To advocate for student academic success in Knox County through research, data-driven innovation, collaboration, and public policy initiatives
To drive academic and long-term success for every student in Knox County
KEF has four goals that guide the organization’s work as it advocates for student academic success:
- Advance Student Success – Develop, initiate, and advance research-based initiatives and policies that lead to strong academic outcomes for students.
- Drive Innovation – Advocate for and fund innovative initiatives in public education to support student academic success.
- Lead the Conversation – Coalesce the community around student-centered policies and initiatives.
- Promote Accountability – Operate as the accountability partner to Knox County Schools to highlight opportunities to serve all students.
To achieve these goals, KEF has four strategic priorities. As the education guardian for Knox County, KEF will partner with the district and the community by supporting and/or leading on:
- Strengthening math and ELA foundations for all students
- Making Knox County the destination for high-quality educators in Tennessee
- Collaborating with Knox County leaders to advance education opportunities and outcomes for every student
- Preparing every student for a successful future
Theory of Action
KEF’s theory of action is focused on:
- Serving as a student-centered strategist, identifying and highlighting gaps in education including a variety of factors such as zip code, income, race, and services as well as identifying and seeding evidence-based solutions to improve student academic success.
- Being the community convener, serving as the organization in Knox County that galvanizes key stakeholders, organizes thought leaders, and drives conversation on critical topics relevant to student academic success.
- Being an innovative driver, catalyzing the community to advocate for student-centered public policy and drive initiatives grounded in research and data that advance student academic success.
- Filling the role of courageous challenger that is uniquely positioned to tell the truth and challenge the status quo, while working with the community to advocate for student-centered policies.
- Acting as the thought leader organization, serving as the leader in producing impactful research, writing reports, developing initiatives, and creating public policy solutions to improve student academic success in Knox County, with a forward thinking, future focused approach.