Ruthie Shaffer

White Station High School



“While great teaching has great effects on students, poor teaching has devastating effects on students, often causing them to shut down and lose interest in school,” Superintendent of Memphis City Schools Kriner Cash told the Teen Appeal staff, explaining a new effort to identify high and low-performing teachers based on student test scores and other factors.

The Teacher Effectiveness Initiative received a $90 million grant from the Bill… Continue

Natasha Mehra

White Station High School



When asked about the reduction of class time due to the block schedule, Dr. Cash said a team had been looking into the issue. Dr. Cash went on to say that research shows that students are engaged in learning merely three to eight minutes out of a 55 minute class period. He also said it is not about the actual time spent in class, it is about how the time is used.

Student response to the block system is divided. Akilah Scott of Overton… Continue

Ruthie Shaffer

White Station High School



As school lets out and summer sneaks in, the excitement and additional free time students receive can lead to excessive eating and decreased exercise, making weight gain likely. Many students promise themselves a new diet and exercise routine, while others completely let go and indulge their appetites and laziness.

“When I go on vacation during the summer I gain a lot of weight, because we eat out all the time,” says Maggie… Continue

Tia Shack

Booker T. Washington



With the 2009-2010 school year ending, students are excited about the upcoming summer break.

Amongst all of the excitement, graduating seniors are preparing for the greatest change of their lives: the transition from high school to college.

Gearing up for college will be much different than preparing for another year of high school. Along with college comes responsibility and independence, which are two components of becoming an adult.…

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The Teen Appeal congratulates this year’s graduating seniors. A few of our senior staffers shared their thoughts on their high school experiences and plans for the future.



Alisha Day

East High School Class of 2010

University of Memphis Class of 2014…

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Tia Shack

Booker T. Washington High School



I, Tia Shack, would like to thank everyone who is a part of the Teen Appeal. I would also like to thank Marcus Matthews and Kathleen Fox for their hard work and dedication to the paper. Honesty, when I first got into the Teen Appeal I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. However, I did know that I would be writing. But as far… Continue