Reminder: Middle School softball open practice this Thursday for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls. Open practice will be from 5:00-7:00 at the softball field. If you have any questions please contact head coach Cody Huddleston at 931-254-2247.
Van Buren County Schools is conducting ongoing Child Find activities in accordance with state and federal law to identify, locate, and evaluate children and young adults ages 3 through 21 who may have disabilities and are in need of special education and related services.
Children eligible for services may include, but are not limited to, those with visual or hearing impairments, intellectual or physical disabilities, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, developmental delays, health impairments, autism, emotional disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.
If you are the parent or guardian of a child — or know of a child — who may qualify for special education services and is not currently receiving services, please contact:
Tonya Pettit, Director of Special Education
Van Buren County Board of Education
293 Sparta Street
Spencer, TN 38585
(931) 946-2242, Ext. 22
Van Buren County Schools conducts Child Find activities throughout the school year in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
Please see attached flier.
Children eligible for services may include, but are not limited to, those with visual or hearing impairments, intellectual or physical disabilities, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, developmental delays, health impairments, autism, emotional disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.
If you are the parent or guardian of a child — or know of a child — who may qualify for special education services and is not currently receiving services, please contact:
Tonya Pettit, Director of Special Education
Van Buren County Board of Education
293 Sparta Street
Spencer, TN 38585
(931) 946-2242, Ext. 22
Van Buren County Schools conducts Child Find activities throughout the school year in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
Please see attached flier.
Dear Families,
We want to reassure you that there is no emergency at our schools.
Our local fire departments have identified the source of the concern and have cleared the building for normal operations. We are grateful to our emergency personnel and school staff for their quick response and careful attention to the situation.
It is always better to proceed with caution when the safety of our students and staff is involved. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Schools will resume normal operations.
Thank you for your continued support
Van Buren County Schools Update
Families, please be advised that Van Buren County Schools is participating in an evacuation as a precaution due to an error with the fire alarm panel. There is no emergency at this time.
The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We will provide an update as soon as possible with additional information.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
🎉 Big news and even bigger congratulations! 🎉
Yesterday, our Director of Schools officially graduated from the Certified County Finance Officer (CCFO) Program! 🎓✨
This intensive program—developed by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury and administered by UT’s County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS)—requires completing 11 specialized courses covering budgeting, grants management, purchasing, internal controls, and governmental accounting.
Completing this rigorous coursework highlights not only her dedication to professional excellence, but also our school system's deep commitment to strong fiscal stewardship, transparency, and putting every tax dollar to work for our students and community. 💙📚
Please join us in celebrating her hard work and achievement in the comments below! 👇
#LeadershipInAction #FiscalResponsibility #ExcellenceInEducation #SchoolBoard #TennesseeEducation #ProudMoment
Yesterday, our Director of Schools officially graduated from the Certified County Finance Officer (CCFO) Program! 🎓✨
This intensive program—developed by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury and administered by UT’s County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS)—requires completing 11 specialized courses covering budgeting, grants management, purchasing, internal controls, and governmental accounting.
Completing this rigorous coursework highlights not only her dedication to professional excellence, but also our school system's deep commitment to strong fiscal stewardship, transparency, and putting every tax dollar to work for our students and community. 💙📚
Please join us in celebrating her hard work and achievement in the comments below! 👇
#LeadershipInAction #FiscalResponsibility #ExcellenceInEducation #SchoolBoard #TennesseeEducation #ProudMoment
Girls elementary basketball tryouts will be tomorrow, Tuesday the 11th from 3:00-4:30. Tryouts are open to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Pickup will be in the back by the playground. Permission slips must be turned in to be able to tryout.
Boys elementary basketball tryouts will be Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th from 3:00-4:30. Tryouts are open to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Pickup will be in the back by the playground. Permission slips must be turned in to be able to tryout.
The boys high school basketball team is hosting a back to school splash party ($10 entry) & huge team yard sale tomorrow (Sat,Aug8th) at the aux gym & baseball field! Come join us for water fun & do some shopping!
Yard Sale & bake sale 8:00-4:00
Splash party 10:00-4:00
Please read the IMPORTANT announcement regarding Van Buren County School's Afterschool Program at this link:
https://aptg.co/cgp1rZ
https://aptg.co/cgp1rZ
💛🦅 Meet Our New Assistant Principal! 🦅💛
Spencer Elementary School is excited to welcome our new Assistant Principal!
"I am honored to serve Spencer Elementary School as the new Assistant Principal. I am 36 years old, a proud husband to my wife, Hollie, and a father to two wonderful children. Hollie and I have been married for 15 years, and family is at the heart of everything I do.
As a lifelong resident of Van Buren County, I was raised in Spencer and am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that has always been home. I have proudly served Spencer Elementary School for the past nine years, and I am excited to continue my journey here in this new leadership role.
