Dr. Victoria Shields has been named principal of Mitchell-Neilson Elementary beginning in the 2021-22 school year. Shields joins Murfreesboro City Schools with over ten years of experience in school administrator roles.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Shields to our team,” says Dr. Trey Duke, Director of Murfreesboro City Schools. “She is incredibly qualified and has the vision and experience to lead Mitchell-Neilson Elementary.”

Shields received her Education Specialist and Doctorate of Education in Administration and Supervision from Union University and received her Masters of Education from the University of Memphis.

“I feel blessed by this new opportunity to serve as a principal in the community where I live,” says Shields. “I look forward to working with the Mitchell-Neilson team and celebrating the student successes while we purposely focus on the needs of the whole child. Mitchell-Neilson has a rich history in our community, and I want to honor that legacy and the partnerships that have helped the school succeed.”

As a principal, Shields has worked to increase proficiency of English Language Students and students with disabilities. She has successfully implemented professional learning communities and incorporated differentiated professional development plans to allow teachers to present best practices.

Shields is a member of the Southern Association of Secondary School Leaders, Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Sigma Theta.

Mitchell-Neilson was recently selected by The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project (TBSP) as a Model of Demonstration School – School of Recognition for Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B). The school enrolls over 400 students and is located on the corner of Clark and Jones Boulevard.

Dr. Shields will assume her position in July. Murfreesboro City Schools is an exemplary school district of thirteen schools committed to the academic and personal success of each child.

Murfreesboro City Schools Director Dr. Trey Duke is proud to announce the appointment of Natalie Hardiman as Principal of Reeves-Rogers Elementary beginning in the 2021-22 school year.

Hardiman currently serves as the Assistant Principal of the school. Hardiman has an extensive background in Murfreesboro City Schools where she began as a teacher at Cason Lane Academy in 2003. She has served in the Assistant Principal role at John Pittard, Scales and Discovery. Hardiman has wide-ranging experience working with children, parents and teachers including serving as past president and membership chair for Murfreesboro Education Association (MEA).

“Ms. Hardiman is an enthusiastic leader with a wealth of experience across the district,” says Dr. Trey Duke. “She is entrenched in the Murfreesboro community and understands the needs of our students at Reeves-Rogers.”

Hardiman received her Education Specialist Degree from MTSU with an emphasis in Administration and Supervision. She received her Masters in Education in Integrating Technology in the Classroom from Walden University.

“I am extremely excited to become the principal at Reeves-Rogers,” says Hardiman. “I have gained so much knowledge from the principals that I have had the privilege of serving with in the past. I look forward to taking my experiences and bringing the best to Reeves-Rogers.”

Additionally, Hardiman was named as Cason Lane Teacher of the Year in 2012 and as MEA Teacher of the Year in 2008 and 2010. Hardiman began her career with MCS at Northfield Elementary.

Reeves-Rogers was recently selected by The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project (TBSP) as a Model of Demonstration School – Gold Level for Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B). The school enrolls approximately 400 students and is located on Greenland Drive.

Dr. Trey Duke is proud to welcome Ynetia Avant Campbell back to Murfreesboro City Schools as Principal of Northfield Elementary.

Campbell joins Northfield with ten years of experience as a principal and assistant principal and 12 years of experience in the classroom where she was named Teacher of the Year and MEA Distinguished Educator. Over her tenure, she has participated in many community and leadership opportunities including the MCS Leadership Academy and the Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Amazing Shake Committee.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Campbell back to Murfreesboro City Schools,” says Director of Schools Trey Duke. “She is a motivator who seeks excellence in the classroom and throughout the school community. Her dedication to education is apparent.”

Campbell received her Master of Education Degree in Administration and Supervision from MTSU as well as her Education Specialist Degree. She is an active member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

“I am honored to have been selected as the new principal for Northfield Elementary,” says Campbell. “Northfield has a reputation for strong community and parent involvement. I look forward to embracing the school traditions and working with this extraordinary group of teachers.”

Northfield currently enrolls around 800 students in pre-K through 6th grade. The school was recently selected by The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project (TBSP) as a Model of Demonstration School – Gold Level for Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B).

Murfreesboro City Schools Director Dr. Trey Duke is proud to announce the appointment of Mrs. Sia Phillips as Principal for Salem Elementary.

