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The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) is inviting parents and community members to a free information session focused on understanding the warning signs of drug use and abuse. Nationally recognized public speaker and advocate, Officer Jermaine Galloway, will lead attendees through “High in Plain Sight”. The session will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Reserve your seats today.

This workshop will provide attendees with the ability, knowledge, and confidence to help prevent and identify individuals who are abusing drugs and/or alcohol.  Attendees will also be taught the strategies and different terms that are consistent with alcohol and drug abuse. There are several identifiers, logos, and terms that are commonly related to drug (illegal and over-the-counter) and alcohol abuse, marijuana abuse, and drug concealment on school, home, and work property. These items, along with much more, will be discussed.

Due to the nature of the topic and the material covered, adults are welcome, but children are not permitted. The workshop will be held at West Creek High School, 1210 West Creek Coyote Trail, Clarksville. This information is beneficial to parents and family members of middle and high school students, as well as community members, business leaders, and organizations who work closely with adolescents. Limited seating is available. Use this link to reserve your seats https://tinyurl.com/tallcop26.

The district has hosted a series of successful dyslexia screening events during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years for families in the Montgomery County community. All events are held at the CMCSS Learning Center, 343 Pageant Lane, Clarksville. Dates for the 2026-27 school year will be announced in the summer of 2026.

About the Participants

• During the 2025-26 school year, 98 families participated in evening screening events while 62 families participated in daytime screening events.
• Of the 160 families served:
  • All school levels (elementary, middle, and high) were screened
  • Several out-of-district students were screened, including private, Fort Campbell, out-of-state, and homeschool students

To participate in the screening, children must be at least four years old and up to 12th grade. Students do not have to be enrolled in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. A parent or guardian must remain on-site during the screening. If the child is a CMCSS student, the screener’s results will be shared with the child’s school.

If a student has been previously screened for characteristics of dyslexia, please bring or share the information using the registration link.

Event Dates and Times

2026-27 dates will be announced soon

Additional Resources

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects reading and spelling skills at the word level. Individuals with dyslexia manifest along a spectrum, with some impacted in minor ways and others experiencing significant difficulty acquiring the ability to recognize and spell words and read with automaticity and fluency.

Click here to read the Signs of Dyslexia by Age from the National Center on Improving Literacy. 

Click here to read about understanding the definition of Dyslexia from the National Center on Improving Literacy.

Click this link to read the Dyslexia Resource Guide

Click this link to see the Screening for Characteristics of Dyslexia – Companion Guide

Why is Screening Important?

By screening for early warning indicators of characteristics of dyslexia, teachers and instructors can better pinpoint areas of concern and design support. If your child’s profile reflects characteristics of dyslexia, parents or guardians will be provided information about dyslexia, and the school will be notified of the screening data. A student does not need to be formally diagnosed with dyslexia to receive appropriate intervention. The survey-level assessments used in screening are sufficient to identify your child’s needs and plan for dyslexia-specific intervention.

How to Participate

Screenings will be held on the dates above. Families must sign up for an appointment time via the Google Form above. No walk-ins will be available. There will also be an option on the form to discuss your child’s reading data and answer questions. This will not include a screener, and the student does not have to be in attendance.

The CMCSS Special Populations Department will continue its Family Engagement Sessions for the 2025-26 school year, beginning with an overview of services. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the department will host the first event at the William O. Beach Civic Hall (350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville) from Noon to 1:15 p.m. and again from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to any family with questions regarding unique learning needs within CMCSS. Families can choose to attend three of the five topics of interest below.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT – USE THIS GOOGLE FORM

Session One: Understanding Special Education

• Special Education Eligibility: What Parents Need to Know
• IDEA vs. 504

Session Two: Supporting Learning at Home

• Building Language & Communication Skills
• Understanding Dyslexia: Signs, Supports, and Strategies
• Early Childhood Milestones: What to Expect and When

Session Three: Social-Emotional Development

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Helping Children Build Resilience and Emotional Intelligence
• Supporting Behavior at Home: Positive Strategies for Parents

Session Four: Developmental Growth

• Motor Milestones

Session Five: English Learners (EL)

• Supporting English Learners at Home and School: Language Development and Academic Success
• Understanding EL Services: What Parents Should Know

SAVE THE DATE

Two additional sessions will be held later in the year at Central Services South (1312 Highway 48, Clarksville). More information will be available soon.

Interested in reading the Special Populations Manual for families? Click here. 

You should have received information regarding the required beginning-of-the-year forms related to your student. If you have not yet submitted these forms online, please complete them as soon as possible. In addition to updating important contact and medical information for school, these annual forms are required for students to receive a laptop.

The forms are available in PowerSchool, CMCSS’ student information system. Please log in to https://powerschool.cmcss.net/ and select the “Forms” menu option. Each form must be completed. Once completed, the form will display “Submitted” with a green check on the main Forms page. If you have the PowerSchool mobile app, you can click on “More” and then choose “Forms” to access your child’s forms. 

