Have schools in the U.S. and in the Wake County school system drained creativity from students and become too focused on standardized testing?

As noted in today's article, the high-stakes testing culture came under criticism at Wednesday's announcement that the Wake County school system has received grants from LEGO. It was repeatedly touted how the use of LEGO products to promote problem-solving skills can counter how traditional education is draining creativity away from students.

Muriel Summers, principal of Combs, told the audience that her “aha!” moment came nearly five years ago shortly after the schools began using LEGO as a teaching tool. She said a student using the LEGO blocks told her “thank you for letting us use our imagination.”

Six Wake County schools will benefit from a new education program launched by LEGO Education that will promote the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concept.

LEGO Education North America and the Education Blueprint Association are giving the Wake County school system two $40,000 grants with the district providing a matching $80,000. Wake is receiving two of the 14 regional centers for the LEGO Smart Schools program.

The money will allow three Raleigh schools (Combs Elementary, Centennial Campus Middle and Athens Drive High) and three Knightdale schools (Hodge Road Elementary, East Wake Middle and Knightdale High) to receive special hands-on programs from LEGO.

More details about what the schools will receive will be unveiled at a presentation this morning at Combs.

The newly adopted Wake County student reassignment plan could help produce some sharp changes this fall in the percentages of students receiving subsidized lunches at some schools.

This handout was presented by staff at Tuesday's school board meeting following a request by school board member Anne McLaurin. During the votes on the individual items, the Democrats often cited the changes in the F&R rates for them voting no.

For instance, the Walnut Creek feeder pattern moves are projected to increase Southeast Raleigh High's F&R rate from 40.2 percent this year to 50.3 percent this fall.

The publicity will be decidedly more positive the next time a Wake County school appears on NBC's "Today Show."

The Today Show was at Combs Elementary School in Raleigh this morning to film author John Grisham reading his new book to students. Grisham's first children's novel, "Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer," will be coming out next week.

If nothing else, Wake County school board member John Tedesco has shown he's willing to meet with critics.

In yet another example, Tedesco met earlier this month with Combs Elementary School parents who are concerned about the changes that the new school board majority could make to the magnet program. Tedesco shared his vision about the school system, saying things the magnet parents didn't like.

Click here for a link to hear the audio of Tedesco's talk. It's posted on a Google group organized by magnet parents.

UPDATE

I've put at the bottom of the post an e-mail message that Tedesco sent to a parent after the meeting at Combs. I meant to put it up originally with the post but forgot to do so.

Congratulations to Rene Herrick, who learned this morning that she's been named the North Carolina North Central Regional Teaccher of the Year.

Herrick, who teaches fourth-grade at Combs Elementary School, was named Wake County's Teacher of the Year in May. This new award means she's now a finalist for the state Teacher of the Year award.

Herrick was praised for going above and beyond to help her students. She spends countless hours of her own time on weeknights and weekends with her students, taking them to movies and attending their events.

René Herrick, a fourth-grader teacher at Combs Elementary School in Raleigh, was named Wake County’s 2009 Teacher of the Year on Thursday.

Herrick, a teacher for five years, was praised for her active involvement in the lives of her students. She tutors students after-school.With her husband, who is also a teacher, she takes students on outings to movies and restaurants.

Her supporters stressed how much Herrick cares about her students.