Posted in Elementary School:

Elementary School Rezoning Information (2024-2026)
September 19th, 2023
Dyslexia and ILP-D Family Information Sessions
The CMCSS Instruction and Curriculum Department will host information sessions throughout October for families interested in learning more about dyslexia and individualized learning plans for dyslexia (ILP-D.) Families may have received a phone call from their child’s teacher or paperwork sent home recently. These information sessions will answer questions regarding the CMCSS screening process and new state requirements. Caregivers can pre-submit questions to ensure they’re answered by emailing [email protected]. Pre-registration for the information sessions is not required.
Topics will include:
- What is dyslexia?
- How does CMCSS screen and support students with dyslexia?
- What are the updated state regulations with Individualized Learning Plans for students with characteristics of dyslexia? (ILP-D)
- What questions can I ask my child’s teacher to support my student at school?
Virtual Information Session Dates and Times
- Monday, October 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, October 3, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 19, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Monday, October 23, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Click here to access the Zoom link (valid for all the above meeting times.)
September 19th, 2023
Dyslexia and ILP-D Family Information Sessions
The CMCSS Instruction and Curriculum Department will host information sessions throughout October for families interested in learning more about dyslexia and individualized learning plans for dyslexia (ILP-D.) Families may have received a phone call from their child’s teacher or paperwork sent home recently. These information sessions will answer questions regarding the CMCSS screening process and new state requirements. Caregivers can pre-submit questions to ensure they’re answered by emailing [email protected]. Pre-registration for the information sessions is not required.
Topics will include:
- What is dyslexia?
- How does CMCSS screen and support students with dyslexia?
- What are the updated state regulations with Individualized Learning Plans for students with characteristics of dyslexia? (ILP-D)
- What questions can I ask my child’s teacher to support my student at school?
Virtual Information Session Dates and Times
- Monday, October 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, October 3, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 19, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Monday, October 23, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Click here to access the Zoom link (valid for all the above meeting times.)

Dyslexia and ILP-D Family Information Sessions
The CMCSS Instruction and Curriculum Department will host information sessions throughout October for families interested in learning more about dyslexia and individualized learning plans for dyslexia (ILP-D.) Families may have received a phone call from their child’s teacher or paperwork sent home recently. These information sessions will answer questions regarding the CMCSS screening process and new state requirements. Caregivers can pre-submit questions to ensure they’re answered by emailing [email protected]. Pre-registration for the information sessions is not required.
Topics will include:
- What is dyslexia?
- How does CMCSS screen and support students with dyslexia?
- What are the updated state regulations with Individualized Learning Plans for students with characteristics of dyslexia? (ILP-D)
- What questions can I ask my child’s teacher to support my student at school?
Virtual Information Session Dates and Times
- Monday, October 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, October 3, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 19, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Monday, October 23, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Click here to access the Zoom link (valid for all the above meeting times.)
September 19th, 2023
Dyslexia and ILP-D Family Information Sessions
The CMCSS Instruction and Curriculum Department will host information sessions throughout October for families interested in learning more about dyslexia and individualized learning plans for dyslexia (ILP-D.) Families may have received a phone call from their child’s teacher or paperwork sent home recently. These information sessions will answer questions regarding the CMCSS screening process and new state requirements. Caregivers can pre-submit questions to ensure they’re answered by emailing [email protected]. Pre-registration for the information sessions is not required.
Topics will include:
- What is dyslexia?
- How does CMCSS screen and support students with dyslexia?
- What are the updated state regulations with Individualized Learning Plans for students with characteristics of dyslexia? (ILP-D)
- What questions can I ask my child’s teacher to support my student at school?
Virtual Information Session Dates and Times
- Monday, October 2, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, October 3, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 19, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
- Monday, October 23, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Click here to access the Zoom link (valid for all the above meeting times.)

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a program that provides eligible households up to $30/month toward their internet bills as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals within the last 12 months under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including children who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, are eligible for ACP benefits.
Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov (mobile-accessible and available in Spanish) or by calling 877-384-2575.
The following are additional resources provided by the government:
- GetInternet.gov—a one-stop shop to learn about ACP, check eligibility, enroll, and find fully covered internet plans.
- White House Fact Sheet on the ACP and its benefits.
Additionally, CEMC/Cumberland Connect has provided resources in English and Spanish.

