Community

The Tennessee Department of Education has not yet released the Pre-K application for the 2021-2022 school year. After CMCSS receives information from the state, the district will release application information, including dates, times, and locations for application events. Based on previous timeframes for receiving information from TDOE, CMCSS is typically able to begin accepting applications in April. For more information on Voluntary Pre-K in Tennessee, please visit the State of Tennessee’s website (link).

Monday, January 4 will be a remote learning day for all CMCSS traditional students. District leadership has reviewed Gov. Lee’s Executive Order #70 and is seeking guidance from local and state agencies on its implications for in-person learning through mid-January. Over Winter Break, district leaders will continue meeting to review the latest data and guidance to make decisions in the best interest of the physical, social, and emotional health and well-being of students and employees. If remote learning needs to be extended, the district will make every effort to communicate this extension to families no later than Monday, December 28. District leaders understand changes like these present challenges for families and strive not to disrupt in-person learning unless deemed necessary as CMCSS responds to the conditions of the pandemic. The district cannot reiterate enough that families choosing traditional, in-person learning for their child(ren) should make preparations throughout the year in the event that school buildings are closed and remote learning must take place. The CMCSS Communicable Disease Team and the Montgomery County Health Department review the local spread of COVID-19 and other data on a daily basis to make school-based and district-wide decisions. As of yesterday, Montgomery County’s community spread reached an all-time high of 0.859% and has continued to increase 12 out of the last 14 days. Please follow the guidance of our local, state, and national public health officials and medical experts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Bryan Lopp has been selected as the Facilities Manager for CMCSS, replacing Norm Brumblay who was named CMCSS’ Chief Operations Officer effective Dec. 1. Lopp has been with CMCSS since 2012, serving as the Assistant Facilities Manager – Capital Projects & Third-Party Projects Manager. In this role, he has been the primary backup to the Facilities Manager, supervised all capital projects, and provided technical and managerial assistance to the Building Maintenance Department, in addition to other areas of responsibility. Prior to CMCSS, he served as an Engineering Project Manager for six years and a General Manager in the restaurant industry for four years. Lopp earned his B.S. in Construction Engineering and Management from the Purdue University College of Engineering, one of the top three engineering schools in the nation. He has completed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security FEMA Incident Command System for Schools and National Incident Management System (NIMS) training courses. He completed CMCSS Leadership Development training and will complete the CMCSS Advanced Leadership Academy in spring 2021. In the community, Lopp, his wife, and four children are active members at Hilldale Baptist Church. Additionally, he coaches Clarksville National Little League, Hilldale Hoops & Flag Football leagues, and most recently the Richview Middle School Cross Country team.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board (IDB) voted to move forward with the purchase of 116 acres of farmland near Rossview Road at the September meeting. The tract of land purchased is located along 1-24 near exit 8 near Hayes Lane and Rossview Road; and is the site of a new Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) Campus, with plans for an elementary, middle, high school, transportation facility, and athletic fields. The IDB will serve as the buyer and financial conduit for the site; after the pad site for the middle school is completed IDB will transfer the deed for the land to CMCSS who in collaboration with Montgomery County will oversee the design and construction of the Campus. The first building on the campus, the middle school, is slated to be complete by the fall of 2022. “The IDB is pleased to assist Montgomery County and CMCSS in building new learning facilities for our youth to support the future growth of our steadily expanding community,” said Frank Tate, Executive Director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board, “We are happy to help facilitate the swift turnaround on this investment; supporting the community at this level enhances the quality of life in Clarksville-Montgomery County, which is a key role of the IDB. “This was a collaborative effort to get the best offer for our school system and our community. I appreciate the work that all parties have contributed and will continue to contribute towards this crucial project for the students and families of Montgomery County” stated Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett. “CMCSS is excited about this opportunity to partner with local leadership to accomplish a much-needed project to address school capacities as our community continues to grow,” said Millard House, Director of Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. This release was provided […]

