Weakley County Schools

The Westview High School Band has been captivating audiences this fall with their powerful field show featuring music from Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. This season holds special significance, as it marks the final year for Band Director Mike Tucker, who will retire at the end of this school year with a staggering 49 years in education - 33 of those in service to Weakley County Schools.

You may have seen the billboards around the county touting the success of Weakley County Schools, ranked 6th in the state for education according to the County Profiles of Child Wellbeing in Tennessee, an annual report published by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. This ranking is no accident.

As schools across the nation grappled with the challenges of reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, Weakley County Schools used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to improve facilities, address learning loss, and enhance educational opportunities. As the final phase of the three-part ESSER grant concludes, the district looks back on the progress made thanks to the $9.3 million received over the past three years.

Weakley County Schools is thrilled to announce the opening of the Early Childhood Family Resource Center (ECRC), located inside the Personal Development Center in Dresden. Marking a significant step in supporting parents and caregivers during their child’s earliest years, the ECRC is designed to provide valuable resources and guidance for families with children from birth to age five—a critical phase for shaping future academic success.

The Weakley County Schools Food Pantry has reopened for the school year, offering free food to families of students and staff in need.

The district is excited to announce the launch of the “Weakley County Schools Growing Our Future” podcast. This addition, in partnership with Forever Communications, is the latest platform where the stories and successes of the schools come to life.

Weakley County Schools received a generous $11,000 donation from the Arby’s Foundation to help alleviate student lunch debt in the district. This marks the second consecutive year that the Arby’s Foundation has supported debt accrued by hungry students.

Amidst education’s ongoing global challenges in post-pandemic recovery, Weakley County Schools is once again in the national spotlight, this time pictured prominently on the front page of The New York Times. The article, titled "The Youngest Pandemic Children Are Now in School, and Struggling," highlights the district's exceptional efforts in addressing the educational setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Weakley County Schools is proud to announce that Sherri Brawner, a third-grade teacher at Gleason School, has been selected as a finalist for the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. The news comes after the Tennessee Department of Education announced the nine finalists out of thousands of teachers across the state last week.

Weakley County Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Kirsten Rook as the new Transportation Supervisor. The appointment comes after Supervisor Tim Barker announced his retirement this spring.

Under the guidance of Health Sciences Teacher and Club Advisor Whitney Cates, Dresden High School's HOSA Program marked another school year full of career exploration opportunities and discovery in the wide field of health care.

Weakley County Schools is excited to congratulate the Class of 2024!

As the nation gears up to observe National Prevention Week from May 12-18, the collaborative efforts between the Weakley County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) and Weakley County Schools are in the spotlight. This dynamic collaboration isn't just about raising awareness; it's about taking action to prevent substance use and promote positive mental health in our community.

Weakley County Schools is proud to announce Riley Padgett and Jamie Babb as the “Feature Teachers” for April 2024.

With week one of state testing officially in the books, the importance of the role of instructional coaches in schools is more evident than ever for students, faculty, and staff in Weakley County Schools.

Weakley County Schools has received the announcement that two of the district’s educators have been selected as region-level semi-finalists for the prestigious Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. Sherri Brawner, Third Grade Teacher at Gleason School, and 8th Grade Martin Middle School Teacher Kristy Shumake have been recognized for their commitment to enriching the lives of students.

Weakley County Schools is proud to announce that Jennifer Mull and Katie West are the “Feature Teachers” for March 2024. Launched last month, the Feature Teacher initiative is aimed at honoring exceptional teachers who embody the district's core values of purpose, connection, and growth in their work preparing students every day.

The Weakley County School Board affirmed its support for traditional public education with the passing of a significant resolution during Thursday night’s board meeting held at Sharon School. The resolution, passed unanimously by all members present, opposes Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Act and the expansion of Education Savings Accounts and emphasizes the profound impact of traditional public education in rural communities.

With the recent commemoration of National School Social Work Week, Weakley County Schools is emphasizing the indispensable contributions of its mental health team in providing ongoing support for students and staff.

Thanks to the generous support from the Northwest Tennessee [NWTN] Local Food Network, grant funds, and the Weakley County Soil Conservation District, students at Sharon School have even more opportunities to learn and participate in the cycle of food - from the ground straight to the lunch table.

One Westview High School student is standing at the intersection of two big events this week - National Scholastic Journalism Week and National Future Farmers of America [FFA] Week. Junior Kaitlyn Brundige’s path as a writer and FFA member highlights the importance of supporting student voices in local journalism.

Weakley County Schools proudly announces that three district schools – Dresden Elementary, Dresden Middle, and Martin Middle – have achieved the prestigious status of Tennessee Reward Schools, as recognized by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). Based on data from the 2022-23 academic year, these schools have earned this distinction through outstanding performance according to the State’s rigorous scoring matrix.

