Board of Education Grants Tenure to Seven Teachers

June 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Seven educators in the DeKalb County School System have been granted tenure by the Board of Education.

The school board took action during its regular monthly meeting Thursday night granting tenure to Crystal Barnes, Rachel Hernandez, Stephanie Turner, Claire Cloyd, Amber Howell, John Pryor, and Stephanie Fuson.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said “these teachers have successfully completed the probationary period of five years and received evaluations demonstrating an overall performance effectiveness level of above or significantly above expectations as required for tenure. It is my recommendation that these teachers be granted tenure”.

Meanwhile Board Chairman Shaun Tubbs commended Director Cripps for having been named recently as the Tennessee Upper Cumberland Regional Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS).

“(School Board members) Mr. Jim Beshearse, Mr. Danny Parkerson and I were part of the vetting process when Mr. Cripps applied for the job as Director,” said Tubbs.

“I know over these years we have watched him grow (as Director) and we have grown with him as a board. I remember when we compiled a list of qualities we were looking for when we hired a director, we wanted someone with integrity, someone who was very knowledgeable of the job, someone who would be fair, transparent, and someone who would put the kids interests first and foremost. I think that’s what we have in Mr. Cripps. He is very deserving of this award. I am glad to call him a friend and colleague. Everyone should be proud to call him our director. Congratulations Mr. Cripps on this award,” said Board Chairman Tubbs.

“Thank you. God blessed me with this position (Director of Schools). I can’t walk through life without him in it. This award is not about me. Its about our employees. It starts from the time a kid is picked up on a school bus until after school programs are concluded at the end of the day. It takes all of us working together. If one link is weak it falls apart. I thank our employees and the board for supporting and working with me. Again, its not about me and never will be,” said Director Cripps.

“We appreciate the job that you do,” added Board Chairman Tubbs.

Cripps has served as DeKalb County Director of Schools since 2015.

June 14, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Area young people ages 8-17 will have a chance to take to the skies on Saturday, June 15 (weather permitting), as the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1378 hosts a Young Eagles Flight Rally at the Smithville Municipal Airport.

The rally is part of the EAA Young Eagles Program, created to interest young people in aviation.

Children will be taken for a free scenic flight over the lake and the Smithville area from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. First come, first flown. The rides are limited to children only ages 8 to 17. Parent/legal guardian approval and signatures are required.

For more information call 615-330-7576 or email Lonnie.hitchcock@woodsnwings.com

Visit www.eaa.org/eaa/youth

June 13, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has hired a total of 232 teachers and other professional personnel for the 2024-25 school year.

Cripps presented a list of the employees to the Board of Education Thursday night.

Certified personnel at each school are as follows:

DeKalb County High School:
Joey Agee, Brandy Alley, Charlotte Blaylock, Amanda Brown, Kevin Burchfield, Brian Cadle, Thomas Cagle, Amee Cantrell, Jeanine Cantrell, Todd Cantrell, Gary Caplinger, Hope Carter, Lisa Craig, Eli Cross, Bruce Curtis, Deborah DePriest, Edward Dillard, Ethan Duke, Luke Dycus, Lauren Ferrell, Amy Fricks, Amanda Fuller, Luke Green, Britney Gulley, Josh Gulley, Lesa Hayes, Bradley Hendrix, Danielle Horton, Sonja House, Brooke Howard, Ann Inglis, Alivia Jared, Angie Johnson, Jon Jones, Lindsay Kennedy, Dylan Kleparek, Brad Leach, Rebecca Miller, Lori Myrick, Jenny Norris, Morgan Oyster, Shelly Painter, , Leslie Parsley, Maddison Parsley, Cole Parsley, John Pryor, Cody Randolph, Gabby Robinson, Melissa Ruch, Michael Shaw, Steve Trapp, Erin Turner, Stephanie Turner, Tad Webb, Barbara Weller, Emily Wheeler, Kason Wheeler, Michael Whitefield, and Sara Young.

