Posted in High School:

The following Point of Pride awards were presented by the CMCSS School Board during the August 2026 formal meeting.

2026 Middle School Track State Championship

At the 2026 Middle School Track State Championship, district athletes earned 2nd Place in the 4x200m relay. The team included:

Christina Webb, Coach
Morgan Chapman, Kenwood Middle School
Sadie Pegram, Montgomery Central Middle School
Acquese Marshall, New Providence Middle School
Jazaniya Price, Northeast Middle School

2026 High School Track State Championship

At the 2026 High School Track State Championship, district athletes earned top honors in several categories. The team included:

Marie Jones, TSSAA Class AAA State Track, 4th Place in Discus, Kenwood High School
Avery Young, TSSAA Class AA State Track, 2nd Place in Boys 3200 Meter, Montgomery Central High School
Gabrielle Taylor, TSSAA Class AAA State Track, 4th Place in Girls Triple Jump, Northwest High School

2026 High School Girls’ Flag Football State Championship

(not pictured)

West Creek High School was named a State Finalist and Region 7 Champions during the 2026 High School Girls’ Flag Football State Championship. The team includes:

Brooklynn Adams
MJ Anthony
Nahliyani Beasley
Mariana Bowen
Abby Card
Lynnda Cassady
Savannah Clark
Nicole Cushionberry
Deja Franklin
Samantha Franklin
Aaliyah Godfrey
Di’Anna Hudson
Marlie LaFrenier
Bella Laurin
Irelynn Laurin
E’rion Little
Aubrey McRae
Caitlyn Mercado
Lewiana Merriweather
Alexis Mock
Charlene Nunn
Kori Redding
Alyssandra Rodriguez
Lyssandra Rodriguez
Jayla Simpson
Ke’Aanna Wysinger
Savannah Yacopino
Aaron King, Coach

2026 National Junior Classical League Convention

In July, Kirkwood High School students attended the National Junior Classical League Convention at Indiana University and placed in several categories.

David Lee
1st Place – Latin Literature
2nd Place – Classical Art
3rd Place – Greek Life and Literature

Ekaterina Oelgoetz
1st Place – Pottery

The CMCSS School Board announced the following Points of Pride for students, faculty, and staff during the March 2026 formal board meeting.

MONTGOMERY CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Montgomery Central Middle School’s Cheerleading Team was a finalist at the 2026 UCA National Cheerleading Championship in the Large Junior High Intermediate Division.

Student-Athletes:
Olivia French
E’lajah Haley
Abagail Leo
Layla Lewis
Amber Neblett
Allyssa Jurecki
Ryleigh Hatmaker
Jenna Caudle
Ashlyn Chambers
Eliza Henley
Hayden Allen
Audrina Aull
Baylee Cilk
Paisleigh Hill
Cady Perry
Caroline Rasch
Sadie Shawver
Ava Walter

Coaches:
Leah Dillard
Carrie Britt

KENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

The Kenwood High School Robotics Team earned First Place at the 2026 7th Brigade Robotics Championship and Third Place overall at the State Robotics Championship.

Cadets:
Tianlee Zhao
Marlyne Petit
Saolong Zhao
Khyson Gray
Coach:
LTC (Ret) Hugo Jackson

WEST CREEK HIGH SCHOOL

The West Creek High School JROTC Marksmanship Team was the first-place champions at the 2026 Tennessee State High School Three-Position (3 Par) Air Rifle Championship.

Cadets:
Brentney Armstrong, 3rd Place
Gwenyth Barham, 5th Place
Ariel Gutierrez, 2nd Place
Neela Romero, 4th Place

Coach:
SFC (Ret) Joe Slate

The following Clarksville High, Kirkwood High, Montgomery Central High, Northwest, Rossview, and West Creek High schools student-athletes placed at the TSSAA Wrestling State Championship.