Family Guide to the Start of the 2023-24 School Year

Kindergarten Information for the 2023-2024 School Year!
May 11th, 2023
End-of-Year Updates and Reminders for Families
As we wrap up the 2022-2023 school year, please see below for a few updates and reminders:
Calendar Reminders
- May 19, 22-23 – High School Exams
- Wednesday, May 24 – Last Half Day of School
- May 24-27 – High School Graduations (Click here for info on livestreaming)
- Monday, August 7 – First Half Day of the 2023-2024 School Year
Visit cmcss.net/calendars to view calendars for upcoming school years. Jostens is generously sponsoring the CMCSS printed calendar for next school year! We hope to have calendars delivered to homes by the end of July.
Communication/Technology Updates
CMCSS is announcing three exciting updates that will begin next school year:
- ParentSquare: CMCSS will be transitioning its mass notification service from SchoolMessenger to ParentSquare. ParentSquare provides families with improved options to receive communications from schools and the District when and how families want to receive them, with translations in 100+ languages. Phone calls will still be available for emergencies or other urgent communications, but families will primarily receive communications via text, email, and the ParentSquare app and/or desktop version. Additionally, ParentSquare will provide a platform for translatable, two-way communications between educators and parents/guardians and open mass notification access for teachers to families of students in their classes. All families will receive invitations via text and email to join ParentSquare over the summer.
- StopFinder: If your child does not ride CMCSS transportation, please disregard. During the 2022-2023 school year, CMCSS piloted StopFinder on a few campuses. The StopFinder app uses GPS tracking information to determine the location of a school bus along its route. StopFinder provides real-time information on where your child’s bus is as they travel to and from school. In 2023-2024, CMCSS will be expanding StopFinder access to all families across the District. For details on StopFinder, click here. Families will receive an invitation in the coming weeks to activate accounts and download the app.
- Student IDs (K-5): During the 2022-2023 school year, several CMCSS schools participated in a pilot program for student identification cards. CMCSS will be expanding implementation to all elementary schools in 2023-2024. The student ID cards use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology to monitor when students get on or off a CMCSS school bus and allow students to use them when purchasing breakfast or lunch items. At no time do the ID cards track or monitor a student’s location in any way. Student identification cards will not have a photo ID but will have their personal QR code, which assists with logging into school-issued laptops. Cards will not contain any information, including home address, birth date, health-related information, or other personal details.
CMCSS will share more information with families on the above updates over the coming weeks.
Get Ready for 2023-2024!
There is always much excitement about summer break. With only a few days of school left and warmer temperatures arriving, we know the anticipation is only growing. We hope all families have a safe and enjoyable summer! CMCSS will share our Family Guide to the 2023-2024 School Year in July. In the meantime, please see below for a few items:
- Free/Reduced Meal Applications: Even with a few days of school left, it is not too late for families of traditional (non-virtual) students to apply for free/reduced meals for this school year. Families may apply and potentially qualify for free or reduced-price meal benefits at any time during the school year. Online applications are available at schoolcafe.com. If you need a paper application, please contact your child’s school or the Child Nutrition Department. Applications for the 2023-2024 school year will be available beginning on Monday, July 17. Applications must be submitted and approved each school year for a student to receive benefits.
- Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 7th Grade Immunizations: Per state law, no child can be permitted to attend any public school until proof of immunization is presented. If your student qualifies for a Medical or Religious Exemption, documentation must be provided. Please click here to learn more. We ask families to please make arrangements before the first day of school.
- Registration: If your family will have any students who are new to CMCSS in the 2023-2024 school year, visit cmcss.net/registration to learn more and begin the enrollment process online.
School Safety
In monthly communications, CMCSS has been providing updates and reminders regarding school safety. In this last month of school, our community faced several concerns with social media threats and “swatting.” Although these are terrible situations that CMCSS and school systems across the nation have been facing for years, the number of threats occurring over a few days and in the wake of the tragedy at the Covenant School in Nashville created even more fear and anxiety in our community. School safety will always be our top priority, and we appreciate our strong collaboration with law enforcement and partnership with families to help make our schools and communities safe. Please see below for a reminder and two updates:
- School Safety Hub: Last summer, CMCSS launched the School Safety Hub. This online resource for families provides important information about CMCSS’ safety and security measures. CMCSS does not publicly advertise its complete plan to ensure that those who wish to do harm do not have access to the information, but the School Safety Hub provides an overview of protocols and practices. We encourage all families to review the information and resources on the School Safety Hub. The Active Threat tab on the top left provides families with information and a video on the quarterly drills all CMCSS schools conduct to prepare in the event of an active threat on campus.
