Eastside Elementary School was announced as one of five finalists for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s (NIET) Founders Award Tuesday.
Due to its placement as a finalist, Eastside will receive $10,000 from NIET recognizing its accomplishments and dedication to education. The winner of the Founders Award also receives a cash prize of $50,000 at NIET’s annual national conference.
“We are extremely excited to be in contention for this national award,” Eastside principal Rex Crabtree said. “I’m so proud of my staff and students for all of the hard work they have put in over the past few years. Being a Reward School and a level five school was a great honor, and it takes everyone working hard and trying their best to achieve those achievements as well. I’m honored that Eastside is up for this award and excited for the positive attention this brings not just for our school, but for our district.”
“We have discussed a few options of what we could purchase with that money if we were fortunate enough to win, but nothing is set in stone,” Crabtree added.
NIET is a national organization which supports teachers, students, principals and other school faculty by offering training and innovative solutions. NIET offers assistance in multiple ways, including training and observation systems which encourage educators to help each other improve.
“Before working with NIET, I had a leadership team but it was not focused on instruction. Once I learned about the structure of an ILT from NIET, I was energized,” said Crabtree. “This shift has empowered us to become data-driven instructional leaders and allows us to make more informed decisions that directly impact student success. My staff has embraced every change and committed to focusing on each student’s success. We make it our priority to use every data point available to measure how well students were mastering standards, and the results have been transformational. We are all in this together.”
The Founders Award from NIET was created in 2008 by NIET’s founder, Lowell Milken, to honor one school each year that advances student and teacher success by implementing the organization’s principles.
“Building a team of highly qualified teachers is at the heart of Eastside Elementary School’s mission, leading to remarkable academic growth,” Milken said. “We commend Principal Rex Crabtree, Warren County Schools Director Grant Swallows, and the district coaches and school staff who have made Eastside a destination of choice for all. Congratulations.”
“Eastside Elementary School demonstrates what is possible when instructional coaching and support for teachers is paired with the use of high-quality curricula,” NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett said. “By prioritizing exceptional teaching in every classroom and high-quality instructional materials, the school is ensuring that all students have access to the opportunities they deserve.”
Eastside increased student academic growth. From 2022 to 2024, Eastside outpaced the state in both English Language Arts (ELA) and math, with the percentage of students passing ELA increasing by 16.7 points and math by 21.1 points, compared to Tennessee’s gains of 2.5 and 5.6 points, respectively. By 2024, the school had closed the gap with the state, earning an “A” letter grade in recognition of its improved performance and unwavering dedication to student achievement.
The 2025 NIET annual national conference will be held Feb. 27-28 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.
“We are absolutely thrilled for Eastside Elementary and the recognition they are receiving by this nomination,” Swallows said. “Mr. Crabtree and the staff have worked so hard to develop a place where students can be successful as evidenced by this national award. All of our schools in Warren County are doing such great work and have benefited tremendously from our partnership with NIET. I look forward to many more awards like this one because we have great people working here and, most importantly, we have great students.”