CLARKSVILLE HIGH
Boys Individuals:
Aiden Rowe – 3rd Place Boys 132

Girls Team:
2nd Place – 2026 TSSAA Girls Dual Wrestling State Championship
2nd Place – 2026 TSSAA Girls Individual Wrestling State Championship

Team Members:
Alaih’la Allen
Madylyn Carlyle
Macy Dallefeld
Jazzlyn Deghost
Amber Dufour
Kalei Durham
Alexandra Erb
Mya Erminelli
Millie Hoback
Ciara Hoye
Emma Husser
Ava Johnson
Sally Johnson
Chloe Kemmerlin
Alyssa Michalenko
Elisabeth Nelson
Elizabeth Nelson
Lacore Obermuller
Valeria Ortiz
Tatiana Pena-Corona
Shianne Phelan
Angel Robles
Allison Velasco
Evelin Velasco
Luvleigh Watkins
Saniya Whiteside
Ava Ziegler

Coaches:
Doug Badon
David Johnson
Shaun Manhollan
Cole McCartney
Colleen Powers
Santonya Ransom

Individuals:
Sally Johnson – 1st Place State Champion Girls 165
Alexandra Erb – 2nd Place Girls 100
Tatiana Pena-Corona – 2nd Place Girls 114
Ava Johnson – 2nd Place Girls 145
Emma Husser – 3rd Place Girls 152
Kalei Durham – 5th Place Girls 185
Chloe Kemmerlin – 6th Place Girls 107

(photo of Kirkwood High School not available)

KIRKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

Boys Individuals:
Luke Louzensky – 2nd Place Boys 132

Girls Individuals:
Ella McKeown – 3rd Place Girls 100

(photo of Montgomery Central High School not available)

MONTGOMERY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Boys Individuals:
Wesley Sudderth – 3rd Place Boys 106
Tamarion Johnson – 2nd Place Boys 150

Girls Individuals:
Audrey Levendusky – 2nd Place Girls 152

NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

Girls Individuals:
Anjolina Rosario – 3rd Place Girls 235

ROSSVIEW HIGH SCHOOL

Girls Individuals:
Nevada Wildheart – 1st Place State Champion Girls 126

WEST CREEK HIGH SCHOOL

Girls Team:
3rd Place – 2026 TSSAA Girls Individual Wrestling State Championship

Team Members:
Darcy Aguilar
Kiara Amerson
Gabriela Barzola Rodriguez
Mariana Bowen
Emilia Contreras
Lexi Dean
Rosy Lagunas Rogel
Elizabella Laurin
Irelynn Laurin
Judy Liu
Xophie McGhee
Clarissa Miralles
Kori Redding
Mackenzi Simons
Aniyah Wakefield
Amya Everett

Coaches:
John Nikolao
Jen Binkley
Dominico Bowen
Beau Roberts
Roseanna Vaugh

Individuals:
Mariana Bowen – 1st Place State Champion Girls 138
Irelynn Laurin – 2nd Place Girls 165
Lexi Dean – 3rd Place Girls 132

Free Community Event

Saturday, February 28, 2026
Competition starts at 8:00 a.m.
Held at Kenwood High School (241 E. Pine Mountain Road)

Hosted by the Kenwood High School Black Knights Battalion, the JROTC Red River Brigade Championships will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Events will occur inside and outside of Kenwood High School, 241 E. Pine Mountain Road. This event is free and open to the public. The community is invited to watch and cheer for the cadets from all eight traditional CMCSS high schools. Cadets from Tennessee, Kentucky, and the surrounding area will be competing.

Teams will participate in Drill and Air Rifle competitions. We expect representatives from college ROTC programs will be on-site to discuss post secondary opportunities for students. An awards ceremony will be held when all events are complete. Students interested in participating in JROTC are welcome to speak with school leaders to learn more about the programs offered within CMCSS.

Cadets will participate in either Drill or Air Rifle competitions. Drill is a marching unit that performs routines based on military drills. Cadets can perform either armed or unarmed drills during competitive drill competitions. Air Rifle teams compete at varying distances in marksmanship competitions.
Students do not have to participate in JROTC to be eligible for ROTC in college. Students interested in learning more about the benefits of ROTC college programs can speak with college representatives at the event, including the University of Tennessee system, Murray State ROTC, Austin Peay State University ROTC, and more.

The annual Kiwanis Club of Clarksville Interview-a-Veteran Essay Contest is now open to CMCSS students. Students in 6th through 12th grade have the opportunity to submit an essay based on an interview with a military veteran. Submissions are due by September 26, 2025.

