Monday, September 24th, 2018
I am proud to announce that Bartlett Academy, along with Bartlett High School, Bon Lin Middle, Ellendale Elementary, and Oak Elementary, were named Tennessee Reward Schools for 2018 by the State of Tennessee. I am always proud of the work my faculty and staff do everyday, and this is recognition of that work. But this didn’t just happen because of the work that goes on inside our building for seven hours a day, five days a week.
This goes back to the dream, the planning, and the commitment by Mayor Keith McDonald and the Bartlett Aldermen. This goes back to the vision of our Bartlett City Schools Board of Education and Superintendent Stephens. This goes back to the work of our District Office - Teaching and Learning, Student Services, Operations, and Finance, whose work to support our schools may go unnoticed by many, but is never unappreciated by those of us in the schools.
As principal of the Academy, I have to give much credit to the amazing faculty and staff that I have the privilege of working with each day. I happen to think they are the best, but I’m sure that every principal in every school in Bartlett would say the same thing about their own faculty and staff. I also have to recognize the tremendous support we get from our parents and the Bartlett community as a whole. They lift us up and support us in so many ways, large and small. Most importantly, they entrust us with their children everyday, and we are thankful for that. That brings me to my most important thank you, which is to my students and former students. It’s the work they do each day that makes us successful. Nothing we do as educators really matters if that doesn’t happen.
So, as a principal I get the privilege of announcing this for my school. And I have the privilege of congratulating my fellow principals at BHS, Bon Lin Middle, Ellendale, and Oak. I’m proud of the work we do at the Academy, and I’m proud of the work we do all across this district. But over and above being proud, I have an even stronger feeling of gratitude for everyone in BCS and Bartlett who works to make us successful every day.
John McDonald, Principal
