Dr. Steven Palmer, The Cottage School (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 518)
Dr. Steven Palmer, Executive Director, joined host John Ray to discuss how The Cottage School serves students with learning differences. Dr. Palmer discussed the school’s business place model, individualized learning plans for students, how TCS navigated the pandemic, the growth of the school, and much more.
North Fulton Business Radio is produced and broadcast by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The Cottage School
The Cottage School provides an educational environment for students with learning differences in grades 3-12. They pride themselves on meeting the student where they need to be met. They also recognize that all students learn differently.
TCS offers a unique combination of small class sizes and a business place model, along with the implementation of study skill techniques to provide a unique educational experience. This combination along with the outstanding faculty and staff work together to provide an opportunity for students with mild to moderate learning differences, where they can achieve academic and social success.
TCS has been recognized for excellence by distinguished educators, counselors, and psychologists and was named by the Masters in Special Education Resource Guide as one of their Top 50 Best Private Special Needs Schools in the United States. Of significant importance, the school is recognized for its results by the most valued audience of all – students and their families.
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Dr. Steven Palmer, Executive Director, The Cottage School
Dr. Steven Palmer’s professional experience includes serving at every level – teacher, principal, Executive Director and Superintendent. Prior to joining The Cottage School, Steve was Superintendent in Michigan. Steve led major efforts resulting in increased student achievement and significant improvements in teaching, learning and school status. His central work focused on enhancing the educational culture with “Best Practices” and ensuring that all high school graduates were prepared for college and careers.
Under his leadership, His high school received national recognition from U.S. News and World Report as One of America’s Best High Schools. Steve previously served as CEO and founder of a state-of-art aviation high school for the Dick DeVos Foundation. He has also served as Principal of three special education K-8 schools with 600 students with learning differences.
In addition, Steve has been a national presenter on various special education topics and educational “Best Practices”. A member of numerous national, state, and local boards, Steve has participated with national agencies and associations to reform special education.
Steve’s academic background includes a Doctorate in Education, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Counseling, a Bachelor of Science in Education, and a minor in Business, and Certifications from various states in Special Education and Educational Leadership.
Some of his accolades include: Dr. Landis Special Education Administrator of the Year, S.T.A.R. Administrator of the Year, Tandy Scholars Outstanding Teacher, Teacher of the Year, South Lake High School, 1 of 3 finalists for the Lake County Teacher of the Year, Educator of the Year Finalist Branch County Michigan, Disney’s Teacher of the Year Finalist, South Lake High School Teacher of the Year, Radio Shack Outstanding Teacher, Clermont Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year, presented Key to the city of Orlando Florida, and North Fulton Chamber Non-for-Profit Leader of the Year.
Questions and Topics in the Interview:
- The TCS program
- What makes TCS different as a school
- Thriving during a pandemic
- National teacher shortage
- Growth of the school
North Fulton Business Radio is hosted by John Ray and broadcast and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and others.
Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
Special thanks to A&S Culinary Concepts for their support of this edition of North Fulton Business Radio. A&S Culinary Concepts, based in Johns Creek, is an award-winning culinary studio, celebrated for corporate catering, corporate team building, Big Green Egg Boot Camps, and private group events. They also provide oven-ready, cooked-from-scratch meals to go they call “Let Us Cook for You.” To see their menus and events, go to their website or call 678-336-9196.
