Discovery School at Bellwood is one of only six schools in Tennessee and 349 schools nationwide recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018.

This is the second National Blue Ribbon Award to be presented to Discovery School. Discovery School won its first National Blue Ribbon Award in 2012.

The Extended School Program (ESP) at Murfreesboro City Schools and the Murfreesboro Soccer Club have partnered to offer students a top-tier soccer experience – Strikers City Academy.  Soccer is offered through ESP as an after-school enrichment with individual and team play.  Students learn the fundamentals of the game as well as team building and cooperative skills.

The program is led by veteran soccer coach and director Erich Delfs. “To have an outlet to play a small role in nurturing a lifelong love of this game to students that might not otherwise have this opportunity is an amazing.  The Club is honored that Murfreesboro City Schools has entrusted us with that task and we are eager to make an impact.”

“The objective of the program is to enable players to learn the game of soccer in a fun, safe and stimulating environment focusing on skills to help them become proficient soccer players,” says Kandy Powers, ESP Academic Programs and Grants Coordinator.  “Adding the skill and knowledge of the Murfreesboro Soccer Club has strengthened our efforts tremendously.”

ESP enhances the school day by providing students with stimulating and enriching activities around the school hours.  ESP offers a wide range of classes including sports, music, arts, woodworking, dance, cheerleading, cooking, robotics, and many more. The program also provides homework assistance and tutoring in specific subjects.

The benefits of this partnership were clear to Murfreesboro Soccer Club’s leadership team from the start. “Anytime our club can reach beyond our programs and have an impact on the community of Murfreesboro in a way that benefits the youth of our city is a win,” says Bryan Kleparek, MSC President. “We are proud to partner with the Murfreesboro City Schools ESP program and give the youth an outlet to exercise in fun and positive way.”

Dr. Heather Knox, a MCS Gifted Coach and former fifth-grade math teacher at Northfield Elementary, was honored by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents as the Tennessee State Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

The PAEMST award is the nation’s highest honor for K-12 mathematics and science teachers. The awards program is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Each year, a national committee of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators recommends up to 108 teachers to receive PAEMST awards. Up to two teachers – mathematics or science – from each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. territories as a group, and schools operated in the United States and overseas by the Department of Defense Education Activity receives the award.

Knox received her Doctor of Education from Carson-Newman University and her Master of Education from Middle Tennessee State University. She has taught with Murfreesboro City Schools since 2012.

The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) met in Gatlinburg, TN on September 9th for their annual Awards Banquet. The 2019 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year was announced at the banquet on Sunday night. This year the honored award recipient was Dr. Linda Gilbert of Murfreesboro City Schools, representing the Mid-Cumberland region of Tennessee.
Dr. Gilbert was selected for this honor out of a distinguished group of eight Regional Superintendents of the Year, which included Dr. Brian Bell (Alcoa City), East; Mr. Steve Starnes (Greeneville City), First; Mr. Neel Durbin (Dyersburg City), Northwest; Dr. Dan Lawson (Tullahoma City), South Central; Dr. Linda Cash (Bradley County), Southeast; Mr. Warner Ross II (Hardeman County), Southwest; and Mr. Tony Boles (Macon County), Upper Cumberland Tennessee.
Dr. Gilbert earned her B.S. in Music and Elementary Education, M.A.T. in Music, and Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), followed by an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee State University. Dr. Gilbert has served as the Director of Schools in Murfreesboro since 2010. Under her leadership, the school system has seen drastic improvements, going from School Improvement II status to a state-identified Exemplary School District.
TOSS Executive Director Dr. Dale Lynch stated, “First, I want to congratulate all of this year’s Regional Superintendents of the Year. These eight directors embody outstanding leadership in each of their districts and throughout our state. A special congratulations goes out to Dr. Linda Gilbert for being chosen as the 2019 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year. She always goes above and beyond in her work, and her dedication has not gone unnoticed. It is an absolute honor to have Dr. Gilbert representing Tennessee.”
Dr. Gilbert will now submit her application for the National Superintendent of the Year sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), and she will represent the state of Tennessee at the 2019 AASA National Conference on Education in Los Angeles.

