Education

All Bedford County Head Start and Early Head Start Centers are now taking applications for fall 2021 enrollment by phone. For more information or to complete an application contact any Head Start Center. Phone numbers are: Wartrace Head Start, 931-389-6406; Bedford Early Head Start, 931-685-0876; Northside Head Start, 931-773-0141; Harris Head Start, 931-773-0033...

The Bedford County FFA Chapter of Shelbyville Central High School competed Monday in the virtual state FFA Farm Business Management Competition. The team placed third in the state out of 13 competing teams. From left are chapter members Ian Alcox, Haley Henson, Nancy Diaz and Elizabeth Atonsa.

Jennifer Wright, technology foundations instructor at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville did it; she walked away recently as the state’s Technical College Faculty Member of the Year. She said she was humbled to share this honor with TCAT-Shelbyville, which was also selected as one of the two recipients of the 2021 Technical College of the Year award...

Shelbyville Central High School Principal Tim Harwell was surprised during his final walk down the corridor as principal of Shelbyville Central High School on Friday. Students lined the halls and sang the alma mater as he strolled by, He will begin as assistant school superintendent on Monday, April 5. “The students and teachers lining the hallways and expressing their support for me was pretty overwhelming,” he said. “In that moment, I had one more opportunity to sing our alma mater and it was difficult because I was fighting back tears. It will be a lifelong memory for me and I’m so thankful for my years at SCHS.”

Supervisors with Bedford County schools recently presented the school board with current data relating to chronic student absenteeism. During this time of pandemic, which has necessitated schools offer virtual learning, the percentages are high, supervisors reported...

Community High School recently recognized senior Lexi Evans for placing 2nd at the 2021 virtual HOSA State Leadership Conference in the prepared speaking event. With this ranking, Lexi has been invited to participate at the 2021 virtual HOSA International Leadership Conference in June. 

It’s back . . . COVID-19 has once again forced some Bedford County schools to close doors and return to virtual learning. All three Community schools were shut down this week, due to an increase in quarantines, positive cases and sickness among students, teachers, cafeteria personnel and staff...

Cascade High School agriculture teacher Mike Swafford was recently recognized by Bedford County Board of Education for receiving the state honor of Pathways Certification for his program. This school year, 159 pathways in 94 high schools and 51 districts earned certification. ...

Prior to Tuesday afternoon’s first pitch, the Cascade baseball team honored long-time athletic director Dale Rucker and his wife Linda for their many years of dedication to Cascade baseball. Rucker recently announced his plans to retire at the end of the school year.

United Way of Bedford County is in the process of providing extra school supplies for local schools in need. Thanks to Newell Brands, the Shelbyville Optimist Club and personal donations through “Stuff the Bus,” United Way has the ability to send additional supplies. Accepting for Eakin Elementary, from left, are Nikki Jones, second grade teacher, and Dulcie Davis, principal. Mark McGee, executive director of United Way of Bedford County, is in the back.

All three Community schools have been closed until after spring break due to an increase in COVID-19 quarantines, positive cases and illness among staff, teachers and students, the Bedford County School System announced Monday. Spring break runs the week of March 29-April 2...

Chad Fletcher, supervisor of federal projects for Bedford County School System, recently informed school board members that millions of dollars of COVID-19 relief funds from the government are potentially available at the local level. He made several recommendations as to how his department can best distribute that free educational money...

Learning Way 4th grader Ashley Rodriguez Lopez was recognized Tuesday by Bedford County Board of Education for, among many things, organizing a virtual homework group. As this month’s ‘outstanding virtual learner,’ Ashley was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance...

Dr. Tammy Garrett, new Bedford County school superintendent, used her right and announced Monday that she has appointed Tim Harwell, Shelbyville Central High School principal, to serve as the new assistant superintendent. Karen Scoggins, who has served in that capacity, recently submitted a leave of absence, Garrett said. Harwell will transition into his new role fully on April 5, with Rebecca Tidwell assuming SCHS interim principal duties. See Thursday's T-G for full story...

Bedford County’s new school superintendent, Tammy Garrett, likely has in her desk at the Central Office a copy, or perhaps several copies, of the updated “Budget 101: A Citizen’s Guide to the Budget.” This yearly guide highlights school statistics like local per-pupil-expenditures — an area in which this county continues to rank last as compared to neighboring counties in the South Central region...

Bedford County school board members unanimously approved a three-year contract for new superintendent Tammy Garrett on Monday during a special called meeting. Garrett, who is currently saying her goodbyes to Murfreesboro City School System, has agreed to settle into the Central Office on Monday, March 8...

Bedford County Board of Education held a special called meeting Monday to discuss a couple of requests from interim superintendent Karen Scoggins and to go over contract details with newly appointed superintendent Tammy Garrett of Murfreesboro. Scoggins has requested a $1,500 a week raise to her supplement for each week she serves as interim and in addition to her current salary. ...