If you need assistance with your username or password, please click the “Forgot Username or Password?” link on the PowerSchool login page. If you are still unable to access PowerSchool or need additional assistance with completing the forms, you can contact the school front office during regular school hours or email [email protected].

The Technology Department transitioned electronic forms to PowerSchool so that families can complete the forms all in one secure place. We apologize for some of the challenges with this launch, and the Technology Department has worked diligently to make improvements. Thank you, and we look forward to a great school year!

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System will host the Teach with the Best Hiring Event on Tuesday, March 25, at 4:00 p.m. Applicants who hold a current TN Teaching License or are actively pursuing a TN Teaching License are invited to attend. The event will be held at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, and interested candidates are encouraged to register for the event here.

CMCSS is looking to fill nearly 100 teaching positions at over 40 schools. While available teaching positions exist in almost every school, high-needs areas include Special Education, elementary teachers, secondary math and science, and school counselors. The complete list of openings is available at cmcss.net/best.

While at the job fair, interested applicants can meet school administrators and learn more about the school culture. From 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., attendees will have an open session to network and make connections. School administrators will host interviews from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., and principals may set up interviews on the spot.

As the district continues to grow, so will the need for dedicated high-quality teachers. In 2023, with the support of the CMCSS School Board, Montgomery County Commission, and the community, the district implemented a mid-year, 5% pay increase for all employees.

CMCSS is one of the few districts in the state with a three-year teacher induction program, offering extensive opportunities for professional development. The district also remains committed to providing a superior employee benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and other supports.

Alternative licensure opportunities may be available if you are a college graduate interested in a career with a meaningful purpose. To learn more, email Sabrina Wasan, at [email protected].

Register for the CMCSS Teacher Job Fair on March 25 and receive career-related information at cmcss.net/best.

About CMCSS

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Clarksville, Tennessee, is an award-winning, nationally recognized district with 39,500 students across 45 schools. CMCSS employs over 5,400 difference makers and has been named the “Best in State Employer” two years in a row. Clarksville continues to be a nationally-ranked community for people of all ages. It has been named the Best Place to Live in America by Money.com, one of the top three cities where millennials buy homes, and the 4th in the nation for talent attraction.

The following administrative announcements were made on August 2, 2024.

CMCSS K-12 Virtual School Assistant Principal

Benita Rene’ Keesler has been selected as the assistant principal at CMCSS K-12 Virtual School. Recently, she served as the interim assistant principal at Burt Elementary School. Previously, she served as the Academic Coach at Burt Elementary since 2018, and she taught for over a decade at the kindergarten, third-grade, and fifth-grade levels at Barkers Mill Elementary. Additionally, she has served as the Summer Learning Camp administrator at Minglewood and Carmel elementary schools and the Before and After-School Programs Administrator at Barkers Mill Elementary School. Keesler has several other professional experiences, including School-Wide Positive Behavior Plan Lead, Behavior Support Program Teacher, and Summer Literacy Program Teacher. She was named a Teacher of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Keesler is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and completed McREL Balanced Leadership for Administrators. She earned her Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision and M.A. in Elementary Education from Austin Peay State University and her B.S. in Human Resources Management from Hawaii Pacific University.

Minglewood Elementary School Assistant Principal

Alexandera-Reese Winn has been selected as an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary School. Winn has served as an Academic Coach for math and science at Kenwood Middle School since 2022. She began her career with CMCSS in 2015 and has taught all core content areas at Norman Smith Elementary School and math at Kenwood Middle School. Before entering public education, she served for nearly a decade as a solider and non-commissioned officer in the United States Army and U.S. Army Reserve. Winn has supported educators in numerous school- and district-level curriculum, instruction, and professional learning roles, including Teacher Resident Mentor, Site-Based Induction Specialist, and AVID Coach. She was awarded the Green Apple Award for teaching excellence, and she is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy. Winn is currently completing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University where she earned her Ed.S. in Accountability and Instructional Leadership. She earned her M.A.Ed. in Reading Specialist and B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University.

Montgomery Central Middle School Assistant Principal

Dr. Patrick Jesse Rhoton Colston has been selected as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central Middle School. Since 2021, he has served as an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary School. Previously, Dr. Colston served as the Student Support Coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director at Northeast High School and taught social studies at Kenwood High School and Houston County Middle School, beginning his career in public education in 2014. Dr. Colston has served as an Aspiring Administrators Program Mentor, summer school administrator, lead teacher, professional learning facilitator, and as the chair of several school-level committees. He is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and completed McREL Balanced Leadership for Administrators. Dr. Colston earned his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University, M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from Union University, and B.S. in History from Austin Peay State University.

Northeast Elementary School Assistant Principal

Michelle Cook has been selected as an assistant principal at Northeast Elementary School. Since 2020, she has served as the Academic Coach at Cumberland Heights Elementary School. Cook began her career in public education in 2013 and has served as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Norman Smith and Oakland elementary schools and as a substitute teacher in Hardin County. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2017 and was a nominee for the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success in 2024. Cook has served in numerous school-level leadership roles, including lead teacher, new teacher mentor, and summer learning camp administrator, and she has completed several national trainings and earned professional certifications, including Ayers Institute Coaching Academy, Safe Crisis Management Certification, and Kagan Cooperative Learning Training. She is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and CMCSS Teacher Leadership Academy. Cook earned her Ed.S. from Arkansas State University, M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership and Reading Intervention from Concordia University, and B.S. in Elementary Education from Southeastern Illinois College.