Phillips has served as Assistant Principal and as the Interim Principal at Salem Elementary since the school’s opening in 2019. In addition to her past leadership roles at Discovery and Reeves-Rogers, Phillips has an extensive background working with children including positions as an academic coach, English as Second Language (ESL) and classroom teacher.

“Sia has gained the respect of the faculty, parents and student body at Salem. She has the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to continue to move Salem forward,” says Duke. “Sia is known across the district as a positive leader and I am extremely pleased to see her take the role as the principal at Salem.”

Salem has one of the largest student population in the Murfreesboro City School district currently enrolling nearly 1,000 students. The opportunity for principal at Salem comes after the appointment of Duke as Director of Schools.

“I love being a part of the Salem Saints community and look forward to this new opportunity,” says Phillips. “Salem has already established a wonderful reputation for student learning and parent involvement which will only grow in the years to come. It’s a great day to be a Salem Saint.”

Phillips received her Bachelors, Masters and EdS in Curriculum and Instruction from Middle Tennessee State University.

Salem Elementary, a Murfreesboro City School, is located at 3400 Saint Bernard Way in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro City Schools is a district of thirteen schools committed to the academic and personal success of each child.

Kindergarten registration for Murfreesboro City Schools is open now through May 14 for students entering kindergarten for the 2021-22 school year. All children entering kindergarten must be five years old on or before August 15, 2021.

Families of incoming kindergartners have options for registering for the upcoming school year. Upcoming kindergarten students with siblings attending MCS can register through their existing Family Access Account.  New students without siblings in the district can complete the registration online or at their zoned school during in-person registration opportunities.  These dates may vary by school and information can be found on the school’s website.

Online registration can be accessed at Kindergarten Registration beginning Thursday, May 7th through Friday, May 14th. Simply follow the instructions on the kindergarten registration page.

Early registration allows schools to prepare for the upcoming school year. It also allows families to receive resources and updates throughout the summer.

A complete registration includes:

* Your child’s Official Birth Certificate
* Tennessee Dept. of Health Certification of Immunization
* Proof of Physical within the last year
* Verification of Your Address. This must be a current utility bill with name and address. (Example: Water, Electric, Gas).
Parents are urged to register their children online or through a paper application even if they do not have all of their required forms or certificates. Missing forms may be turned in prior to the first day of school.

Kindergarten Registration

Click here for Kindergarten flyer

“Take 20”, a 20-minute program focused on all things Murfreesboro City Schools, premiers Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m. on CityTV, City of Murfreesboro Facebook and YouTube and Murfreesboro City Schools Facebook.

The inaugural April episode with hosts Dr. Trey Duke and Ms. Maria Johnson highlights the many exciting learning opportunities happening in the schools.

The April 2021 edition features:
• Student Host Dylan Douglas and Farmer Gabby in the gardens
• Student Host Gus Golden and Music Teachers Tony Hartman and Ryan Stewart
• Student Host Elizabeth Dixon and Sheri Arnette with Tea with Ms. Sheri
• Student Guest Greyson Jones and Cindy Cliche with a math-based card game

The April episode of “Take 20” will air on Mondays at 7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Murfreesboro CityTV can be found on Comcast Channel 3 and 1094, AT&T U-verse channel 99, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV via Cablecast Screen weave, YouTube, and the City website www.murfreesborotn.gov/citytv.

“Take 20” is produced and directed by John Padgett with CityTV, and Lisa Trail and Tori Carr with MCS Communications.

Summer School will be available for MCS students currently in grades K-6. It will be held starting June 2nd through July 21st with a break on the week of July 1st through the 6th. Summer School will be held Monday – Friday from 7:30am to 12:30pm. Transportation will be available.

Summer School Frequently Asked Questions

What are the days of summer school?
June 2 through July 21 with a break from July 1 through 6

What are the hours of summer school?
Summer school will be 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m

Which students are eligible?
All students currently attending MCS in Kindergarten through 6th grade.

Will meals be served?
Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Will all schools host summer school?
Schools will be paired for summer school by location and student numbers.

Will summer school be offered virtually?
Summer school will be in-person learning only.

What protocols will be followed?
We will continue to follow COVID protocols including masks, class size of no more than 12, and temperature checks.

Can Pre-k students attend summer school?
Kindercamp will be offered to pre-k students in July.

Are special education students eligible for summer school?
Yes, accommodations will be provided.

