July 11, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb Middle School is under the leadership of a new principal.
Lacey Foutch began her new assignment on July 1st moving from DeKalb County High School where she served for the last three years as an Algebra I teacher and instructional coach.
“I officially started July 1st but I actually went to work the very next day after I accepted the position. I am very fortunate to become part of their family at DeKalb Middle School. I understand it’s a very welcoming atmosphere there and I am excited to be part of that,” said Foutch.
Lacey is a 2008 graduate of DeKalb County High School and in 2012 she earned a degree from Tennessee Tech University before getting married and launching her teaching career.
“I earned a bachelor in mathematics degree and a minor in secondary education but while I was still at Tech going for my undergraduate degree I was a substitute teacher in the DeKalb County School system,” said Foutch.
After she and her high school sweetheart Daniel Foutch wed the couple relocated to Shelby County where he worked as a pharmacist and she took her first teaching job at Millington High School. A year later the couple moved to Knox County where she taught for two years at Carter Middle School and one year at Halls Middle School before returning to DeKalb County. While in Knox County, Foutch had stints as both a 7th and 8th grade teacher and served as a team evaluator and professional development specialist for the county.
The Foutch’s have one daughter, Emmaline who is three and a half months old.
“ I believe we have some of the best students of anywhere in the state and as principal I really want to support my teachers so they can do the best they possibly can with our students. Of course every school has their struggles but I am hoping to be able to support my teachers to overcome those struggles so that our students can succeed,” said Principal Foutch.
“Lacey is a good teacher. She was a leader while she was at the high school and she will bring some innovative ideas and be a great fit at the middle school. She will support her teachers well and help them. We look forward to seeing her lead in taking those students to where they need to be and higher,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, who recognized Lacey’s abilities years ago.
“She graduated and then starting substituting the next year at the high school but she wasn’t just in there to make sure the students were behaving she was teaching the content to them. Even at that young age she had the respect of her peers and could handle herself and her classroom. I remember telling others then that Lacy was going to make it. That has always stuck with me,” added Director Cripps.
Principal Foutch will be joined at DeKalb Middle School by Assistant Principal Anita Puckett.