Former Principal Randy Jennings Returns to School District as Supervisor of Instruction for grades 6-12

July 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two years after leaving as principal of DeKalb County High School to take a teaching job at Gordonsville High School, Randy Jennings, a veteran educator of 28 years has returned to the DeKalb County School District.

Jennings, former SES, DMS, and DCHS Principal, has been hired by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps to succeed Dr. Kathy Bryant who has stepped down as Supervisor of Instruction for Grades 6-12. Jennings will be working in the central office.

Two years ago, Jennings became a classroom teacher at Gordonsville High School and this past year, Jennings served as principal at Smith County Middle School and was an assistant coach of the Gordonsville high school Tigerette girls fast pitch softball team. Later in the season, Jennings was named interim head coach and guided the softball team to a state tournament championship.

Jennings, a 1989 graduate of DCHS, was a gifted high school baseball player and furthered his talents and education at Motlow State Community College where he earned an associate degree. From there he attended and played baseball at Cumberland University before transferring to MTSU for his bachelor’s degree. Jennings then went to Tennessee Tech where he earned his master’s and Education Specialist Degree.

DeKalb West School was where Jennings landed his first teaching job in 1995, taking over from eighth grade educator and boys and girls basketball Coach Danny Parkerson, who had been promoted to principal. After a couple of years there, Jennings moved to Watertown High School where he taught and coached baseball and girls basketball for three years. In 2000, Jennings returned to the DeKalb County School District to take on his first principal assignment at Smithville Elementary School. Five years later, Jennings made the move to DeKalb Middle School where he served as principal for twelve years before succeeding Dr. Kathy Bryant as principal at DCHS in 2017 after she joined the central office staff.

During Thursday night’s Board of Education, Director of Schools Patrick Cripps gave the following monthly update on personnel moves:

Employed:
Eli Cross, teacher at DCHS
Diana Yvonne Hale, school secretary at DCHS
Samantha West, Speech/Language Pathologist at DeKalb West and Northside Elementary School
Trey Jones, Northside Elementary
Randy Jennings, Central Office
Samantha Antoniak, DeKalb West School
Ashley Nokes, DeKalb West School
Erin Turner, DeKalb Middle School

Transfers:
Galen Brown, DeKalb West School to DeKalb Middle School
Lorie Isabell, DCHS to Northside Elemetary
Kelsey Cornelius, Smithville Elementary to Northside Elementary
Amy Fricks, DeKalb Middle School/DeKalb West School to DCHS
Ginda Kilgore, DeKalb Middle School to Central Office
Anita Puckett, DCHS to SES Principal
Angela Johnson, DMS to NES Principal
Levaughnda Midgett, SES to DMS
Shelia McMillen, DWS to Central Office
Rayanna Chapman, SES to DWS
Teresa Jones, teacher to Assistant Principal at DMS
Edward Dillard, SES to DCHS

Resignations/Retirements:
Ashley Cantrell, teacher at NES
Linda Parris, teacher at DCHS
Roger Sharp, part time computer tech

July 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Health officials are reminding parents about the requirements for vaccinations for students ahead of the upcoming school year.

If your child does not get his or her shots updated in time, they may not be allowed to attend school.

The DeKalb County Health Department will have a Vaccine Clinic for 7th grade and kindergarten students July 14 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment at 615-597-7599.

Kindergartners or children enrolling in Tennessee schools for the first time need to show proof of their immunizations records.

Many parents may not realize the requirement for incoming seventh graders is proof of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis booster (also known as T-Dap) and a Varicella vaccine booster or proof of having had chicken pox.

Infants entering child care facilities must be up to date at the time of enrollment and are required to provide an updated certificate after completing all of the required vaccines due no later than 18 months of age.

With your child starting seventh grade, this is also a great opportunity for him/her to get vaccinated for the (HPV). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all kids who are 11 or 12 years old to get two shots of HPV vaccine six months apart. HPV is a very common virus. About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year. Most people with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems. Sometimes, however, HPV infections will last longer and can cause certain cancers and others diseases. HPV vaccine is cancer prevention. All 11 to 12-year-olds should be vaccinated with a meningococcal vaccine as well.

Children with medical exemptions must provide their child’s school with documentation from their medical provider. Religious exemptions require a signed statement by the parent/guardian that vaccination(s) conflict with his or her religious tenets or practices.

July 14, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Blood Assurance has announced four upcoming blood drives in Smithville.

The first one will be Monday, July 17 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Town & Lake Realty at 208 East Public Square. Sign up at www.bloodassurance.org/townlakerealty. You may call 931-510-8227.

The second collection effort will be Thursday, July 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Ascension Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital at 520 West Main Street Smithville. Sign up at www.bloodassurance.org/dekalbhospital. You may also call 931-239-9411.

The third blood drive will be Monday, July 31 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Smithville Senior Center at 718 South Congress Boulevard, Smithville. Sign up at www.bloodassurance.org/dekalbcountyneighbors. Call 615-464-7426.

The fourth drive will be Thursday, August 17 from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Family Medical Center 302 North Congress Boulevard, Smithville. Sign up at www.bloodassurance.org/familymedical. You may call 615-597-4395

Remember to eat a good meal, drink additional water, avoid energy drinks and bring your ID. Blood Assurance is the sole blood provider for the local hospitals and your donation is needed for an adequate supply. One donation can save three lives. Each donor will receive a t-shirt while supplies last.