The City Schools Foundation’s annual Back to School 5k/10k Run will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018 beginning at Overall Creek Elementary. The event will begin at 7 a.m. with options to walk or run.

The 5k and 10k courses are USATF Certified and timed. Race participants will run from Overall Creek to Veterans Parkway, turn on Veterans and return via Mooreland Drive. Racers will face an uphill grade on parts of the course.  Pre-registration includes a timing chip, race bib and t-shirt.

Awards will be given for first place male and female winners per age division and based on the standard USATF shotgun start. Age division categories range from elementary through 60 plus.

The 5k/10k run is sponsored in part by Children’s Dentistry & Orthodontics; City Tile & Floor Covering, Waldron, Fann & Parsley; Franklin Synergy; Tennessee Pediatrics, Dr. Dunk Eastham; LaRoche Family Foundation; David LaRoche, Attorney at Law; Body & Face Medical Cosmetics Center; St. Thomas Rutherford; National Health Investors; Wilson Bank & Trust; and First Bank.

Early bird registration is $30 for the 5k and $35 for the 10k until August 31. Online registration ends on September 13. Sign-ups will be accepted the morning of the race for those registering before 6:30 am. Please have the registration materials filled out before arriving if registering the day of the event.  For safety reasons, no wheeled devices, strollers, or pets are allowed on the course.

For additional information or to register, visit http://www.cityschools.net/outreach/foundation or go to http:/bit.ly/b2s18.

Overall Creek is located at 429 Otter Trail, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. The City Schools Foundation raises funds that are given directly to teachers and schools in the form of parity and classroom grants to enhance science, math, technology and art programs.

Registration for the new school year begins July 24.  New students are encouraged to register before school begins at their zoned school. Returning students can update information using the Skyward Parent Portal.

School begins with a half day schedule on August 1 for students in 1st-6th grade. Kindergarten students begin on August 7 with a phase-in schedule.

All schools will host open houses on July 31 at varying times.

Please see details on your school’s website, Peachjar or the school calendar.

Murfreesboro City School’s 13th elementary school is slated to open for the 2019-20 school year. The official groundbreaking was held on Tuesday, July 17 at 5:00 p.m. The school site is located at 3275 St. Andrews Drive, just off Veterans Parkway.
The two-story school will be designed for up to 1,000 students and will utilize the same plan and general layout as Overall Creek Elementary. It will be constructed on a 25-acre campus with an estimated cost of construction at $27.8 million.
“The three schools that serve the communities west of I-24 are at capacity. So we are very, very grateful to all who are working so hard to ensure the school opens by next year,” says Dr. Linda Gilbert, Director of Schools.
This fall, a school naming committee will be appointed to seek names from the community and staff. The committee will present a slate of names to the City School Board for final approval. Until an official name is adopted, the school shall be referenced as Southwest Elementary.
A geotechnical investigation found the land suitable for geothermal heating and cooling. Overall Creek and John Pittard Elementary are also geothermal schools which save thousands of dollars each year in electric bills.
With its unique focus on pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade learning, Murfreesboro City Schools is creating a vision that embodies the highest levels of collaboration, professionalism, and excellence. The district strives to meet the needs of the whole child and is committed to the personal and academic success of each child within the district.

Dr. Linda Gilbert is proud to announce the appointment of Nina Bowie and Erin Phillips as Assistant Principals for Bradley Academy and Cason Lane Academy respectively.

Nina Bowie most recently served as the Dean of Instruction for Thurgood Marshall Middle Prep School in Cane Ridge. She has over nine years’ experience as a teacher and instructional coach in the greater Nashville area.