Is there a cost to attend?
There is no cost to parents for a child to attend summer school.

Will ESP be available?
ESP is open around the summer school day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a fee associated with ESP. Please ask your ESP site director for more details.

Will attendance be taken?
Yes, however, we know vacations will be scheduled during this time. Don’t let this hinder you from enrollment.

Will transportation be provided?
Yes, buses will be running during summer school. A transportation form will need to be completed by parents before summer school begins.

Will grades be recorded?
No, grades will not be recorded for summer school.

What will be the focus of study for summer school?
Summer school will focus on English Language Arts and Math skills.  This will serve as an enhancer for grade level standards.

The MCS Voluntary Pre-K program is now accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year.  This program is funded by a grant for low income or at-risk children and serves four-year old children who are zoned for a city school. Children must be 4, but not yet 5 years old on August 15th, 2021 to register for pre-k. A birth certificate, proof of address, and proof of income will be collected along with a completed application during registration.

For additional information, visit the preschool page on this website or click the link below.

Pre-K

Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS) is pleased to have three controlled choice schools as options for our students and parents. Our choices include the following content focuses:
• Arts
• STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
• Leadership
These campuses are part of a strong portfolio of schools within our district.

MCS sets high academic standards for all students at each of our traditional and controlled choice schools equipping them with the knowledge and ability to succeed in high school and beyond.

Below you will find a brief description of our controlled choice schools aimed at helping you make informed decisions about whether a controlled choice school is right for your child. Please feel free to contact the school principal for additional details or visit the school website. Controlled choice enrollment is limited.

Bradley Academy – Arts Integrated School
Bradley Academy is recognized for excellence in arts — creative writing, drama, instrumental music, theater, visual arts and vocal music. Coupled with a strong academic program, Bradley develops both the artistic and academic talents of its students.

Hobgood Elementary – STEM School
The STEM program shows students the value of learning skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Students learn to become critical thinkers through hands-on academic experiences that involve innovative new technologies.

Mitchell-Neilson – Leadership Academy
Leader in Me is an innovative, school-wide model that increases teacher effectiveness, student engagement, and academic achievement, while preparing students to be leaders in the 21st century. The development of good habits, grounded in the values of citizenship and leadership, is a fundamental part of this philosophy.

How does the process work?
Controlled choice schools have a limited number of openings. Applications will be accepted from April 5th through April 30th.

A letter of acceptance will be mailed to students on or before May 18th. After receiving your letter of acceptance, parents must complete and return a letter of intent. The letter of intent will be part of the acceptance packet sent to parents.

Students may be admitted after the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year if space permits based on the principal’s discretion.

Please note:
• Bus transportation is not provided for students utilizing the controlled choice school out of zone.
• Students must stay in good standing with school in regards to tardies and absences.
• Students not following school policies will be reviewed for possible return to the zoned schools.
• Students will adhere to the provisions outlined in the parent handbook.
• Rising students are not guaranteed placement in a controlled choice school. School records will be reviewed.
• Parents/guardians are requested to participate in PTO or other school volunteer roles.

(Download the Choice School Application for 2021-2022)

Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS) is accepting applications for typical peer models for the Integrated Preschool Program. The MCS Integrated Preschool offers preschoolers, with and without disabilities, challenging experiences through a language-based curriculum. Peer model candidates serve as role models and helpers for students who have special needs.

Children should be 4 years old by August 15, 2021 to apply.  Peer models must have average to above average speech/language, social, and cognitive skills to be considered.

The Integrated Preschool classrooms follow a preschool curriculum emphasizing age appropriate developmental and kindergarten readiness skills. The program is a structured teaching environment where children with special needs and peer models learn together in a classroom that is staffed with one special education teacher and two education assistants. The interdisciplinary early childhood curriculum aims to synthesize research-based approaches in four domains of learning: mathematics, science, literacy, and social-emotional development.

Murfreesboro City Schools currently has 11 integrated preschool classrooms located in five schools within the city limits.

Integrated Preschool follows the school calendar and school day hours. ESP is also available for peer models. More information and applications are available at: http://www.cityschools.net/…/integrated-preschool-program.

Screenings for peer model candidates begin in March 2021.  A fee of $300 per month will be assessed for attendance as a peer model for the preschool program.

The Integrated Preschool Program is separate from the traditional preschool program offered through Murfreesboro City Schools.