When Greenfield School was recently recognized by The 74 as a Tennessee “Bright Spot” for their outstanding reading performance compared to the town’s poverty levels, the data told an impressive story. An even more impressive story can be found inside their third grade reading classrooms, where that success is built each day.
It’s a story that looks like carefully planned lessons, students actively engaged in their progress, and teachers making every minute count, and sounds like encouragement and high expectations rooted in care.
For Greenfield third grade teachers Jennifer Mull, now Varga, and Kendall Moseley, strong outcomes are not the result of a single program or short-term push. They are the product of daily habits, clear expectations, collaboration, and relationships that help students believe they can do hard things.
“If someone walked into our classrooms, the first thing they would notice is academics,” shared Mull. “They would notice the pace, the structure, and that we are moving constantly. Students know there’s a warm-up, grammar, writing, reading, discussion, independent work. There is purpose to every minute.”
The consistency isn’t about strict routines, but about creating a structured environment where students feel prepared and ready to learn.
At Greenfield, reading growth is built through intentional layering. Skills are introduced, revisited, practiced, and connected across units so students do not simply memorize content for a test. They develop lasting understanding. That understanding matters deeply in third grade, when academic expectations rise and students begin to understand themselves as learners.
The intentional mindset also extends to how teachers use data. For Mull and Moseley, student data is not viewed as labels but as tools that help them respond, adjust, and support each child. They regularly review progress together, compare results, and adjust instruction based on individual student needs.
“If something is working in one classroom, we talk about it,” Mull said. “What are you doing? How can I learn from that? We are constantly working together.”
The goal for each student is growth, no matter where that journey begins. Every child’s progress is closely monitored, discussed, and planned for. Teachers also ensure high-performing students continue to be challenged, offering enrichment opportunities before the school day to allow advanced learners to keep reaching higher.
When asked the most important piece of the foundation, however, both educators said the connections they form with their students make the difference.
“If students know you love them, they will learn from you,” Mull pointed out. “If they know you care, they will work hard for you.”
“I don’t think a child can hide here,” added Moseley. “If they need help academically, emotionally, or physically, someone is going to step in and support them.”
That sense of belonging is part of what makes Greenfield special.
“This is what our teachers do daily. They create strong connections and set high expectations, while delivering excellent instruction,” shared Jamie Doster, Principal at Greenfield School. “One of the greatest strengths of our school is that students are truly known, valued, and supported here, and they know that. Their needs are recognized early, and support continues through every stage of their education.”
Weakley County Schools Assistant Director of Schools Betsi Foster said a crucial piece to each of the district’s schools are the staff and educators who make students the priority every day, alongside the community that supports them.
“The strength of any school is found in the people serving students each day, and our educators and staff demonstrate that in powerful ways,” noted Foster. “They are creating environments where students learn to think, work hard, overcome challenges, and believe in themselves, and our students rise to those expectations. That kind of preparation reaches far beyond academics.”
For Greenfield, data may capture the outcome, but the deeper story lives inside its classrooms, where every lesson, every connection, and every small victory matters.