flowers and smithing wedding rings. A new generation of makers has taken root at Pier 70's historic Building 12, the football field-size former shipbuilding facility that is being revived as a site for housing and retail, all part of the pier's long-delayed redevelopment along the city's eastern waterfront. The bespoke products may be a long way from the tugs and battleships built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. and Union Iron Works during World War II. But for potters Sven Jobe and Mallie Testerman, a chance to throw and glaze their mugs and vases and plates on the San Francisco waterfront is not only expanding a business. It's a way to connect to a family legacy rooted at Pier 70. Both Jobe and Testerman have great-grandparents who built and engineered ships at Pier 70 during WWII. Jobe's great-grandmother Lorraine Goodrich was a trailblazing woman welder — 'the only women allowed to weld the outside of the ship hills for the war effort,' Jobe said. Testerman's grandfather was an engineer for Bethlehem Steel. 'Our family has come full circle as the next generation of makers at Pier 70,' said Testerman. Recently Jobe transported a 2,300 pound kiln to Pier 70 from their backyard studio near City College. The highly-efficient gas-fired kiln, which goes for about $70,000, barely fit in the elevator. It has an automated system that allows Jobe to control drying, cooling, biscuit or glaze firings in oxidation or reduction. 'I just think about my grandparents when I'm looking at all the original steel structures. I am sure they would be tickled to know that we were in here where they used to be and doing completely different kind of work. But still making stuff.' For a decade Jobe and Testerman have been making dishware for some of the Bay Area's best restaurants — places like Michelin-starred Lazy Bear, Flour + Water, Nari and Backhaus bakery. Sven Ceramics' new location, which will open in early summer, will serve as a manufacturing, retail and teaching venue. Sven designs, crafts and kiln-fires intricate mugs, cups, bowls and plates. Many of them are adorned with 22-carat gold designs of local scenery, with natural and built landscapes like the Golden Gate Bridge, Sutro Tower and Bay Area hills. The space has a store and 10 pottery wheels for classes, workshops and events. Jobe is still getting used to the new space. For the past 10 years the couple, who started selling products online in 2015, has operated out of a backyard studio at their home near City College. Jobe studied ceramics in college and Testerman focused on photography and English literature. Both took time to shift careers to follow their passion in the arts. With Testerman's encouragement, Jobe left a landscape construction job to start the business. Testerman is a former teacher who now creates the intricate gold-clad designs for their products. 'Mallie's great grandmother hand-painted delicate floral designs on ceramics as a hobby,' Jobe said. 'When I learned that, I thought, 'Wow, she's just doing what comes naturally, painting ceramics.'' Pottery is having a moment, Testerman said, adding that there are 60 studios in the city. Though, Testerman said the craft's reputation as 'meditative' might be a bit misleading. 'I don't think that is how pottery is,' she said. 'It's really hard when you are starting out. It's more like facing your own demons than it is a meditation session.' In the grand scheme of the vision for the redevelopment of the 28-acre Pier 70, Building 12 is a drop in the bucket. The plan for 1.8 million square feet or office space and upward of 2,000 housing units has largely stalled out since the pandemic. None of the housing projects are likely to break ground this year. But Building 12 is coming alive. Already onsite are design studio Prowl Studio, custom sneaker designer Studio Duskus, paper artist Zai Divecha, metalsmith and maker Emi Grannis and florist Marbled Mint. Also there are Scuderia, a 30-year legacy San Francisco motorcycle dealer, popular indoor padel and pickleball club Bay Padel and venture capital firm Monograph Capital. 'We're big fans of both Standard Deviant and Breadbelly,' Jobe said. 'It's going to be kind of dangerous, actually. I think those are some of my favorite things. Pastries and beer. Not very good for my fitness but good for the soul.'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘A lot of us rely on the VA' East TN veteran reacts cuts planned at Veterans Affairs
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is putting itself under scrutiny and preparing for a shake-up, as President Donald Trump pushes for a leaner, more efficient federal government. VA Secretary Doug Collins says the process would cut the VA's staffing level back to where it was in 2019, a decrease of around 15-percent, or roughly 72,000 fewer workers than right now. 'You don't want to see anybody lose their job. That's one of the big things,' said Michael Testerman the Post Commander for American Legion Post 2. The VA is responsible for operating benefit programs for veterans and their families. Some of the benefits include health care, disability, life insurance, housing assistance, and more. Testerman, like many other veterans, depends mainly on VA healthcare services. He used these services recently to repair his shoulder at the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. Cashless payments for Downtown Knoxville parking to begin with grace period 'It's wonderful to have at least a VA clinic here in town or Mountain Home Memorial Hospital up in Johnson City, been working through community care. It's a lifesaver for a lot of the families and a lot of people. And I know many of the folks, I have through the American Legion have gone through the VA for different things. A lot of us rely on the VA specifically for our medications,' Testerman explained. There are many different facets involved when it comes to the VA aside from benefits. 'On the behind-the-scenes side of it, the ones that process the claims. Your veteran service officers and those people. Let's look at that and see where they are, because, I mean, there's thousands of claims a day that get processed. Are we doing it the most efficient way?,' Testerman added. As Knoxville homeless population grows, officials look to open new shelter He hopes that regardless of what happens that all veterans continue to get benefits and services where they are needed. 'I just hope that Trump and the guys might take a little time, look at it, review it. You've got a lot of veterans out there; a lot of veterans have given the ultimate sacrifice and sacrificed a lot just to be able to maintain what they're doing. And for a lot of veterans, what they make through the VA system, their health care and what little bit they get from Medicare, That's it. That's what they live on,' said Testerman. Earlier in the week VA Secretary Doug Collins confirmed the planned cuts, but insisted in a video posted to social media that veterans and their families would not lose out. 'We're going to accomplish this without making cuts to health care or benefits to veterans and VA beneficiaries. The VA always fulfill its duty to provide veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned. That's a promise,' said Collins. In the video, Collins added the VA regrets anyone who loses their job and points out it's difficult for him as a VA leader to make those types of decisions. 'It's just detrimental': Tennessee veterans react to proposal to cut 80,000 employees from Veteran Affairs According to a memo obtained by the Associated Press the reorganization is coming sometime in August. While Collins is on board with President Trump's mission to find cuts, some lawmakers, including some Republicans have shared worries. U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the top Republican on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, posted 'The VA is in need of reform but current efforts to downsize the department and increase efficiency must be done in a more responsible manner.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