How School Psychologists Expand the Horizon for CMCSS Students School psychologists play a role that most people cannot clearly define. Yet, their work is crucial to creating strategies for intervention and supportive environments for students in need. On a typical day, they provide direct support to students, consult with teachers and families, and collaborate with school mental health professionals.  Recently a group of CMCSS school psychologists reflected on the common misconceptions regarding their profession. Whether it be parents or fellow staff, their role within the school is sometimes confused. “How many times have you been mistaken for a school counselor?” District Lead School Psychologist Dr. Ariane Narain asks her peers, to which they all smile and nod. Another shares a story to which everyone quickly relates as they’re often asked a variation of, “Where’s your couch?” Aside from the assumptions surrounding school psychologists’ role, the true nature of their position is significant. “The day can look very different if you’re in elementary, middle, or high school,” said Dr. Jasmine Scott, who works at Montgomery Central. “People think we just assess students all day,” said Narain. Much of their day is consulting, whether with students, parents, teachers, counselors, or administrators. These consultations are critical to the success of the students. “What we do carries such a heavy weight for special education.” School psychologists determine eligibility for a range of students, including special education and gifted students. Each student’s journey through eligibility and intervention for special services is unique, as is the relationship developed with the family.  The psychologists understand that just the mention of their presence creates a range of emotions for families from the beginning.  “If the parents are new to special education, we’re the first friendly face,” said Lauren Keultjes, a school psychologist at Norman Smith Elementary. Explaining the […]

After 23 years as an educator, Crystal McCoin, a third grade STEM teacher at Oakland Elementary, is trying something new – virtual teaching. Hundreds of CMCSS teachers are navigating the new world of CMCSS K-12 Virtual. For Ms. McCoin, she finds joy in teaching and watching her students’ excitement about learning. “I have been teaching a long time and thought I had seen everything, but have definitely had to step out of my comfort zone,” she explains. “I am always willing to try new things to see if something works better and to help the students learn.” This sentiment rings true for many virtual educators today. Educators are experts at creative thinking and our virtual teachers continue to rise to the challenge of engaging their students. From puppets to playing games, teachers at all levels aren’t afraid to try new things. Everyone understands that trying something different is crucial to maintaining a relationship with students. McCoin says the biggest difference with virtual learning is you have to work harder to build relationships with students. During her Zoom instruction time, her eyes are continuously scanning the faces for anyone who may be distracted. Phrases that would be typical to any classroom setting such as, ‘are you okay’, ‘show me your pencils’, ‘let’s sit up tall’ are now mixed in with the newest repetitive phrase for teachers ‘make sure you’re on mute.’ Ms. McCoin does not miss any opportunity to share a smile or encouraging word, because she knows the importance of building a relationship. “You get to see a little of their personalities but not as you do in the classroom setting,” she said. She admits that there are times virtual may be a struggle but teachers should look to the opportunities as well, “I feel like we get so much […]

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (October 7, 2020) – tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for TN Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee, is looking for both high school applicants and mentors to assist seniors in pursuing higher education. In Clarksville-Montgomery County, both the number of students who have applied for the scholarship and the adult mentors has seen a significant drop in 2020.  TNPromise Applicants The deadline for high school seniors submitting a TN Promise application is November 2, 2020. Due to disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Tennessee high schools are significantly behind last year’s TN Promise application rate. High school seniors who are interested should complete the TN Promise application, submit a FAFSA, and apply to a college. Tennessee high school seniors can submit a TN Promise application by visiting www.TNPromise.gov and applying online. As indicated, the scholarship will provide two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee. Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not met by Pell, Hope, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. As part of the program, students will be paired with a partnering organization, provided with a mentor who will support them during the college application process and complete the community service requirement.  Mentor a High School Senior tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for TN Promise, needs volunteers to serve as mentors for the Class of 2021. tnAchieves mentors will serve their community virtually, working with local students to offer support throughout the college-going process. TN Promise allows any graduating high school senior the opportunity to attend a community or technical college tuition and mandatory fee-free. Many of the students will be the first in their family to attend college […]

It is extremely important that all students, employees, and the community self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to visiting any CMCSS facility. Additionally, it is extremely important that parents/guardians do not send their child to school if they are awaiting results of a COVID-19 test or are exhibiting a new on-set of symptoms related to COVID-19.

Dr. James Bailey has been selected as the Adult Education and Transition to Work Supervisor for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. Dr. Bailey has over 13 years of administrative experience, most recently serving as the principal of Whites Creek High School in Nashville. Under his leadership, the school experienced a 20 percent increase in the graduation rate. Dr. Bailey was named Principal of the Year for Middle Tennessee in February 2020. Dr. Bailey was with Metro Nashville Public Schools for 17 years. He served as assistant principal at Hillsboro and Pearl Cohn high schools and as a teacher at Jere Baxter Middle School. He earned his doctorate in Administrator Leadership from Walden University, an education specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee State University, and a B.A. in Bible and Theology from American Baptist College.

The CMCSS Communicable Disease Team (CDT) comprised of leaders from CMCSS and the Montgomery County Health Department meet regularly to review the latest guidance from the CDC and make recommendations for the health and safety of students, employees and the community.