CMCSS is offering Open Enrollment in specific schools and grade levels with available capacity for the 2024-2025 school year. Space for Open Enrollment is limited to only the specific schools and grades listed below.

Each grade listed has a limited number of available seats. If more requests are received than available seats, a lottery drawing will be held. Open Enrollment is only open to residents of Montgomery County. Applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be accepted from Monday, March 25 through Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Please see below for the application. Completed applications should be delivered in person or mailed to the CMCSS Enrollment Center, 430 Greenwood Ave. Clarksville, TN 37040, ATTN: Director of Student Services.  This Open Enrollment process is separate from the application period for schools and programs of choice that took place January – February 2024.

2024-2025 Open Enrollment Application (STS-F023)

The application above has expired.

CMCSS Open Enrollment Policy (STS-A004)

Due to the comprehensive rezoning that changed capacities at some schools, the District had to delay the determination of open seats for Open Enrollment until spring 2024.

The CMCSS Special Populations Department will continue its Family Engagement Series on Wednesday, February 7, with the session “What’s DIDD?” The District is joined by the TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and will share the programs offered at the state level. Services include early intervention, support for children with disabilities, services to transition to independence, and behavioral health support.

This free event is open to the public, and CMCSS families are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held at the William O. Beach Civic Hall at Veterans Plaza (350 Pageant Lane, Suite 201) from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Peacock, CMCSS Director of Special Populations, at [email protected].

The first session in the series, “Understanding IDEA and Section 504,” was held in November 2023.

The Tennessee TCAP assessments (state standardized tests) will be administered in CMCSS beginning April 17, 2023.

• Students in grades 3-5 will be completing the paper-pencil version of TCAP Achievement for English Language Arts, Math, and Science.
• Students in grades 6-8 will be completing the computer-based version of the TCAP Achievement for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
• Students in high school who are currently enrolled in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English I, English II, US History, and/or Biology will be completing the computer-based version of the TCAP EOC.

State law (T.C.A. § 49-1-617) establishes that the state assessments shall comprise a percentage, between 15% and 25%, of a student’s final grade for the spring semester. In CMCSS (policy INS-A023), it is 15%. Students absent on the day of testing receive a zero, following the attendance policy for excused and unexcused absences. Makeup opportunities are provided within the testing window.

NEW this year: Tennessee state law provides all students the opportunity to request additional time for completing TCAP assessments if needed. Teachers will provide students a reminder during each subtest of the TCAP to simply raise their hand if they feel they need a few extra moments to finish. The additional time available is equal to 20% of the time allotted for the test section being completed, which is approximately 5 to 17 minutes depending on the content area and subtest. Parents may also make the request for the additional time for their student by submitting a letter of request to the principal at their child’s school by Thursday, April 6. Students who are finished with the assessment or have submitted the computer-based assessment have acknowledged they do not need the additional time.

All students have the right to meaningful access and opportunities for participation in instruction. The strategies, accessibility, and accommodations used during instruction need to also be available to the greatest extent possible for assessments. Federal and state law require all public-school students in Tennessee, regardless of background, to be included in annual summative assessments. There are no opt-out options provided for state assessments in Tennessee. Students absent on the day of testing receive a zero, following the attendance policy for excused and unexcused absences. Makeup opportunities are provided within the testing window.

For more information on the TCAP testing schedule in CMCSS, click here.

At the CMCSS School Board Study Session on Dec. 6, 2022, Chief Operations Officer Norm Brumblay presented the zoning recommendation for elementary, middle, and high school zone boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year. The recommendation was made by the CMCSS Zoning Project Team in accordance with the established guidelines:

• Ensure equitable distribution of resources according to the learning needs of all students
• Consider the proximity of students to existing schools
• Move as few students as possible
• Transport students the least distance possible
• Consider the BEP capacity and percent-utilization of existing facilities
• Allow for future growth where possible (based on Planning Commission lot and permit data)

Taking these guidelines into consideration, the Zoning Project Team made the following recommendation to the School Board:

• Elementary: no changes to elementary school zone boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Middle: no changes to middle school zone boundaries for the 2023-2024 school year.
• High: implement the high school rezoning boundaries that were approved in February 2022 with the opening of Kirkwood High School for the 2023-2024 school year. 
  • Families of students enrolled in grades 9-11 who reside at addresses affected by high school rezoning received communications in October about options. Families of current 8th-grade students cannot opt out of high school rezoning.
• Portables will be used to balance capacities across all school zones.

Click here to review the presentation from Dec. 6, 2022.

To provide feedback on this recommendation, please click here. The deadline to provide feedback is Jan. 2, 2023.

A public hearing will be held on Jan. 3, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., and a final zoning recommendation will be presented to the School Board on Jan. 17, 2023, for approval.