May 2021 News

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System is proud to announce 11 schools in the district have been awarded the Tennessee Purple Star School Award. The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) Tennessee selected just eighteen schools across the state for this honor.

The Tennessee Purple Star School Award was designed to highlight military-friendly
schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to
our nation’s military.

Military-connected families make up 30-percent of the CMCSS population. Strong supports for military-connected students is a focus for the district, as well as providing resources and opportunities for students to learn about our nation’s servicemembers.

To earn the Purple Star designation, schools must have a point of contact within the school that has completed a professional development component specific to the needs of military-connected students. The school website must contain a page that provides resources for military families. The school then chooses an additional activity that aligns with the school’s population and goals. To maintain the designation, the school must reapply every two years.

The following 11 schools were recognized in 2021:

Glenellen Elementary
Hazelwood Elementary
Kenwood Middle
Moore Magnet
New Providence Middle
Oakland Elementary
Rossview Elementary
West Creek Elementary
West Creek High
West Creek Middle
Woodlawn Elementary

Children in military families experience many challenges: transfers to multiple schools,
adapting to new environments, or a parent deployed to a war zone. Military-connected
children have needs that are different from other students. This program provides families a sense of relief that their child’s unique needs will be recognized.

In 2020, CMCSS had three schools that earned the Purple Star School Award – Ringgold Elementary, Rossview Middle, and Rossview High.

CMCSS has communicated with families since last year that schools cannot eliminate the spread of COVID-19 during in-person learning, but our collective actions can help mitigate the spread. The District’s COVID-19 mitigation strategy has always been about using multiple layers to improve success, sometimes referred to as the Swiss Cheese model. For the 2021-2022 school year, CMCSS has been using the following primary mitigation layers:

• Using MERV 13 instead of MERV 9 filters in all buildings
• Increasing outdoor air ventilation
• Employing enhanced two-step cleaning throughout buildings
• Encouraging self-screening, masks, handwashing, covering sneezes, and staying home when sick for all students, employees, and visitors
• Identifying opportunities to promote physical distancing when possible in schools
• Replenishing hand sanitizing stations
• Promoting the use of personal water bottles and filling stations while water fountains are shut down
• Establishing School Health Screening Rooms
• Providing vaccination opportunities and COVID-19 testing for employees and their families at Onsite Employee Health and Wellness Clinics
• Updating and implementing the Return to School/Work Flowchart

To add more layers to CMCSS’ mitigation strategy, effective Monday, August 23, the following protocols will take effect when Montgomery County is experiencing high transmission levels:

• Modifying custodial procedures to further increase the focus on two-step cleaning throughout the day and decrease focus on other areas (window cleaning, floor buffing, etc.)
• Operating mechanical systems (HVAC) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as possible for each building’s situation to further increase filtration
• Limiting nonessential visitors from the school environment at the discretion of building administrators, to include temporarily not allowing lunchtime visitors
• Limiting indoor mass gatherings during the school day at the discretion of building administrators
• Providing masks in school buildings and on transportation for those who request one
• Increasing hand sanitizing stations in schools and on transportation

COVID-19 Exposure Response Plan

When a CMCSS student or CMCSS employee tests positive for COVID-19, they will need to notify either the school nurse (if they are a student) or their supervisor (if they are an employee). The medical office that performed the test will notify the Montgomery County Health Department for contact tracing. 

Click here for the current CMCSS Return to Work/School Flowchart developed by the CMCSS Safety and Health Department in collaboration with the Montgomery County Health Department. For the Spanish version, click here.

Events/Athletics Capacity

CMCSS will return to normal capacity for after-school events, meetings, and athletics for the 2021-2022 school year. CMCSS will continue following TSSAA’s guidelines for athletics. The district will keep families informed as guidelines are updated throughout the year.

Face Masks

Face masks are strongly encouraged for students, employees, and visitors inside buildings and on transportation. Families are encouraged to use their judgment on sending their student(s) to school with a mask and make whatever decision will be best for the health of their child(ren) or other members of their household. For more information from the CDC on the use of cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, click here. 

Self-Screening

Employees will be expected to self-screen before entering school premises.

Self-screening protocols for students and visitors will continue. Families are strongly encouraged to engage in self-screening at home prior to each school day. Click here for updated guidance from the CDC regarding screening K-12 students for symptoms of COVID-19.

Self-Screening Protocol

Have you had any of the below symptoms as a new-onset in the past 72 hours? (This does not include chronic conditions)

• fever of 100 degrees or greater
• new onset of a cough
• new onset of shortness of breath
• new onset of sore throat
• new onset of body aches
• diarrhea
• new onset of headache
• new onset of loss of taste or smell
• nausea or vomiting
• congestion or runny nose
• chills
• fatigue

If “yes”, please consult your personal health care provider before returning to any CMCSS locations. Students, employees, and visitors who are sick must follow the CMCSS Flowchart.

Water Fountains

Water fountains will be closed during the 2021-2022 school year. Water filling stations will be open where available. Students should bring their own water bottles. 

Effective June 1, 2021; Updated Aug. 20, 2021. Reviewed Dec. 13, 2021. Subject to change based on updated guidance and local, state, or national recommendations or mandates. If you have any questions or feedback on the plan, please email [email protected]. 