In an exciting new effort to recognize dedicated educators in our schools, Director of Schools Jeff Cupples has launched the "Feature Teacher" initiative which is aimed at celebrating honoring exceptional teachers who embody the district's core values of purpose, connection, and growth. This innovative program, set in motion to provide an additional avenue for showing appreciation for teachers, has already begun making waves across the county.

Two Weakley County schools secured awards at the 6th Annual Canstruction Jr. competition held last week. Dresden Middle won the Jurors' Choice award while Westview secured the award for Structural Ingenuity. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Clubs from each school represented the district at the event held at Discovery Park of America [DPA] on Thursday, February 1.

Get ready for a whirlwind of laughs and mystery as "The 39 Steps" hits the Weakley Playhouse stage next weekend. With a cast of four students playing over 150 characters, this production combines elements of a Hitchcock thriller with Monty Python humor that promises laughs, mystery, and fun.

Weakley County Schools has once again received positive national acknowledgement – this time in an article published today by The New York Times for remarkable recovery in the wake of pandemic-induced learning loss. The article, titled "Students Are Making a ‘Surprising’ Rebound From Pandemic Closures. But Some May Never Catch Up," sheds light on the nationwide struggle to address the educational setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Weakley County Schools is celebrating School Board Appreciation Week, a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the invaluable contributions of our dedicated school board members. These individuals play a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of Weakley County and its surrounding areas, working tirelessly to enhance the lives of students.

This year marked a special milestone for Dresden Middle and High as the traditional band program was officially relaunched. Having struck the right chords in their debut semester, the musicians are tuning up for a successful second half of the school year.

Following the Tennessee Department of Education’s release of ACT results and participation rate for the 2023 graduating class, Weakley County Schools has secured the 16th highest ACT composite score out of 127 districts listed in the report. Weakley County Schools also secured the 16th highest score in the state for achieving an average composite score of 21 or above.

As the first week of the second semester begins, Weakley County Schools is reminding parents about the extraordinary opportunity for families across the district. Starting January 3, all ten schools within the district will provide breakfast and lunch to students at no cost for the entirety of the semester. Additionally, each cafeteria has earned an A+ inspection from the Tennessee Department of Health.

Twelve talented spellers competed today for the title of Weakley County Schools Spelling Bee Champion in a fourteen-round contest held at the Board of Education in Dresden. Greenfield School eighth grader Noah Wilson secured the title of 2023-24 Spelling Bee Champion, and Martin Middle School eighth grader Cadence Brundige earned the runner-up designation.

Weakley County Schools is thrilled to announce that Dresden Elementary School is one of two schools in the State to receive the National Elementary and Secondary Education Act [ESEA] Distinguished School distinction. The district received notification that the school is one of only 100 across the nation that will be recognized for this exceptional achievement in 2023.

The votes have been cast, the ballots are in, and the scores have been tallied. Weakley County Schools is thrilled to announce that the 2024-2025 Weakley County Schools Teachers of the Year have officially been selected.

The revolution takes place this weekend, as the Weakley Playhouse theatre troupe brings the Lauren Gunderson play The Revolutionists to the stage.

For the first time, Weakley County Schools have adopted a comprehensive math curriculum spanning all grades, K-12. The implementation of a math program tailored to meet the needs of students at every grade level marks a significant milestone for the district.

Weakley County Schools has announced a rebranding for the district, complete with a new logo design and core values, and more will be released soon. This is the district’s first rebranded overhaul in many years. The new logo design was created to represent Weakley County’s rich agricultural heritage, achievement and growth of students through education, and the commitment to preparing students for success.

Students have even more opportunities to explore career pathways and areas of interest, thanks to the launch of the Career Coaches program in several Weakley County Schools this school year. The new program was established to help students connect with career opportunities, customize their areas of interest, and to plan for a successful future.

Martin Middle School has four ‘houses’ under one roof this school year – but one big family. The school has instituted an initiative called the RCA House System, a program originally created by the Ron Clark Academy. The goal of the house system is to build school culture. Faculty and staff award students with points for showing good character, academic achievement, school spirit, kind efforts, and many other areas of student participation and engagement.

First time students in Weakley County Schools' Pre-Kindergarden classrooms are 6 weeks into what may arguably be a child’s single most important school year. From problem solving to interest exploration, students in Pre-K classrooms are enrolled in a program that offers young children the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace in a nurturing and supportive environment. It’s safe to say that Pre-K is a big deal.

Greenfield Teacher Linda Farmer has been recognized as an outstanding educator on the Southeastern Conference [SEC] Network’s Extra Yard for Teachers segment. The distinction also includes a grant award to the school.

Students and staff are seeing the positive impact of changes and updates to Weakley County Schools’ campuses this year that were funded through the ESSER program.

Data released this week from the Tennessee Department of Education shows that Weakley County Schools’ spring TCAP scores for third grade ELA [English Language Arts] set the district’s ranking at 16th highest out of 144 districts in the state. The release of TCAP scores has been highly anticipated as they relate to the state’s legislation that went into effect this school year.

