Roane County School District

Winter Break is Here!
Roane County Schools will resume classes on January 5th.
We hope this holiday season brings you joy, warmth, and time with loved ones. Thank you for an amazing first half of the school year – we can’t wait to see you in 2026!

We are proud to celebrate our Roane County Schools that earned an A or B letter grade from the state of Tennessee. These grades reflect strong student achievement and academic growth and are a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, and school staff. Thank you to our families and community for your continued support of our schools.

Roane County Schools' bus drivers were treated to a pancake breakfast hosted by Central Office staff and supervisors as a thank-you for their continued dedication to our students and schools.

We are proud to close out 2025 with strong results across Roane County Schools. Our district has earned an Advancing District designation and Level 5 District status, with 6 Reward Schools and 8 TVAAS Level 5 schools. Additionally, 59% of our schools received an A or B letter grade from the state. Alongside these academic achievements, our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs continue to expand meaningful pathways for students through industry certifications, apprenticeships, and workforce-ready skills. These accomplishments reflect the hard work of our students, staff, and families, and our continued commitment to academic excellence and student success.

Roane County Schools December Board Meeting Highlights 🎶 Harriman High School kicked off the evening with festive Christmas music performed by the band before the meeting began. 🇺🇸 Canaan Morrell, a student from Rockwood Middle School, did a wonderful job leading the Pledge of Allegiance. 🏅 The Roane County Anti-Drug Coalition was recognized for their impactful efforts and continued support of students across our district. 🏆 RCS Coordinated School Health team, along with supervisor Mike Barber, was recognized for receiving $8,000 from our generous partner, WellPoint, to support student wellness initiatives. ⭐ We also celebrated our Reward Schools and Letter Grades designations, recognizing the hard work of our students and staff across the district.

🌟 Half Day Dismissal Schedule 🌟 📅 Date: Friday, December 19, 2025. Please note the times for dismissal at each school.

As we move into the winter months, the decision of school closings, delays, and early dismissals are always a possibility. We send notifications in a variety of methods including phone calls, emails, text messages, Facebook and Twitter posts, website pop-ups, and news outlets. We wanted to share reminders for inclement weather days.

1. Please update phone numbers with your child’s school. Our notification system pulls from the information you share with the office; if your numbers are not correct, you may miss a notification. It is your responsibility to notify the school office if your phone number or email address change.

2. Our posts come from Roane County Schools (TN); please make sure you are viewing our posts and not Roane County in West Virginia. Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/roaneschoolstn/ and our Twitter handle is @RoaneSchoolsTN; our website is www.roaneschools.com. Any information shared on those sites is from our district.

3. Check the date of shared posts; school closures from last year are not deleted and can be mistakenly shared on social media. Please look at the original posting date of each post.

4. Notification phone calls will come from our Central Office number 865-376-5592. If you have a voicemail setup, a message will be left. A missed call from Central Office more than likely means a district-wide notification has been sent.

5. Text messages will be sent from 865-248-6100. If this number was previously blocked, text “START” to 98900 to resume receiving messages.

Roane County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Monday, December 15, 2025, due to forecasted low temperatures.

Roane County Schools is proud to celebrate Midway Elementary for presenting at the 2025 East Tennessee Federal Programs Conference! Educators from across the state attend this annual conference to learn about innovative practices that support student success, and Midway Elementary was front and center sharing their work on Grading for Growth: Unlocking the Power of Standards-Based Grading. MES teachers Chelsey Townsend, Jessica Marasco, Brittany Ruffner, and Kim Von Kaenel, along with Principal Travis Langley, led a powerful session highlighting how standards-based grading provides clearer demonstrations of learning, more accurate and equitable feedback, and stronger support for student mastery. Their presentation included practical strategies, classroom examples, and tools to help educators develop grading practices that truly reflect student progress and understanding. We are incredibly proud of these educators for representing RCS and for their dedication to practices that support growth and high levels of learning for all students. Congratulations, Midway Elementary