All essays will be reviewed and judged based on a rubric, first by CMCSS and then by the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville judges. School winners will receive a plaque and $100 cash. The Grand Division Winners will receive another $100 and a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Grand Winner, Runner-up, and Most Inspiring and Heroic winners will read a two to three-minute excerpt of their essays at the Kiwanis Awards Luncheon.

Full rules are available here for the middle school submissions. 

Full rules are available here for the high school submissions. 

The middle school prompt is, “How did (Veteran’s name) service and sacrifice inspire me?”

High school students can choose one of two prompts: “How learning from (Veteran’s name) story has shaped my perspective on leadership, service, or resilience” and “Based on interviewing (Veteran’s name) and research, how important is military preparedness in today’s modern world?”

Interested families can fill out the application form here. Be sure to include your grade and ELA or English teacher’s name on your application. Families are encouraged to work with their students to learn about the history, courage, and sacrifice of military veterans.

The district has hosted a series of successful dyslexia screening events during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years for families in the Montgomery County community. All events are held at the CMCSS Learning Center, 343 Pageant Lane, Clarksville. Dates for the 2026-27 school year will be announced in the summer of 2026.

About the Participants

• During the 2025-26 school year, 98 families participated in evening screening events while 62 families participated in daytime screening events.
• Of the 160 families served:
  • All school levels (elementary, middle, and high) were screened
  • Several out-of-district students were screened, including private, Fort Campbell, out-of-state, and homeschool students

To participate in the screening, children must be at least four years old and up to 12th grade. Students do not have to be enrolled in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. A parent or guardian must remain on-site during the screening. If the child is a CMCSS student, the screener’s results will be shared with the child’s school.

If a student has been previously screened for characteristics of dyslexia, please bring or share the information using the registration link.

Event Dates and Times

2026-27 dates will be announced soon

Additional Resources

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects reading and spelling skills at the word level. Individuals with dyslexia manifest along a spectrum, with some impacted in minor ways and others experiencing significant difficulty acquiring the ability to recognize and spell words and read with automaticity and fluency.

Click here to read the Signs of Dyslexia by Age from the National Center on Improving Literacy. 

Click here to read about understanding the definition of Dyslexia from the National Center on Improving Literacy.

Click this link to read the Dyslexia Resource Guide

Click this link to see the Screening for Characteristics of Dyslexia – Companion Guide

Why is Screening Important?

By screening for early warning indicators of characteristics of dyslexia, teachers and instructors can better pinpoint areas of concern and design support. If your child’s profile reflects characteristics of dyslexia, parents or guardians will be provided information about dyslexia, and the school will be notified of the screening data. A student does not need to be formally diagnosed with dyslexia to receive appropriate intervention. The survey-level assessments used in screening are sufficient to identify your child’s needs and plan for dyslexia-specific intervention.

How to Participate

Screenings will be held on the dates above. Families must sign up for an appointment time via the Google Form above. No walk-ins will be available. There will also be an option on the form to discuss your child’s reading data and answer questions. This will not include a screener, and the student does not have to be in attendance.

On December 19, the Tennessee Department of Education released the 2023-24 State Report Card with additional data, including school letter grades. The A-F school letter grades for Tennessee schools were implemented in 2023. School letter grades are calculated using several pieces of data, including student achievement and growth on standardized assessments, subgroup performance, and college and career readiness at the high school level. Since implementation, CMCSS has not had any schools rated at the lowest level, an F. CMCSS has continued this trend in 2023-24 and made significant improvements from 2022-23.

In CMCSS, 90% of schools received an average or better letter grade of an A, B, or C, an increase from 73% in 2022-2023. Nearly half of CMCSS schools performed in the top categories, earning an A or B, and the number of schools earning a D decreased by 64%. There were no F grades in CMCSS.

Over 30% of schools improved their letter grades from last year, including a significant 3-grade improvement at Northeast Elementary School from a D to an A, and 2-grade improvements at Montgomery Central Middle School (C to A) and Moore Magnet Elementary School (D to B).

Click here to review the Tennessee Department of Education’s School Letter Grade Dashboard. The TCAP Family Portal can be found here, and additional online education tools can be found here.

The following administrative announcements were made on July 2, 2024.

