Weakley County Schools

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

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.

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.

High school students from Weakley County Schools came together to engage in leadership development, career exploration, and networking on October 6th for Career and Technical Student Organization [CTSO] Leadership Day. The annual event educates students on local career availability, introduces students to business and industry leaders, provides real-world application of skills through activities, and encourages students to be responsible and contributing citizens.

A districtwide summer reading program provided students in grades K-8 the opportunity to keep reading throughout the summer months along with a reward upon achievement.

Martin Elementary School is growing a group of promising inventors after a recent 5th grade Inventor’s Fair produced nearly 70 prototypes and models of inventions.

A new collaboration between UT Martin and Greenfield School is music to our ears.

Weakley County Schools is celebrating the announcement that four students from three schools are recipients of the National Rural and Small Town Award (NRSTA) from the College Board National Recognition Program.

Dresden Elementary School and Martin Elementary School have achieved Tennessee Reward School status by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE).

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.

Funds to be used for materials and construction of a mobile solar power generation system.

Weakley County Schools’ Special Education Department is making improvements to support more teaching and less paperwork for special education teachers.

The Weakley County Schools Food Pantry is again open for the school year to provide food at no charge for families of students and staff who need it.

As the result of a state law that began July 1, Weakley County Schools have adopted a new 10-point grading scale for students in grades 1-12.

Weakley County Schools welcomes Tim Barker as the district’s new Transportation Director. The longtime educator began July 21.