“Nina is committed to the whole child and is dedicated to the continued growth and development of students,” says Dr. Linda Gilbert, Director of Murfreesboro City Schools. “Her experience in numeracy and literacy will be an asset to Bradley and to the district.”

Bowie received her Master’s in Education Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University and her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Memphis. She has received certifications in Integration of Technology in the Classroom, Crisis Prevention Intervention, and Critical Friends Group Learning. Bowie also serves as a Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) evaluator.

Erin Phillips has been named Assistant Principal at Cason Lane Academy. Phillips rejoins MCS after serving two years with the Tennessee Department of Education as a South Central Reading Coach Consultant. Previously, Phillips served for eight years as a classroom teacher and Academic Coach at Hobgood Elementary.

“We are thrilled to welcome Erin back to Murfreesboro City Schools,” says Gilbert. “Her leadership skills, knowledge and personality will make her an inspiring administrator as she serves the Cason Lane community.”

Phillips received her Educational Specialist Degree (EdS), Masters and Bachelors from Middle Tennessee State University as well as her certification in Gifted Education.

These leaders will join the existing leadership team of Murfreesboro City Schools as the district moves forward in creating an environment of success for each of our 8,800 school children.

Additionally, two assistant principals, Natalie Hopkins and Sia Phillips, are transitioning to new schools this school year. The school administrative teams for the 2018-2019 school year are:

• Black Fox: Tiffany Strevel and Beverly Johnson
• Bradley: Jenny Ortiz and Nina Bowie
• Cason Lane: Shavon Davis-Louis and Erin Phillips
• Discovery: Kristina Maddux and Sia Phillips
• Erma Siegel: Emily Spencer and Crystal Farris
• Hobgood: Tammy Garrett and Quinena Bell
• John Pittard: Adam Bryson and Christy Robinson
• Mitchell-Neilson: Robin Newell, Terrance Haynes, and Christa Campbell
• Northfield: Gene Loyd and Julia Williams
• Overall Creek: Don Bartch and Raeshon Torres
• Reeves-Rogers: Cherrye Robertson and Natalie Hopkins
• Scales: Maria Johnson and Kevin Templeton

Registration is now open for the Back to School 5k/10k Dash scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 beginning at Overall Creek Elementary.  The certified run, sponsored by The City Schools Foundation, will begin at 7 a.m. with options to compete in either the 5k walk/run category or the 10k run only category.

The USATF certified course starts and finishes at Overall Creek Elementary School. 5K Race participants will run from Overall Creek to the predominantly flat Veterans Parkway and back. 10K participants will begin at the same point and will continue the run-on Mooreland Lane.

The rate to participate in the race is $30 (5k) and $35 (10k) until Sept. 1.

To register or sponsor the Back to School Dash, access the RunSignUp link by visiting Back to School Dash. Once registered, participants will receive a timing chip, race bib and t-shirt.

The MCS Nutrition Department will sponsor the Summer Food Service Program at twenty-four locations from May 29-July 27.

In addition to designated school cafeterias, Patterson Park, The Den Community Center and Discovery Center will serve as summer feeding sites for breakfast and lunch. The CHOW buses will act as mobile dining rooms and serve meals to areas of Murfreesboro that are not in walking distance of a permanent site. The summer food program provides easy access to healthy and nutritious meals for students age 18 and under during the summer break.

“The school year isn’t the only time children get hungry,” says Sandy Scheele, nutrition supervisor for Murfreesboro City Schools. “The summer food service program allows us to effectively reach our students all year.”

This will be the fourth-year meals are provided via the CHOW Buses and the 16^th year for the MCS Summer Food Service Program. The program will run May 29 through July 27.  For a complete list of participating locations, dates and times of meals, click the link below.

2018 CHOW Summer Feeding

Children do not have to register in advance, simply stop by one of the locations at the designated times to enjoy a healthy meal.  Murfreesboro City Schools is a district of twelve schools committed to the academic and personal success of each child.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services administers the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Free meals will be available to children 18 years of age and under without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap.