What is SPDG?

The Tennessee State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) supports children with special needs, preschool through high school, and their families in the development of language, communication, mathematics, pre-literacy and literacy skills to ensure academic achievement.

The Tennessee State Personnel Development Grant is administered through the Tennessee Department of Education, Division of Special Education, and works with collaborating schools across the state. SPDG is a multi-year initiative (2003 – 2013) and will expand services each year.

The goals of SPDG are accomplished through:

  • Identifying and disseminating scientifically research-based practices for supporting mathematics, literacy and pre-literacy skills
  • Providing and supporting current educators with professional development in mathematics, reading and literacy
  • Supporting family participation and providing technical assistance and information on mathematics, reading and literacy to families of children with special needs
  • Integrating with and supporting other educational initiatives in place in collaborating schools

Project Organization

Role Description Assignment
Executive Sponsor Has ultimate authority over and is responsible for a project and/or a program, its scope and deliverables. Commissioner Kevin Huffman
Project Sponsor Assists in developing the project charter and project plans, executes project reviews, tracks and disposes of issues and change requests. Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Airhart
Project Director Develops and maintains project charter and project schedules, executes project reviews, tracks and disposes of issues and change requests, manages the budget, and is responsible for overall quality of the deliverables. Veronica McDonald
Project Team Is responsible for performing the activities necessary for implementation of the project. Veronica McDonald and Donna Parker
Key Customer(s) Provides expert business understanding of the organization, and represents those for which the project is intended. US Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), parents, legislators, institutions of higher education, local education agencies and the general public.

Staff

Staff Calendar

Evaluation and Data

These forms are to be completed by SPDG personnel as needed and sent or emailed to:

Chithra Perumal M.S., M.P.A

Evaluation Analyst
126 Mineral Industries Building
Human Development Institute
Lexington, KY 40506-0051
Ph: 859-257-6877

SPDG Discussion Lists

List Title List Address Description
SPDG-ALL sig-all@cls.coe.utk.edu Discussion list for all State Improvement Grant teams.
SPDG-Higher-Ed sig-higher-ed@cls.coe.utk.edu Discussion list for the TN SPDG Higher Ed work group
SPDG-Management-Team sig-management-team@cls.coe.utk.edu Discussion list for the TN State Improvement Grant Management Team
SPDG-Parent sig-parent@cls.coe.utk.edu Discussion list for the TN SPDG Parent Work Group
SPDG-Service-Provider sig-service-provider@cls.coe.utk.edu Discussion list for the TN SPDG Service Provider Work Group

Staff, Partners, Schools

SPDG partners include parents, advocacy and community groups, universities, agencies and other organizations across the state to build capacity to advance the skills of all Tennessee students. These partners are organized into workgroups.

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