- NEW Social Media Lawsuit: This week, the Frantz Law Group, APLC, working with Lewis Thomason, P.C. in Tennessee, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of CMCSS for the damages and growing mental health crisis among students that have been caused by social media companies. Over the past few years, CMCSS has experienced a rise in mental health issues, threats of school violence, cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and other challenges, damages, and disruptions linked to students’ use of social media and the lack of protections, controls, and cooperation by social media companies. Without cooperation and support from social media companies, CMCSS has been fighting an uphill battle. It is time for social media companies to be held accountable for the lack of monitors, controls, and cooperation to protect children and our society, and CMCSS appreciates the partnership with the Frantz Law group to do that. We will keep families updated as the litigation progresses.
- NEW Weapons Detection Pilot: A team from CMCSS and MCSO conducted a metal detector feasibility study. The team studied the research and best practices; types of metal detectors and new technologies; practices of other school districts; and the costs and logistics for implementing metal detectors. Through this research, MCSO and CMCSS leaders are planning a pilot for Evolv technologies. Unlike metal detectors, wanding, and other traditional solutions, Evolv offers an innovative and accelerated approach to physical security screening and weapons detection through enhanced sensors and artificial intelligence (AI). Sheriff Fuson is committed to partnering with CMCSS to proactively enhance layers of security, and MCSO has established funding for a pilot program for mobile units that can be piloted at multiple campuses to determine logistics and feasibility with various building and campus layouts. As details are confirmed about where, when, and how the pilot will be implemented, CMCSS will share information directly with families.

CMCSS Administrative Appointments Announced in April 2023
The following administrative announcements were made on Friday, April 27, 2023.
Glenellen Elementary School Principal
Abby Binkley has been appointed the principal of Glenellen Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year. She currently serves as the principal of Minglewood Elementary School. Previous administrative experience includes serving as an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary, assistant principal at Glenellen Elementary, the Executive Director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation, and an assistant principal at Northeast High. Binkley has nine years of teaching experience in CMCSS at Rossview High, Rossview Elementary, and West Creek Elementary schools. She is a graduate of Leadership Middle Tennessee and Leadership Clarksville. Binkley completed the CMCSS Leadership Class Series, Aspiring Administrators Academy, and McREL Balanced Leadership training. She earned her M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Bethel University and B.S. in education from Kennesaw State University.
Minglewood Elementary School Principal
Emily Clark has been appointed the principal of Minglewood Elementary School for the 2023-2024 school year. She currently serves as the principal of Glenellen Elementary School. Previously, she served as the principal of Norman Smith Elementary for five years and as an assistant principal at the school for three years. She began her career in CMCSS in 2009 as a teacher and has taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades at Sango, Rossview, and Barkers Mill elementary schools. She earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University and B.A. in Elementary Education from Oakland City University in Indiana.
Kirkwood and Rossview Middle Schools Split-Position Assistant Principal
Dr. Lauren McCurdy has been selected as an assistant principal at Kirkwood and Rossview middle schools for the 2023-2024 school year. Currently, she serves as an assistant principal at Rossview High School. She has 15 years of teaching experience at Rossview High and in Trigg County. Dr. McCurdy has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles, and she graduated from the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy in 2019. She earned her Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice, Ed.S. in Accountability and Instructional Leadership, and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University and her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
CMCSS made the following administrative appointments on April 15, 2023.
Employee Relations Specialist
Staci Sohn has been selected as the CMCSS Employee Relations Specialist, replacing Patti Koloski who was selected as the Director of Certified Employment. This ESSER-funded position assists the Chief Human Resources Officer in conducting investigations, resolving human relations problems, promoting employee morale and well-being, collecting and analyzing employee retention and recruitment data, and focusing on improving retention and employee satisfaction.
