The new school year is fast approaching, with DeKalb County Schools set to re-open on Thursday, August 1 for registration. Students will attend for 90 minutes (abbreviated day from 7:45 a.m. until 9:15 a.m.) to sign up at their schools.
The first full day of school will be held on Monday, August 5, while Professional Development at the individual schools will be July 29-31. Friday, August 2 will be an administrative day for teachers only. Students will not attend on Friday, August 2.
The 2024-25 DeKalb County School Calendar is as follows:
DeKalb County students and teachers will have a full week off for fall break October 14-18, Thanksgiving November 25-29, and spring break March 24-28, and a two-week winter break for Christmas from December 23 to January 3. December 20 will be an abbreviated day (7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.). Students will return to school after the Christmas holiday on January 6, 2025. Schools will also be closed for Labor Day September 2, Dr. Martin Luther King Day January 20, President’s Day February 17, Good Friday. April 18, and Monday, April 21. The last day of school will be May 23, 2025 (abbreviated 7:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.). May 22 will be an administrative day.
Report cards will be issued at all schools on October 8, December 20, January 9, March 18, and May 23. Parent teacher conferences will be held at all schools from 3-6 p.m. on October 10 and March 20.
There will be some changes in staff at some local schools after the personnel report to the Board of Education was announced at the School Board’s regular meeting last Thursday evening.
Teresa Jones, who served as assistant principal at DeKalb Middle School last year, was named as the new principal at DMS, after Caleb Shehane resigned.
Jones served 20 years as a seventh-grade science teacher at DeKalb Middle School, beginning her teaching career in 2002 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech. During the pandemic, Jones obtained a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, and was named Teacher of the Year for DMS and at the district level in 2020.
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps announced the personnel report at the meeting naming those employed. The list is as follows:
Jessica Leiser, Bookkeeper at DeKalb West School.
Hannah Bratten, Music Teacher, DeKalb Middle & DeKalb West School
Sydney Simmonds, Kindergarten teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Andrew Christian, teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Stephanie Majors, teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Brian Smith, teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Terri Kilgore, Special Education Secretary
Elizabeth James, teacher at Smithville Elementary School
Brandi O’Conner. Educational Assistant at Smithville Elementary School
Hannah Culwell, teacher at Northside Elementary School
Jennifer Sykes, teacher at DeKalb Middle School
Leave of Absence
Crystal Barnes, leave as requested
Transferred
Teresa Jones, from Assistant Principal to Principal at DeKalb Middle School
Max Patterson, Band Director
Shelia McMillen, from Special Education Secretary to teacher at DeKalb West School
Taylor Chapman, from Educational Assistant to teacher at Northside Elementary School
Brandi Womack, Bookkeeper to Educational Assistant
Resignation/Retirement
Brooklyn Shirah, gifted teacher, resigned, County-Wide
Tiffany Bjorge, Educational Assistant, resigned at Northside Elementary School
Ryan Childers, resigned, Maintenance County-Wide
Sarah Storey, teacher, resigned at Northside Elementary School
Kayla Randolph. Educational Assistant, resigned at DeKalb West School
Victoria Stanley, teacher, resigned at Smithville Elementary School
Emily Harville, teacher, resigned at Smithville Elementary School
Caleb Shehane, Principal, resigned at DeKalb Middle School.
DCHS educator Barbara Weller was granted tenure by the board.
The Board also voted to change the monthly meeting times from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the workshops from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m., on the second Thursday night of each month starting in August.