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System is announcing multiple administrative appointments for the 2021-2022 school year.

Moore Magnet Elementary School Principal

Kelsea Cox has been selected to serve as the principal of Moore Magnet Elementary STEM School, replacing Ptosha Maclin who will be transitioning to Carmel Elementary as the principal.
Cox has been an assistant principal at Barkers Mill Elementary School since 2016. Previously, she has served as an Academic Coach, RTI2 Specialist, and first-grade teacher at Barkers Mill, beginning her tenure with CMCSS in 2011. She has served on several local and state-level committees, including the APSU Teacher Education Council, Tennessee Teacher-Leader Network, and the TN Governor’s ELA Standards Review Committee.

She earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership and B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University. Cox completed the McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators and the CMCSS Leadership Development Class Series.

West Creek Elementary Principal

Melanie Steinlage has been selected to serve as the principal of West Creek Elementary School, replacing Lynne Rains who will be transitioning to Barkers Mill Elementary as the principal.

Steinlage has been the assistant principal at Byrns Darden Elementary School since 2018. Previously, she has served as an Academic Coach at Byrns Darden and Hazelwood elementary schools and a teacher at Hazelwood Elementary, beginning her tenure with CMCSS in 2010. She also has served as a Site-Based Induction Specialist and on several school and district-level committees.

She earned her M.S. in Educational Leadership K-12 from the University of Tennessee Martin and her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. Steinlage completed the McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators as well as several Kagan Professional Development Workshops.

Barkers Mill Elementary School Assistant Principal

Kim B. Smith has been selected to serve as an assistant principal at Barkers Mill Elementary School.

Smith has served as the assistant principal at Carmel Elementary since 2018. She has 13 years of experience in school leadership, having served as principal of Moore Magnet Elementary and assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary. Smith began her tenure with CMCSS in 1990 as a teacher at Ringgold Elementary School and also has taught at St. Bethlehem and Kenwood elementary schools. Over her 31 years in the district, Smith has earned numerous awards and recognitions, including the NCLB Highly Qualified Teacher designation, the Green Apple Award, Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award, CMCSS K-4 Teacher of the Year in both 2000 and 2005, and was a state finalist for Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

She earned both her M.A. and B.S. in education from Austin Peay State University and her administrative endorsement from Trevecca Nazarene University. Smith completed the McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators, CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy, and the CMCSS Leadership Development Class Series.

CMCSS K-12 Virtual School Assistant Principal

Danielle Head has been selected to serve as an assistant principal at CMCSS K-12 Virtual School.

Head has been serving as a Technology Integration Coach for the district since 2017. Previously, she served as a teacher at Carmel and Moore Magnet elementary schools and began her career with CMCSS in 2009 as a substitute teacher. Head has earned several national certifications, including the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and she is in the process of completing the International Society for Technology in Education Certification.

She earned her Ed.S. in Administration from Arkansas State University and her M.A. in Elementary Education and B.A. in Communications from Austin Peay State University. Head completed the McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators.

Liberty Elementary School Assistant Principal

Donna Gagliardi has been selected to serve as the assistant principal at Liberty Elementary School.

Gagliardi has been an assistant principal at Minglewood Elementary School since 2018, previously serving in a split assistant principal position between Minglewood and Ringgold elementary schools in 2017-18. Before entering school leadership, she was an Academic Coach at Ringgold and had over 20 years of teaching experience in Tennessee and Illinois. She also has served as a Site-Based Induction Specialist and on other school- and district-level curriculum, professional learning, and leadership committees. Gagliardi has earned several honors, including Ringgold Teacher of the Year nominee (2013, 2014, & 2015), Distinguished Classroom Teacher of the Year, and Disney’s American Teacher Award Semi-Finalist in 1999.

She earned her master’s in Educational Leadership from Austin Peay State University and bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Western Illinois University. Gagliardi completed the McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators and the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy.

Montgomery Central Middle School Assistant Principal

Johnathan Stoll has been selected to serve as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central Middle School.

Stoll has served as the Student Support Coordinator at New Providence Middle School since June 2018, beginning his teaching career at the school in 2013. Previously, he served as a substitute teacher for CMCSS. Stoll has participated in several school- and district-level professional learning and curriculum roles and was the district’s Eighth-Grade Science Lead Teacher. He was named the New Providence Teacher of the Year in 2017.

He earned his Ed.S. in Accountability and Instructional Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University, M.A. in Teaching from Austin Peay State University, and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Tennessee at Martin. He completed the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy, and has earned certifications in Restorative Practices and the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI).

West Creek Middle School Assistant Principal

Dale Land has been selected to serve as an assistant principal at West Creek Middle School.

Land has been the assistant principal at Liberty Elementary School since 2019. He began his career with CMCSS in 2012, and has served as an academic coach, science teacher at Kenwood Middle, and classroom teacher at Ringgold Elementary. Before coming to CMCSS, Land had a 20-year career in the United States Army as a soldier, Assistant Operations and Training Manager, and Senior Educator and Administrator.

He earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Ed.S. in Administrative Leadership from Carson-Newman University, M.A. in Teaching from Austin Peay State University, and B.S. in Criminal Justice from Troy University. Land completed the McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators, CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy, and the Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.