Sohn has served as the Online Professional Learning Facilitator for 10 years. She began her career in public education in 2003 and has served as a teacher, cheerleading coach, and new teacher mentor in CMCSS and Henry County Schools. Before beginning her 20-year career in public education, she was a business manager in the private sector. Sohn has earned several national trainer certifications, including Classroom Organization and Management Program (COMP) and the Ruby Payne Framework for Understanding Poverty, and is a graduate of the Learning Forward Academy. She earned her M.S. in Advanced Secondary Education from the University of Tennessee at Martin and B.A. in Spanish, Anthropology, and Business Administration from Murray State University.
Barksdale Elementary School Assistant Principal
Sabrina McAllister has been selected as an assistant principal at Barksdale Elementary School, beginning the 2023-2024 school year. Currently, she serves as an assistant principal at Pisgah Elementary School. McAllister began her career with CMCSS in 2000 as a teacher at Barksdale Elementary School, serving there for 18 years, and serving for three years as an Academic Coach at Ringgold Elementary. She has served in numerous school and district-level leadership roles, including STEM Coordinator, Site-Based Induction Specialist, Before- and After-School Program Administrator, and Camp Invention Director. She earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration and her B.A. in Education from Austin Peay State University. McAllister is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrator Academy and McREL Balanced Leadership Training.
Barkers Mill Elementary School Assistant Principal
Brock Wilee has been selected as an assistant principal at Barkers Mill Elementary School, beginning the 2023-2024 school year. He began his career with CMCSS in 2005 and has served as a 4th and 5th grade classroom teacher and health and physical education teacher at West Creek and Moore Magnet elementary schools. Over his 18 years in public education, he has served in numerous school and district-level leadership roles. Wilee was named Teacher of the Year in 2022 and won the Green Apple Award in 2006 and 2007, in addition to several other awards, honors, and grants. He earned his Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University and both his M.S. and B.S. in Health and Human Performance from Austin Peay State University.
Hazelwood Elementary School Assistant Principal
Tonilynn Mosley has been selected as an assistant principal at Hazelwood Elementary School, beginning the 2023-2024 school year. Currently, she serves as an assistant principal at Glenellen Elementary School. Previously, she served as an Academic Coach and teacher at Glenellen Elementary, beginning her career with CMCSS at the school in 2010. Mosley has served in several school, district, and state-level leadership roles, including the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network Cohort, Tennessee Department of Education K-2 Science Standards Facilitator, CMCSS STEM Externship Mentor, and CMCSS STEM Lead Teacher. Mosley was named a Teacher of the Year in 2016 and 2018 and a CMCSS Difference Maker in 2016. She earned her M.S. in Educational Leadership from Western Governor’s University and her B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies K-6 from Austin Peay State University. She is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and McREL Balanced Leadership Training.
Northeast Elementary School Assistant Principal
Eleya Robertson has been selected as an assistant principal at Northeast Elementary School, beginning the 2023-2024 school year. She has served as a Second-Grade Multi-Classroom Leader at West Creek Elementary School since 2019, leading and mentoring a team of teachers and Teacher Residents. She began her career with CMCSS in 2010 as a classroom teacher. Robertson earned her Endorsement in K-12 Special Education from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, M.S. in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State, and B.S. in Education from the University of Southern Illinois.
Rossview Elementary and Oakland Elementary Schools Split-Position Assistant Principal
Molly Willis has been selected as a split-position assistant principal at Rossview and Oakland elementary schools, beginning the 2023-2024 school year. She entered school leadership in 2016 and has served as an assistant principal at Moore Magnet and Hazelwood elementary schools. Willis began her career in public education in 2005 and has served as an academic coach, K-6 teacher, and RTI Coordinator in schools in Kentucky and Tennessee. Willis completed the Instructional Leadership License Program from Bethel University, and she earned both an M.A. and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Oakland City University in Indiana.
Sango Elementary School Assistant Principal
Wimberly (Katie) Hackett has been selected as an assistant principal at Sango Elementary School, beginning the 2023-2024 school year. She has served as an Academic Coach at Sango Elementary since 2020. Hackett began her career with CMCSS in 2009 and has served as a classroom teacher and visual arts teacher at Barkers Mill and Carmel elementary schools. She has served in numerous school- and district-level curriculum and instruction leadership roles. She earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership, B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, and A.S. in Liberal Studies from Austin Peay State University. Hackett is currently completing the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy.