July 12, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has named two familiar figures in the school district to fill principal vacancies with the start of the 2023-24 school year.
DCHS teacher Anita Puckett is returning to Smithville Elementary School where she will succeed Summer Cantrell who has resigned as Principal while DeKalb Middle School Assistant Principal Angela Johnson is moving to Northside Elementary to become Principal with the departure of Karen Knowles.
Meanwhile, DMS teacher Teresa Jones has been promoted to the position of Assistant Principal at DMS to succeed Johnson while at SES, Karen France, a DCHS educator will take over as Assistant Principal from Amanda Dakas, who has stepped down.
Puckett is a veteran educator with classroom teaching and administration experience. Over the years, Puckett has worked at SES, DeKalb Middle School and at DCHS.
She began her career with the school district in 1997 as an English/History/Literature teacher for 7th and 8th graders. Three years later she began teaching 8th grade History/Literature/Science. In 2015 Puckett was named Assistant Principal at Smithville Elementary School and became interim principal there in 2018 with the departure of Principal Julie Vincent. From 2019 to 2021, Puckett served as Assistant Principal at DeKalb Middle School and moved to DCHS in 2022 to serve as an ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher
Puckett is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University. In 1997 she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies-Several Subjects (1-8 grades) and a Master’s Degree in Instructional leadership in 1999. Puckett earned her Specialist in Education in 2017 in Curriculum and Instruction (Reading Emphasis).
Puckett said she is excited to have this new opportunity to lead Smithville Elementary School.
“In 2015, I was selected as the Assistant Principal at Smithville elementary school. I truly had some of my best days in education at SES. I enjoyed the relationships I created with the students, parents and the faculty,” said Puckett.
“The energy these vibrant, little minds bring each and every day to school resonates into the hallways and throughout the classrooms. Students are so eager to learn. I am eager to lead them. Smithville Elementary may be the oldest school building in the district, but the people that fill these hallways bring it NEW life each and every day. This is a dream come true for me to be recognized as Principal of Smithville Elementary,” added Puckett.
In 2014 Puckett was named Teacher of the Year at DMS and at the district level.
Only a year ago, Angela Johnson was named Assistant Principal at DeKalb Middle School after spending six years in the classroom including the first 3 as a science teacher and the last 3 years as a Response to Intervention (RTI) instructor supporting students in their reading abilities and as an English Language Arts (ELA) coordinator. Before joining the staff at DMS Johnson served six years as a second-grade teacher at Smithville Elementary School and prior to that she was an educational assistant in the school district for 4 ½ years.
Johnson began serving the school district several years ago as a substitute bus assistant.
“I guess you could say teaching is my second career,” said Johnson. “When I first started, my kids went to kindergarten, and I was a substitute assistant on the bus. I later moved from that to becoming an assistant and I worked in that role for four years and during that time I went and got my associate degree in teaching. I quit working in the school system and subbed for two years while finishing up my bachelor’s degree at Tennessee Tech. Once I finished that I came back to Smithville Elementary and worked in second grade. I taught there. I then left second grade at Smithville Elementary and went to the middle school and taught sixth grade science. I later moved from sixth grade science to RTI at the middle school and then I became the Assistant Principal last year at the middle school and now I am moving onto Northside, so I have touched all aspects of the school system and have enjoyed each one of them. I had a great year at DMS last year working with Principal Caleb Shehane but I am excited now to move on as principal at Northside. I love kids so wherever God puts me where I can do the most good for kids is where I want to be. I believe God puts you in places for a season and He puts you where you need to be in that season of your life and I feel that moving to Northside and being the principal is the season that I am supposed to be at this point in my life, “said Johnson.
Angela earned her associate degree from Motlow State Community College, a bachelor’s degree at Tennessee Tech, and a master’s degree at TSU.
After serving 20 years as a seventh-grade science teacher at DeKalb Middle School, Teresa Jones is thrilled about this next chapter in her life.
“I am super excited to further carry on the great work that Mr. Shehane and Mrs. Johnson have done and accomplished at DMS,” said Jones. “I started teaching in 2002. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech. I decided during the pandemic in 2020 to get my master’s degree in Instructional Leadership. I have just finished my 20th year as teacher. I’ll start my 21st year as Assistant Principal at DMS. I have a great rapport with Mr. Shehane and the faculty and staff at DMS and I am happy to carry on that excitement and to further develop these kids,” said Jones.
Teresa was chosen as Teacher of the Year for DMS and at the district level in 2020.
Karen France is also moving to administration after serving many years as a classroom teacher.
“I am excited, and I feel very honored to get this opportunity to go to Smithville Elementary,” said France. “I taught at the middle school for nine years and at DeKalb West School for eight years and then this last past I was a high school math teacher for one year. The entire time of my career except this past year I taught eighth grade math and science. I look forward now to meeting the students and teachers at SES and to build a relationship with the parents,” said France.
Karen earned her associate degree from Motlow State Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies (K-8) at Tennessee Tech. She also has a master’s degree in Curriculum Instruction and an Ed.S degree in Administration Leadership.
France was Teacher of the Year for DMS in 2012.