2023 is a year of firsts for Renee Sutton. After concluding year 18 of teaching at Camden Central High School, Sutton is taking an administrative leap at Carroll Academy in Huntingdon. Since starting her new position as Assistant Director of Carroll Academy on June 1, she has taken an administration job for the first time, she has written her first grant, and more. more

HUNTINGDON (July 19) — State Representative Brock Martin (R-Huntingdon) addressed the Huntingdon Special School District Board of Education on Wednesday, July 19. more

McKENZIE (July 18) — The newly-established McKenzie High School Alumni Association (MHSAA) gathered for the first officially sanctioned meeting in the McKenzie High School Theatre on Tuesday night to elect officers and board members. more

Beta Club members from across the nation have worked for months in preparation for the National Beta Convention this summer. West Carroll Elementary and West Carroll Junior/Senior High School won big this year, with Junior Beta member Aubrey Hammett making history as the first National Junior Beta Secretary-elect from West Carroll. more

McKENZIE (July 11) — The 2023-24 school year is a year of change, according to McKenzie Special School District Career Technical Education (CTE) Director Susan Dyer. As career paths and opportunities change alongside vast technological advances, McKenzie schools will begin preparing students for a technologically-saturated world with the help of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s Innovative School Model (ISM) grant. more

ATWOOD (July 6) — The West Carroll Special School District heard a third-grade retention report showing no third graders will have to repeat the third grade during their meeting Thursday night, July 6. more

When Dr. Justin Barden accepted his new position as the McKenzie Special School District’s Director of Schools, he knew he wanted to spend his first year observing rather than changing. He would be intentional and methodical with his choices, and he could only do that by listening and learning what the district already does so well. more

McKENZIE — After 10 years as President of Bethel University, Dr. Walter Butler announced his plans to retire on December 31, 2023 shortly after turning 70. more

HUNTINGDON (June 23) — Construction on a $4 million expansion and renovation project is underway at Huntngdon Primary School. more

TCAT McKenzie students Eric Flores of Henry and Ryan Chaney of Huntingdon recently earned certifications in Information Technology Systems Management (ITSM). more

Lex Suite is the new principal at Riverside High School, according to Decatur County Director of Schools Chris Villaflor. Suite has 30-plus years experience in education with three of those as assistant principal at Riverside High School. more

HUNTINGDON (June 21) — How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. That’s a long-standing joke indicating those who practice their musical talents can one day perform at The Carnegie. … more

During the regularly scheduled McKenzie Special School District Board meeting June 15, the school board voted unanimously to approve the 2023-24 budget, proposed by Dr. Justin Barden, McKenzie’s new director of schools, and Brad Davis, the new school finance director. more

McKENZIE (MAY 31) — Lynn Watkins was honored for his service during a non-business, informal gathering of the McKenzie Board of Education on Wednesday, May 31 at the Board of Education office. more

The McKenzie High School Alumni Association held its first official meeting Thursday, June 8, in the McKenzie High School Theater. Brad Camp, Class of 1983, led the meeting and reviewed the organizations new bylaws and committees. Attendees were urged to sign in via a Google Form where they inputted their names, email addresses and phone numbers for contact. They also answered when they graduated from McKenzie High School, their involvement in school organizations, and if they would be interested in joining a committee. more

MARTIN (June 2) — The University of Tennessee at Martin hosted its annual Greek Awards ceremony June 2, and several Carroll County students received awards. more

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) hosted its second annual Tech Discovery Camp for rising eighth graders May 22-26 for Bruceton and Clarksburg students and May 30-June 2 for McKenzie students. The camp was introduced last summer as a way to introduce students to technical career options. more

MARTIN — During commencement exercises on May 6, Jack Lawrence of McKenzie received a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Here, he is pictured with his parents, Benjamin and Nichole, and his grandmother, Susan. more

The Tennessee Department of Education released scores from the spring English/language arts (ELA) TCAP assessment Wednesday, May 25, revealing that more than half of Tennessee’s third-grade students are not meeting proficiency in the subject. While some area schools have higher proficiency percentages than the statewide average, McKenzie, Hollow-Rock/Bruceton, Milan and West Carroll special school districts have found their percentages below the state average. more

McKenzie High School graduates who wish for a way to rekindle friendships with old classmates, promote school pride, and help current students – look no further. more