Jennifer Wright, technology foundations instructor at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville, was recently selected as a finalist for the “Technical College Faculty Member of the Year” in the 2021 Board of Regents Statewide Outstanding Achievement Recognition (SOAR) Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement...

Editor’s Note: This is the first of two installments on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings through Bedford County School System. This installment explains the goals behind the program with director Sarah Spray. Next week’s article will feature an upcoming CTE student (virtual) event and some of Spray’s other goals for the future of local CTE programming...

Shelbyville Central High School National Honor Society wanted to brighten everyone's Wednesday with this positive chalk art, said teacher Claudia House.

Shelbyville Central High School's Advanced Placement Psychology class recently completed a stress reduction activity using Bobo dolls. Teacher Claudia House said she could tell by all of the smiling faces that this activity was a success.

The only out-of-town candidate making it to the final four interviews for local school superintendent, Tammy Garrett of Murfreesboro, was clearly the underdog. On Tuesday, the Murfreesboro City principal pulled out the required majority votes. 7-to-2, needed for the appointment...

Dr. Tammy Garrett was chosen to be Bedford County’s next school superintendent Tuesday by the Bedford County School Board. Garrett, principal of Mitchell-Neilson School in Murfreesboro, was chosen over three local candidates - assistant superintendent Karen Scoggins, Community High School principal Dr. Robert Ralston and Shelbyville Central High School principal Tim Harwell...

Tim Harwell — the last of four candidates for school superintendent to be interviewed recently by Bedford County Board of Education — said that he learned his steadfast work ethic from his parents. His father was a factory worker and owner of an upholstery business. As well, he was inspired by his mother, who earned her GED at age 53...

Bedford County Schools will be closed on Monday due to hazardous road conditions. Portions of some rural roads remained partially ice-covered Sunday afternoon. SACP will be open at Southside School from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

As the third candidate interviewed for the position of Bedford County school superintendent, Karen Scoggins told board of education members Monday, “I don’t think you can throw dollars at everything and make it better. But [with] some things, you’ve got to have money to make it work.”...

President: Emma Rose Vice President: Will Melson Treasurer: Lexi Bailey Secretary: Jessica Rhodes Captain: Max Hinojosa Lieutenants: Jacob Betzelberger & Sophie Miller Sergeants: Chris Ocasio, Jordan Cooper, Sean O’Gorman, Cole Banks, Noelia Torres, Sabina Rico, Lindsey Parker, Bayleigh Stovall & Makia Woodard...

Shelbyville Central High School's National Honors Society recently held a supplies drive for the Community Soup Kitchen. The soup kitchen serves meals in drive-by and pick up fashion from 4 to 5 p.m. each Tuesday at the old Save-A-Lot building on South Cannon Boulevard. From left, Dillen Haynes, Savannah Catron and Rebekah Marshall from NHS and Kay Bartley, volunteer with from the Community Soup Kitchen.

This is the second article in a series covering Bedford County Board of Education interviews for the new school district superintendent. School board members recently drew for the order in which the four candidates would have their public interviews, with Tammy Garrett of Murfreesboro being selected for the second round...

Motlow State Community College will welcome Dr. Fredrick Douglass Dixon on Tuesday, Feb. 23, when he presents The Death of Black Wall Street and the Myth of the American Dream from 12-1:30 p.m. via Zoom at https://mscc.zoom.us/j/93950141333. The presentation is part of Motlow’s celebration of African American History Month, embracing and modeling diversity, equity, and inclusion. ...

This is the first in a series of articles covering the Bedford County Board of Education interviews for the new school district superintendent. School board members recently drew randomly for the order in which the four candidates would have their public interviews, with Robert Ralston being selected first...

Shelbyville Central High School has teamed up with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Department to create a new experience for Criminal Justice students enrolled in Work-Based Learning. Criminal Justice III students who are Seniors now have a new opportunity to learn what it takes to serve in the realm of corrections. This is not only a first for Bedford County, but for the State of Tennessee with Shelbyville Central High School and The Bedford County Sheriff’s Department leading the way...

Bedford County School System recently honored retired school superintendent Don Embry with a photo montage on its official website. We are sharing a few of those past memories here from his coaching days to the most recent days when he read Dr. Seuss stories to elementary students...

Three local educators are in the running to be Bedford County’s next superintendent. The Bedford County Board of Education met Tuesday and selected finalists for the open position. The Tennessee School Boards Association presented three finalists from 16 applicants: Assistant Superintendent Karen Scoggins, Dr. Tammy Garrett, principal of Mitchell-Neilson School in Murfreesboro, and Dr. John Tucker of Georgia. Scoggins is acting as interim superintendent...