News
Longtime DCHS Carpentry Teacher Gary Caplinger Gets Teacher of the Month Award for April
May 8, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
After almost 14 years as a CTE residential and commercial construction teacher at DeKalb County High School, Gary Caplinger is about to hang up his tool belt.
But before he retires later this month with the close of the school year, Caplinger is being honored as “Teacher of the Month” for April at DCHS. Earning this type of recognition is not new to Gary. Three years ago, he was selected as the 2022 DCHS Teacher of the Year at the school level and was in the running with four others for the DeKalb District Teacher of the year award which went to Amanda Mullinax at DeKalb West School.
For being named Teacher of the Month for April, Caplinger received a certificate and a gift card for a meal at Fiesta Jalisco Mexican Grill.
“It’s been a good ride, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Caplinger when asked about his teaching career. “Teaching is truly a calling. You have to love kids, or you don’t belong here,” he said.
Before joining the staff at DCHS in 2012, Caplinger said he had never taught school before. “I was a self-employed contractor for 35 years in local small commercial and residential projects”.
For the last 30 years, Caplinger has also been a minister, currently pastoring at Coopers Chapel Baptist Church at Dismal.
Over the years Caplinger has seen a lot of changes in the “building trades” program as it was once called.
“For years, even before I got here, they built houses on site, but schools later got away from that. A few years ago, we went to building smaller projects like tiny houses and storage buildings. We still build them outside our shop here at the school and then sell them,” said Caplinger.
“Class time has also changed during my time here. Our administration has allowed me to double block my advanced and third year classes, so I have more time to work with those guys as they progress in their skills,” Caplinger explained.
“In the residential and commercial beginner’s semester classes, we try to get them through the safety part of instruction so they can pass OSHA certification. We then start introducing them to tools and how to develop their skills,” he said.
Asked what he plans to do in retirement, Caplinger said “I have a lot of hobbies but I’m mostly just going to piddle around”.
Sam Harris Receives Student of the Month Honor for April at DCHS
May 8, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A 12th grader has been awarded “Student of the Month” for April at DeKalb County High School.
Sam Harris, son of Kari and Chad Harris was called to the office Thursday to receive the good news that he had been selected for the honor. Along with a certificate Harris was given a gift card for a meal at Fiesta Jalisco Mexican Grill.
A member of the FFA club, Sam said he enjoys agriculture and plans to further his education in that field first at Motlow State Community College and then at UT Martin.
Harris said while he is looking forward to graduation next week as a member of the DCHS Class of 2025 he will miss the school and the people he has met along the way there. Sam said he feels privileged to have been named “Student of the Month”.
“The teacher who nominated Sam for this award said he deserves the recognition because he is always willing to serve and help others around him,” said Assistant DCHS Principal Seth Willoughby.
Harris has a younger sister Emily Harris who will be a freshman next year at DCHS.
Smithville Elementary Hosts Careers on Wheels
May 8, 2025
By:
Smithville Elementary held it annual Careers on Wheels event on April 25. This is an outdoor career fair and participants had careers that involved vehicles. This allowed the students to view and experience hands-on items and vehicles related to many different types of jobs. Participants spoke to all of the students about their jobs, their daily duties, and the training needed for their careers. Students also got to touch and hold many things which made this a fun and hands-on learning experience!
“We appreciate our participants so much for donating their time and resources for our students. They did an amazing job,” said school counselor Ashley Barnes.
Our participants this year were:
DTC Communications
Broken Toys Custom Paint
Middle TN Natural Gas
The City of Smithville (donating their tractor)
Dekalb County EMS
Smithville Fire Department
TWRA
Smithville Electric
Smithville Police Department
Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department