Northside Elementary School:
Marla Beshearse, Callie Betencourt, Erica Birmingham, Linda Bush, Sandy Cantrell, Shanea Cantrell, Shaunta Cantrell, Megan Carroll, Allison Collier, Kelsey Cornelius, Tiffany Cowart, Michael Crockett, Alisha Day, Tara Driver, Tabitha Farmer, Megan Ford, Stephanie Fuson, Amanda Goodwin, Carrie Gottlied, Amanda Griffith, Cynthia Hale, Patty Hale, Jennifer Herndon, Shelly Jennings, Angela Johnson, Trey Jones, Lisa Mabe, Jama Martin, Amanda Mathis, Elizabeth Miller, Diana Moon, Melissa Odom, Beth Pafford, Amanda Parker, Kathy Ramsey, Amy Raymond, Bethany Rigsby, Kristen Rowland, Melissa Roysdon, Jennifer Salas, Tammy Sims, Taylor Spare, Carol Tripp, Cheryl Vandagriff, and Kristen Van Vranken.

DeKalb West School:
Jessica Antoniak, Samantha Antoniak, Crystal Barnes, Vickey Barrett, Dwayne Blair, Mollie Bratten, Whitney Brelje, Jenny Cantrell, Jeanna Caplinger, Rayanna Chapman, Trent Colwell, William Conger, Kim Crook, Kayley Curtis, Rachel Desimone, Tonya Ellis, Sabrina Farler, Rachel Hernandez, Cathleen Humphrey, Kristen Malone, Jennifer Martin, Shelia McMillen, Leslie Moore, Amanda Mullinax, Olivia Neal, Ashley Nokes, Kelly Pyburn, Missy Sliger, Cynthia Snow, Teresa Sullivan, Lori Vandergriff, Susan West, Seth Willoughby, and Amy Young.

Smithville Elementary School:
Misty Agee, Ashley Barnes, Katie Barrett, Erica Birmingham, Lindsey Bouldin, Priscilla Campbell, Beth Cantrell, Mary Cantrell, Claire Cloyd, Calista Dodd, Ashley Dugaw, Madison Elkins, Dionndra Foster, Caitlin Fox, Karen France, Holly Hendrix, Tanya Howard, Amber Howell, Kelly Huling, Lori Isabell, Ana Jarvis, Sydney Johnson, Emily Lattimore, Sherry Locke, Leah Magness, Adrienne McCormick, Christina Merriman, April Moore, Jacquelyn Overbey, Anita Puckett,, Jane Ramsey, Amanda Rhoady, Janie Roberts, Cristy Spears, Renee Steiner, Cynthia Stoglin, Chloe Sykes, Kaylene Thomason, Allyson Trapp, Brad Trapp, Patricia Ward, Kristy Williams, Lisa Woods, Elizabeth Wright, and Crystal Young.

DeKalb Middle School:
January Agee, Josh Agee, Suzette Barnes, Kelly Birmingham, Galen Brown, Victoria Christian, Nancy Cowan, Melba Farmer, Amy Fricks, Heather Harney, Amy Hayes, Lori Hendrix, Sarah Jacobs-McGregor, Nikitta Johnson, Bryan Jones, Michelle Jones, Teresa Jones, Alyssa Leslie, Cameron Lester, Kristen Lynch, Martha Melching, LeVaughnda Midgett, Justin Nokes, Colter Norris, Courtney O’Conner, Scott Odom, David Parker, Maxwell Patterson, Hunter Poteete, Justin Poteete, Deb Poteete, Candice Scrabo, Caleb Shehane, Carson Speck, Danni Stahlke, Carol Tallent, Kitty Thomas, Cheryl Vance, Jennifer West, and Christie Young

Central Office Staff:
Michelle Burklow, Danielle Collins, Elise Driver, Emily Estes, Randy Jennings, Joey Reeder, Lori Rogers, and Natasha Vaughn.

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