CMCSS K-12 Virtual School Principal

Keith Parker has been selected as the principal of CMCSS K-12 Virtual School. Parker has served as an assistant principal at CMCSS K-12 Virtual since the school was founded in 2021. Previously, he served for two years as the Principal at Kenwood High School and four years as an assistant principal and STEM Academy administrator at Kenwood High School. He began his teaching career with CMCSS in 2007, serving for two years as an academic coach at Kenwood High, West Creek High, and Northwest High schools and six years as a teacher at Kenwood High and West Creek Middle schools. Parker earned his M.Ed. in School Administration from Sam Houston University and his B.S. in History Education from Austin Peay State University.

Northeast High School Assistant Principals

Dr. Andrew Knowles and Dr. Lauren McCurdy have been selected as assistant principals at Northeast High School.

Dr. Knowles currently serves as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central Middle School. Previously, he served for 12 years as the Director of Instrumental Music at Northeast High School, one year as an Assistant Band Director, and two years as a substitute teacher. Dr. Knowles has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles, including CMCSS Lead Instrumental Music Teacher, Northeast High School Fine Arts Department Chair, and Accreditation Committee Chairperson. In addition to the many honors his ensembles have received over the years, he was named a Teacher of the Year in 2020, Green Apple Award recipient in 2011, 2013, and 2014, and was Northeast’s Soaring Eagle Award winner in 2005. He is a 2018 graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy. Dr. Knowles received his Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands, M.A.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from Bethel University, and a B.S. in Music Education from Austin Peay State University.

Dr. Lauren McCurdy currently serves as an assistant principal and administrator of the Academy of Media Arts and Technology at Rossview High School. She has 15 years of teaching experience at Rossview High School and in Trigg County, Kentucky. Dr. McCurdy has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles, including Freshman Capstone Coordinator, District Advisory Council Member, and CTE Professional Learning Community Leader. She is a 2019 graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy. Dr. McCurdy earned her Ed.D. in Leadership and Professional Practice, Ed.S. in Accountability and Instructional Leadership, and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University and her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

Northwest High School Assistant Principal

James A. Sensabaugh has been selected as an assistant principal at Northwest High School. Currently, he serves as an educator and Academy Lead in the West Creek High School Academy of Teaching and Learning and as an adjunct professor of education at Nashville State Community College. Sensabaugh began his career in education in 2012 as a teacher and athletics coach at Rossview High School, and he has served as an Assistant Principal of Student Culture, Associate Dean of Students, Instructional Coach, and teacher at schools in Nashville. Additionally, he served for five years as a Human Resources Specialist for the Tennessee National Guard. Sensabaugh earned his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University and B.S. in History Education from Austin Peay State University.

Join the CMCSS JROTC leadership and other representatives to discuss ROTC scholarships and how to attend a military college. Students will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions to a representative from the Army Nursing Program, a West Point graduate, and representatives from Junior Military Colleges who can provide detailed perspectives on the student experience.

Event Details:
April 2 – 3, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Central Services South (1312 Highway 48)

What is a Military College?

Senior Military Colleges

The Citadel, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, Virginia Military Institute, University of North Georgia, Norwich University

Six Senior Military Colleges (SMC) in the nation have Army ROTC programs which are part of a Corps of Cadets.

Why Choose a Senior Military College?

• Graduates of Senior Military Colleges are Cadets who will be assessed onto Active Duty upon recommendation from their Professor of Military Science, they do not have to compete nationally for Active Duty.
• Full tuition scholarships are available for those who qualify
• Paid a personal stipend of $420/month while attending class
• Paid a book allowance of $1,200 per year
• SMC’s are steeped in tradition and offer students an organized lifestyle, enhanced leadership training, and superb training facilities
• Cadets may choose to commission into the Army Reserves or the National Guard through the Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty option
• Cadets quickly take on leadership roles and experience every level of leadership from top to bottom

Military Junior Colleges

Marion Military Institute, Valley Forge Military College, Georgia Military College, New Mexico Military Institute

Only four Military Junior Colleges (MJC) offer the unique opportunity to become an Army Officer in only two years.

Why Choose a Military Junior College?

