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The Collierville Connection - December 2025

Posted Date: 12/01/25 (08:00 AM)
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The Collierville Connection district newsletter with students and staff in the background banner.

December 2025 Edition

Rooted in our CS2030 mission: Empowering all students to achieve success though a comprehensive educational journey that prepares them for college, careers, and life.
 

In This Issue

  • Message from Dr. Dyer
  • What's For Lunch?
  • Important Dates
  • Teachers of the Year
  • Around the District: Events, Highlights & Happenings
  • Stay Updated
  • Collierville Cares Line
 

Message from Dr. Dyer

Dear Collierville Schools Families,

As we head toward Winter Break and wrap up the first semester, I want to take a moment to thank you—our families, staff, and community partners—for the incredible support you show every day. Your involvement makes a difference in classrooms, on athletic fields, and throughout our schools.

These next few weeks are important. Let’s finish strong by showing up, staying engaged, and making the most of every learning opportunity. Together, we can end the semester on a high note.

You’ll soon see permission forms in ParentSquare for students to take part in Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) surveys. These surveys give us valuable insight from the people who matter most—our students—so we can keep improving and building a positive school culture. Participation is voluntary, and all responses are anonymous.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s make these last few weeks count!

Sincerely, 
Dr. Russell Dyer
Director of Schools
Four smiling people pose for a photo indoors, likely at a school event.
A group of four people smile for a photo in a school hallway.
 

What's For Lunch?

Collierville Schools Menus
 

Important Dates

  • December 1-5 and 8-12, 2025: CLEP Testing (Grades 9-12)
  • December 1-5, 8-12, and 15-19, 2025: Fall TCAP Testing Block (Grades 9-12)
  • December 19, 2025: Half Day for Students
  • December 22, 2025 - January 2, 2026: Winter Break
  • January 5, 2026: Administrative Day - No School for Students
  • January 6, 2026: First Day of Second Semester
Collierville Schools Calendars
 
Banner with the text 'Teachers of the Year' in elegant script.

Collierville Schools Recognizes Teachers of the Year

The goal of the Tennessee Teacher of the Year program is to recognize and celebrate the wealth of excellent teachers that exist across the state. We applaud teachers who prioritize the needs of all children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of Tennessee students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. 

Congratulations to our 2025-26 building-level Teachers of the Year!

Bailey Station Elementary: Ashley Billions, Third Grade
Collierville Elementary: Meg Payne, Resource A
Crosswind Elementary: Kathy Hauss, Third Grade
Schilling Farms Elementary: Nakia White, Third Grade
Sycamore Elementary: Jenna Burke, K-5 STEM
Tara Oaks Elementary: Neal Asbury, Fourth Grade
Collierville Middle: Amy Shelton, Sixth Grade
West Collierville Middle: Britta Hall, Orchestra
Collierville High: Allison Collier, Social Studies

Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: school, district, region, grand division, and state in three grade bands: pre-k and elementary, middle and high school. Stay tuned for the district-level Teachers of the Year later this month!
 

Around the District: Events, Highlights & Happenings

Staying connected to what matters most in our schools—our students!
Image lists Tennessee Reward Schools for 2024-2025, with school names.

TDOE Announces Reward Schools

Collierville Schools is proud to announce that seven schools earned the distinction of being named a Reward School for the 2024-25 school year:

Bailey Station Elementary School
Collierville Elementary School
Collierville High School
Crosswind Elementary School
Schilling Farms Elementary School
Sycamore Elementary School
Tara Oaks Elementary School

Schools are recognized as a Reward School when they demonstrate high levels of performance and/or improvement in performance by meeting objectives across performance indicators and student groups, and the Reward School distinction places significant emphasis on performance and improvement across all indicators from the prior school year.
The CLEP logo features an acorn icon and the word 'CLEP' in purple.