The Arby’s Foundation has contributed to paying down student lunch debt in a big way for Weakley County Schools.

Education, hands-on experience, and direct instruction and guidance from experts in the field of agriculture – it’s all available to students on the Weakley County Schools Livestock Production Farm. Open to high school students at every school, students this semester welcomed Baylah Pettit, their first student peer in almost two decades from Westview High School.

Students representing each of Weakley County’s high schools recently participated in the Student Congress on Policies in Education [SCOPE] event at Belmont University in Nashville.

For the first time in many years, Dresden Middle School and Dresden High School students will soon have the opportunity to be a part of a traditional band.

Greenfield FFA is growing in more ways than one. For the first time in more than a decade, seventeen students are making plans to travel to State Convention to represent Greenfield High. Agriculture Teacher Matthew Humphrey said it’s the largest group to attend convention and earn certifications in his ten years as Club Advisor.

The Westview FFA Chapter has been focusing on progress – both within the club and out in the community.

The Gleason FFA Chapter is hard at work this school year with concentration on events that promote career and leadership development opportunities for students.

February 18-25th is National FFA Week, and Weakley County Schools is celebrating the organization’s emphasis on leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Several Junior and Senior students from each Weakley County high school are more informed about post-graduation job training opportunities after a recent visit to Tennessee College of Applied Technologies at Newbern.

Dresden Middle School’s 5th grade students recently worked together to create a colorful piece of art by integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics [STEAM] into one fun project.

Westview’s HOSA Future Health Professionals students recently participated in several regional health science competitions.

The ballots are in, and the 2023-2024 Weakley County Schools Teachers of the Year have been selected. Each year, ballots are distributed at the building level to identify the best candidates for each grade band: Pre-K through 4th grade, 5th grade through 8th, and 9th through 12th. Educators in each school vote and ultimately select the winners for each school. After those designees are identified, a district selection committee meets to review contender entries and choose district level winners.

New instruments are music to the ears of many students at Dresden Elementary School. Because of the initiative of Elementary Music Teacher Alissa Gulledge to apply for a donation of gently used instruments, students at DES will be learning introductory music and playing instruments donated by Nashville-based organization Instruments For Education.

Students from two schools started the new year off in competition at the first ever Weakley County Schools Agriscience Fair.

Thanks to the generosity of local individuals and businesses, every Gleason School student will begin their second semester with no lunch debt. Even with the contribution, the district’s student lunch debt remains at an all-time high.

Talented spellers competed this week for the title of Weakley County Schools Spelling Bee Champion in a sixteen-round contest held at the Board of Education in Dresden.

Dresden Middle School students and gift-wrapping community volunteers are gearing up for the 12th year of the Lions’ Den Christmas store. Students will soon be shopping for Christmas gifts using the ‘Dresden bucks’ they have earned throughout the year.

Westview High School is receiving national attention after a heartfelt video of students honoring their teachers was featured on NBC’s The TODAY Show – and more nationwide attention is coming soon.

The Weakley Playhouse is bringing the classic ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future to Martin’s Festival Park stage in a student production of A Christmas Carol.

With cold and flu season in full force, the Weakley County Schools district is recruiting additional substitute teachers. With November 18th marking National Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day, faculty and staff, students, and subs are highlighting the importance of the role in our schools.

Sharon School Teacher Danielle Johnson represented Weakley County Schools recently at the Tennessee Teacher Advisory Council [TAC] Conference in Nashville.

A writing contest at Martin Elementary School [MES] in honor of National Red Ribbon Week produced an inspiring essay about the importance of living drug-free.

Hold me, rock me, calm and easy. Hold me, rock me, deep and wide. Hold me, rock me, in your arms. Oh, I got a home on the other side. Every year, Dresden High School [DHS] students sing these lyrics from composer Brian Tate’s choral composition ‘Hold Me, Rock Me’ as a tribute song at the end of every spring and winter concert. The lyrics serve as a special homecoming for DHS Choir students. Many choir alum make the trek back to their alma mater and join the current class on stage to sing the heartfelt tune. The song pulls together a growing reunion of voices who have been singing together under the instruction of Jacob Abbott, DHS Music Teacher and Choir Director, since 2016.

Three Weakley County Schools competed in the 5th Annual Canstruction Jr. competition held at Discovery Park of America [DPA] to support local food banks, and Westview High School secured first place in 5 of 6 categories. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Clubs from Dresden Middle, Dresden High, and Westview High represented the district at the event on November 3.

Weakley County Schools students are on their way to earning a Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) for the first time through dual enrollment with Dyersburg State this school year – at no cost to the student.

Weakley County Schools students will soon be riding on four new propane school buses, thanks to grant funds awarded to the district through the U.S. EPA Clean School Bus Program.

Gleason School is offering unique incentives to reward excellence in students. Gleason School Principal Lee Lawrence and his faculty have worked together to establish several initiatives to inspire students to work hard at being their best.