• Cadets can become an Army Officer in only two years through the MJC Early Commissioning Program (ECP)
• Full tuition scholarships are available
• Paid a book allowance of $1,200 per year
• Paid a personal stipen of $420/month while attending class
• Paid as a Cadet/E-5 in the Army Reserve or National Guard if enrolled in Simultaneous Membership Program (over $300/month)
• MJC ECP Commissioned Officers qulaify for the Education Assistance Program, which pays full tuition and fees for the remaining two years at the follow on college and degree you choose OR elect to receive $10,000/year room and board
• MJC Commissionionees earn time in service during their Junior and Senior year of college for promotions and retirement purposes
• Values and character are emphasized from day one through graudation.
• Respect for others is a key to succeeding at a MJC
• MJCs instill pride and self-confidence through team-building, promotions, and leadership roles

For more information, including schools and locations, text MCINFO to 462769 (GOARMY) or visit this website.

Presenter’s Contact Information
Glen A. Johnson
Recruiting Operations Officer
1st BDE, USACC
Cell: 270.300.7522
Office: 502.624.1904
[email protected]

STOP. DROP. FAFSA Event – January 29 – February 2
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

All CMCSS high schools will host a Stop, Drop, FAFSA event between January 29 – February 2, 2024. School leaders will help students understand the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process, answer questions regarding the application, and assist with the next steps.

Confusion surrounding the FAFSA application process is one of the most common reasons students do not fill out the forms. School leaders encourage all CMCSS Seniors to complete the application to know of any available aid. Many colleges, universities, and technical schools require completion of the FAFSA as part of the admission process, whether students qualify or not. The TN Promise requires completion of the application by April 15, 2024.

For families who may have questions or need additional assistance understanding the application process, CMCSS has several helpful resources.

There are major changes and improvements to the 2024-2025 FAFSA form. Families can find information from studentaid.gov concerning the new 2024-2025 FAFSA.

For families who may have questions or need additional assistance understanding the application process, CMCSS has several helpful resources.

Help for Families

Phone Helpline: Students can call and speak with a live person who can provide assistance regarding the application process. Live support is available by calling 931-553-1189 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on the following days: January 31, February 1, 2, 2024.

Email Helpline: Parents and students can email [email protected] where they will be connected with Becky Padgett, Leslie Parreco, and Chris Pugh for help and guidance.

Text Helpline: Students and parents can text FAFSA to 335577 to receive mobile support from “Get Schooled.” The mobile program assists students with a variety of services.

NSCC FAFSA Parent Night Info

Video Tutorials: Assistance is available from collegefortn.org with a video instructional series.

Prior to Filling out the FAFSA: How to Create an FSA ID

Antes de completar la FAFSA 2024-2025: Cómo crear una FAFSA ID

Part 1: Introduction to the 2024-2025 FAFSA Student Application

Part 2: Student Personal Circumstances

Part 3: Student Demographics

Part 4: Student Financials & Colleges

Part 5: Parent Application

Part 6: Parent Demographics

Family Webinars: Family webinars are offered every Monday night at 6:30 (CST) from January 8 to March 25, 2024. Access the webinar link here. The THEC/TSAC Outreach team will conduct a live demonstration of the 2024–25 FAFSA. If you have questions about completing the FAFSA or simply want to watch a demonstration of completing the FAFSA before tackling it yourself, please register for the Monday night that works best with your schedule.

Email Support: Families can receive support from the state FAFSA support team ([email protected]) or the CMCSS FAFSA support team ([email protected].)

TN Promise

CMCSS Seniors may be eligible to apply for the TN Promise. As explained by the TN Higher Education Commission & Student Assistance Corporation, “Tennessee resident/U.S. citizen/eligible non-citizen/students who graduate from an eligible high school, homeschool, or earn a GED/HISET (prior to 19th birthday) can receive an award at an eligible postsecondary institution toward tuition and mandatory fees after all other gift aid has been first applied.”

Several eligibility requirements apply, including:

• Students must attend mandatory meetings and participate in a mentoring program.
• College students must attend full-time and continue participating in the mentoring program.
• Students must perform 8 hours of community service prior to each term the award is received.

Learn more about eligibility requirements here.

To access the TN Promise application, click here. The deadline for seniors to apply for the TN Promise is November 1, 2023.

Resources for parents and guardians.

Student Portal