Collierville High School Named Top 50 CLEP High School

Collierville High School has been recognized as a Top 50 CLEP® High School, a distinction awarded to the top national CLEP institutions whose students earned the highest number of college credits through CLEP exams during the 2024-25 academic year. Credits are awarded based on ACE-recommended guidelines. 

CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) is the most widely trusted credit-by-examination program, accepted by more than 3,000 colleges and universities. Students can choose from 34 CLEP subjects, with practice and preparation resources available to help them succeed.

The 2024-25 academic year marks the inaugural launch of the Top 50 CLEP High School Achievement Awards, celebrating schools that expand opportunities for students to earn college credit and achieve their educational goals. College Board is proud to recognize Collierville High School for its commitment to helping students accelerate their path to college success.
CHS is the only high school in Tennessee to receive this distinction. Congratulations, Dragons!
Two young girls smile, each holding a cupcake in a classroom setting.

Tara Oaks Elementary Turns 30!

This year marks a major milestone for Tara Oaks Elementary as it celebrates its 30th anniversary! Opened in 1995, Tara Oaks is the third oldest elementary school in Collierville, following Collierville Elementary and Crosswind. Today, it proudly serves more than 600 Tigers and continues its tradition of excellence in education and community spirit.

Join us in honoring three decades of learning, growth, and Tiger pride!
A young person smiles, wearing braces, against a science-themed background.

Shrey Arora named National Finalist in the 2025 3M Young Scientist Challenge

Shrey has been named a National Finalist in the 2025 3M Scientist Challenge for an innovative project: FreshMate – A Smart Way to Manage Expiration Dates to Reduce Food Waste. This idea was submitted while Shrey was a student at West Collierville Middle School.

As one of only 10 finalists nationwide, Shrey tackled an everyday problem and presented a creative scientific solution through a one-to-two-minute video. Entries were judged by an esteemed panel of 3M scientists and education leaders from across the country, based on creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication effectiveness.

Way to go, Shrey!
Four people pose for a photo, smiling and holding an award.

TSBA Award for Excellence; Board of Distinction

Collierville Schools proudly announces that Collierville High School has received the 2025 Award for Excellence in Education Program from the Tennessee School Boards Association. The award was presented during TSBA’s Annual Convention and recognizes innovative and impactful educational programs across the state. In addition to this achievement, the Collierville Schools Board of Education has earned the TSBA Board of Distinction designation for the first time in district history.

Children hold up letters spelling 'WE ❤️ OUR VETERANS' outdoors.

Collierville Schools Honors Our Veterans

All of our schools were filled with gratitude and respect as students and staff observed Veterans Day.

To our veterans, we salute you and thank you for your service to our country.

We are proud of our schools for creating such meaningful experiences and reminding us all of the importance of service and sacrifice.
Children in colorful costumes perform on a stage with painted backdrops.

Crosswind Performs Seussical, Jr.!

Crosswind Elementary students lit up the stage last month with their performances of Seussical, Jr.! The students brought Seussville to life and every scene was full of energy, color, and heart!

Thank you to the amazing cast, crew, and staff for all the hard work that made this production possible. And to our families and community—thank you for showing up and cheering them on!
Four children in costumes stand in a room, smiling and looking at each other.

Collierville Elementary Principals Visit

Our principals visited Collierville Elementary School last month to see the House System in action—and left with a deeper understanding of why it is so important to CES.

It’s more than just houses; it’s about the culture they build and the way they shape the identity of the school.

These visits are all about fostering connections, showing appreciation, and celebrating the incredible learning happening across our schools.

Thank you to our Little Dragons for an amazing visit. Collierville High School is the next stop for our principals!

TSSAA State Champions!

Congratulations to the Collierville High School Dance Team for being named the 2025 TSSAA Dance State Champions in Large Varsity Pom and Game Day and the Collierville Dragon Dancers for capturing the 2025 State Championship in Middle School Game Day!
 

Stay Updated

For the latest news, updates, and resources, please visit:
 
Collierville Cares Line
Career Opportunities
Collierville Schools logo with children in the background.