Outside of school, I enjoy sports—especially basketball—and love coaching, mentoring young people, and spending quality time with my family.
I look forward to partnering with our outstanding staff, students, families, and community as we continue building on the tradition of excellence at Spencer Elementary School. It is a privilege to serve this wonderful school, and I am excited for a fantastic year ahead!"
Spencer Elementary School is excited to welcome our new Assistant Principal!
"I am honored to serve Spencer Elementary School as the new Assistant Principal. I am 36 years old, a proud husband to my wife, Hollie, and a father to two wonderful children. Hollie and I have been married for 15 years, and family is at the heart of everything I do.
As a lifelong resident of Van Buren County, I was raised in Spencer and am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that has always been home. I have proudly served Spencer Elementary School for the past nine years, and I am excited to continue my journey here in this new leadership role.
Outside of school, I enjoy sports—especially basketball—and love coaching, mentoring young people, and spending quality time with my family.
I look forward to partnering with our outstanding staff, students, families, and community as we continue building on the tradition of excellence at Spencer Elementary School. It is a privilege to serve this wonderful school, and I am excited for a fantastic year ahead!"
Job Opening with the Ayers Foundation
Position: Student Success Coordinator
Location: Van Buren County High School
Link: https://ayersfoundationtrust.org/jobs/student-success-coordinator-van-buren-county-high-school-2/
Position: Student Success Coordinator
Location: Van Buren County High School
Link: https://ayersfoundationtrust.org/jobs/student-success-coordinator-van-buren-county-high-school-2/
Welcome to the Spencer Elementary Family, Mr. Bates!
Hello! My name is Gary Bates, and I'm very honored to have been selected to be the new principal of Spencer Elementary. I'm excited to be returning as a principal to an elementary setting. It is a role I am familiar with, having served for twelve years as the principal of a prek-6th grade elementary school. I began my career in 1991 as a fifth-grade teacher and have held many different positions over 35 years. For the last four years, I have served as an instructional coach in Bledsoe County for the middle school and high school.
I live just a few miles down the road with my wife of 35 years, two of my adult children, my mother, my mother-in-law, a dog, two cats, four ducks, six chickens, and a rooster. I'm looking forward to being part of the Spencer community and serving you. I'll see you all in August!
Hello! My name is Gary Bates, and I'm very honored to have been selected to be the new principal of Spencer Elementary. I'm excited to be returning as a principal to an elementary setting. It is a role I am familiar with, having served for twelve years as the principal of a prek-6th grade elementary school. I began my career in 1991 as a fifth-grade teacher and have held many different positions over 35 years. For the last four years, I have served as an instructional coach in Bledsoe County for the middle school and high school.
I live just a few miles down the road with my wife of 35 years, two of my adult children, my mother, my mother-in-law, a dog, two cats, four ducks, six chickens, and a rooster. I'm looking forward to being part of the Spencer community and serving you. I'll see you all in August!
High School Volleyball tryouts girls entering grades 9 through 12 for the 2026-2027 school year will be held Wednesday, May 20th from 3:15-5:00 at the auxiliary gym. If your child will be trying out, paperwork needs to be picked up in the front office and brought to the tryout. Please dress appropriately for the tryout wearing shorts, t-shirt, and tennis shoes. Knee pads are optional, but encouraged. Pickup will be at the auxiliary gym at 5 pm.
Families and Community: For those attending tonight’s VBHS Graduation Ceremony, please note that all campus traffic will be redirected via Sparta Street from the Veteran’s Square side. This will be the only open route for entry and access to designated parking areas.
This adjustment is being made to ensure the safety of our pedestrian traffic.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
We look forward to celebrating the incredible accomplishments of the VBHS Class of 2026 tonight!
This adjustment is being made to ensure the safety of our pedestrian traffic.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
We look forward to celebrating the incredible accomplishments of the VBHS Class of 2026 tonight!
Coaching Opportunities for the 2026-2027 School Year
A huge thank you to our Energy Champions, Angie Bouldin at Spencer Elementary School and Rachel Sparkman at Van Buren County High School, along with our outstanding partners at TVA, for helping secure $10,000 grants for each school through the TVA School Uplift Program. Grants like these play a vital role in improving our facilities and creating better learning environments for our students and staff. We appreciate everyone who helped make this opportunity possible!
Van Buren County Board of Education will have a work session on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 5:30pm.
REMINDER
Middle School girls basketball tryouts will be tomorrow, Monday May 11th, 3:00 to 4:30 at the auxiliary gym. Tryouts are for girls who will be in 6th-8th grade next year. The girls will need to wait on Coach Roberts in the high school gym, so everyone can walk over together.
REMINDER
High school girls basketball tryouts will be tomorrow, Monday, May 11th from 3:00 to 4:30 in the high school gym.
High school girls basketball tryouts will be Monday, May 11th from 3:00 to 4:30 in the high school gym.