🌟 Spotlight on School Counselors | Roane County Schools 🌟 RCS Coordinated School Health is excited to launch a new series highlighting the incredible work of our school counselors across the district. These “Spotlight on School Counselor” features are designed to recognize their dedication, their impact, and the steady support they provide to students each day. School counselors play a vital role in shaping student success. When students have access to active and engaged counselors, they are better prepared mentally, socially, and academically—and often have a clearer plan for their future in school, career, and life. Our counselors truly are the calm in the storm, offering guidance, encouragement, and stability when students need it most. Today, we are proud to recognize Midway Elementary School Counselor, Ms. Hylene Pankey, for her unwavering commitment to her students and school community. Her heart for service and her passion for student well-being shine through in everything she does. 💚 Thank you, Ms. Pankey, for all you do for MES and Roane County Schools!

🎉 No Skip November Winners – Roane County Schools! 🎉
Congratulations to the schools that showed the most improvement in reducing unexcused absences this November:

🏫 Dyllis Springs Elementary
🏫 Harriman Middle School
🏫 Oliver Springs High School

Your dedication to attendance makes a big difference for students’ success. Keep up the great work!

🌟 Congrats to Shannon Cawood, Midway High School Principal, for being named Roane County Schools 2025–26 Principal of the Year! 🎉 Your leadership and dedication inspire students and staff every day!

🎉 Congratulations to Our Reward Schools! 🎉

Roane County Schools is proud to celebrate our schools recognized as Reward Schools, a distinction earned by demonstrating high levels of performance and improvement across key performance indicators and student groups. This honor places strong emphasis on growth and achievement across all areas from the previous school year.

👏 Congratulations to:
• Bowers Elementary
• Dyllis Springs Elementary
• Kingston Elementary
• Midway Elementary
• Midway Middle
• Oliver Springs High School

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our students, staff, and families. Your commitment to excellence continues to move Roane County Schools forward. Together, we’re building bright futures, raising expectations, and celebrating success at every level.

📱 Stay Connected with Roane County Schools!

Download the Roane County Schools App and get instant access to district news, school updates, calendars, and notifications, all in one place.

How to Download:
iPhone Users:
Open the App Store
Search Roane County Schools
Tap Get to download

Android Users:
Open the Google Play Store
Search Roane County Schools
Tap Install

Be sure to enable notifications so you never miss an update.

Stay informed. Stay connected.

Roane County Schools Thanksgiving Break Announcement

Roane County Schools will be closed for Thanksgiving Break November 24–28.
Classes will resume on Monday, December 1.

As we enter this season of gratitude, the district would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our students, families, staff, and community. Your support, hard work, and partnership make our schools stronger every day. We hope you enjoy a safe, restful, and meaningful holiday week with those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving from Roane County Schools! 🦃🍁

Roane County Schools November Board Meeting Highlights A big thank you to KES student Gram Serna-Griffis for proudly leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Gram is a 5th grader and was elected Mayor of BizTown during this year’s visit, an impressive accomplishment that reflects his leadership and character. Cindy Lockett and Corey Mashburn showcased the incredible opportunities available through our Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs. Their update highlighted the hands-on experiences, certifications, and real-world pathways that are preparing Roane County students for future careers. Roane County Schools is proud of our students and grateful for the educators who continue to expand opportunities across the district. Let’s keep celebrating growth, leadership, and innovation.

Happy Substitute Educators Day!

Today, we celebrate the incredible contributions of our substitute teachers who step in and make a difference every single day. Your flexibility, dedication, and passion help keep our schools thriving and our students learning. Thank you for everything you do!
Are you interested in becoming a substitute teacher and making an impact?
Apply here:
https://roaneschools.mysmarthire.com/jobs/

Parents: Great Opportunity!
Roane County Schools is HIRING School Bus Drivers

💰 $103.00 per day
🚌 Training provided
📅 Enjoy the same schedule as your children
(Holidays off and snow days. There’s no day like a snow day! ❄️)

Apply online today at https://roaneschools.mysmarthire.com/jobs/
Join our team and make a difference in our students’ daily journey!

Midtown Education Center welcomed Army recruiters today as they met with our GAP students to discuss career pathways and opportunities in the military after graduation.

We appreciate the recruiters for taking the time to share valuable information and help our students explore their future options.