In 2024, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation requiring firearm safety instruction in schools, outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated §49-6-1016. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, all Tennessee school districts, including Van Buren County Schools, will provide annual, age-appropriate instruction on firearm safety for students in grades K–12.
During September Eagle Encounters at SES and VBHS, students will be learning about Firearm Safety from our SRO’s Officer Brent and Officer Clint, Chief Garing, Devin Simmons with Fall Creek Falls, Kyle Walling with TWRA, and Trooper Whitson.
We’re also partnering with Be SMART, a national campaign that promotes safe firearm storage and helps adults have important conversations to keep kids safe — not just at home, but also at friends’ houses, babysitters, and other places children visit.
Look for a Be SMART postcard coming home in the upcoming weeks. You can learn more about firearm safety and how to keep kids safe at Be SMART for Kids.
Plus, the Tennessee Be SMART Team is offering free virtual webinars all year to share helpful info, strategies, and ways to talk about safe firearm storage with others. Interested? Sign up here: bit.ly/45E2zP0
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our children safe!
Today we celebrate Coach Baker — a true difference-maker at Van Buren County Schools! His positivity is contagious, and his willingness to go above and beyond never goes unnoticed.
Whether he’s serving as our Behavior Specialist, PE teacher, coach, leader, or even stepping in as a handyman, Coach Baker wears many hats and does it all with a smile. His ability to connect with students, staff, and parents creates an environment where everyone feels supported and valued.
Our students look up to him as a role model both inside and outside the classroom, and we are so grateful for the impact he makes every single day. 💛🦅
#StaffSpotlightSunday #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
We are so proud to shine a light on one of our very own Spencer Elementary students, Bailee Meyer, who recently completed the 2025 Tennessee Kids Serve Summer Challenge.💛
She dedicated part of her summer to giving back and serving others—showing what it truly means to have a heart for kindness and community. 🫶💐
The challenge, open to rising K–6th grade students across Tennessee, ran from June 1 to August 1, encouraging kids to make a difference while on summer break. And she did just that! 👏💪
Way to go, Bailee—you’ve made Spencer Elementary and all of Van Buren County proud! 🦅💛 #SaturdayStudentSpotlight #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities #ServiceWithHeart
Together, we can raise awareness and remind our students, families, and community that YOU MATTER. 💪✨
📅 VBHS Events
✔️ Monday 9/8: You Matter Monday
✔️ Tuesday 9/9: Teal & Purple Tuesday
✔️ Wednesday 9/10: Talkin’ with TSPN (Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network)
✔️ Thursday 9/11: Chalk the Walk with Dept. of Health
📅 SES Events
✔️ Monday–Thursday: Heart Cart with Mrs. Crystal Owens, School Social Worker
🫶 Research shows that when someone is struggling, being asked and supported in a caring way can make all the difference. Let’s take time to show kindness, listen, and support one another.
📞 988 – Call. Text. Chat.
The suicide & crisis lifeline is always available for anyone who needs help. 💛
#SuicidePreventionWeek #YouMatter #VBstrong #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
The Van Buren County Schools Family Resource Center (FRC) is working hard and helping so many families in our community! 💛🦅 We want to share some of the impact made from August 2024 – July 2025:
📌 422 visits to the FRC
📌 140 total families served
📌 70 school families served
📌 155 school children served
📌 118 pairs of shoes given away at our Back-to-School Giveaway 👟✨
The FRC is making a difference every day, in the lives of students & families in Van Buren County.💙
If you or your family need support, please reach out to Jill Bouldin, FRC Coordinator at (931)304-1099. 🤝
And if you’d like to give back, the FRC is always in need of:
🧴 Personal hygiene items
🧺 Laundry supplies
🧻 Toilet paper
Together, we can continue to lift up our students, families, and community! 💛
#FeatureFriday #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities #CommunityStrong
🌟 Thriving Thursday Spotlight 🌟
Did you know that our UT Extension Van Buren County Office is filled with Eagle Pride? 💛🦅 Every member of the team is a proud graduate of Van Buren County Schools! 🙌
✨ Chris Binkley- Agriculture Extension Agent & County Director – Class of 1993
✨ Kayla (Bouldin) Hitchcock- Administrative Support- Class of 2005
✨ Paula (Boyd) May- Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent– Class of 1996
✨ Shelby (Christian Boyer) -4-H Youth Development Extension Agent– Class of 2014
From agriculture to family & consumer sciences to 4-H youth development through, they continue to give back to our community and invest in the next generation right here at home. 💪🌱📚
We are so thankful for their hard work, dedication, and hometown heart! 💛🦅 #ThrivingThursday #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
🌟 Wayback Wednesday 🌟
✨📚 Flashing back to SES 1993 — where the memories are timeless and the smiles never fade!" 💛🦅
From pictures of young staff members (and even a school board member) to faculty just starting out their careers, these moments remind us once an eagle, always an eagle.
These young smiles might look familiar… do you recognize them?
#WaybackWednesday #VBCSchools #OnceAnEagleAlwaysAnEagle #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
Every day in school makes a difference — even missing 1 or 2 days a week can add up to weeks, months, and even years of lost learning by the time a child graduates.
At Van Buren County Schools, we believe Every Day Counts because consistent attendance builds strong learning habits, brighter futures, and lasting opportunities. 💛🦅
Let’s work together to ensure our students are present, prepared, and ready to succeed.
#AttendanceMatters #EveryDayCounts #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
Check out what’s cooking this month in our cafeterias — tasty meals to keep our students fueled for learning. 💛🦅
#VBCSchools #HealthyEagles #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
🤝 Together Tuesday: Helping Charlee Knock Out Cancer 🤝
🎗️💛 September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 💛🎗️
Van Buren County Schools is proud to support Charlee’s Fight Box project! 💪✨ SES 4th Grader Charlee Sue Everett, a brave cancer warrior in our community, is collecting items to create care packages for children and adults battling cancer.
🧸 Items can be turned in at the front office of any school or given to your child’s teacher (Spencer Elementary).
📦 Suggested donations include (Full List on Flier):
Stuffed Animals 🧸
Water Bottles 💧
Hydration Packets 🥤
Snacks 🍪
Sleeping Masks 😴
Chapstick 💄
Hand Sanitizer 🧴
Books 📚
Puzzles & Games 🧩
Fuzzy Socks 🧦
Blankets 🛏️
Slippers 👟
Gas Gift Cards 🎁
Let’s join together as a community to spread kindness, comfort, and encouragement to those in the fight. 💛
#CharleesFightBox #ChildhoodCancerAwareness #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
#VBCSchools #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
📚✨ The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Spencer Elementary! ✨📚
👉 SAVE THE DATE: September 12–19, 2025
Get your reader excited to pick out their own books and discover new favorites! From fun adventures to inspiring stories, there’s something for everyone. ❤️
💳 Don’t forget — the Book Fair eWallet makes shopping easy and cash-free. Start exploring and set up your child’s eWallet here: 👉 https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/spencerelementaryschool
Let’s make this the BEST. WEEK. EVER! 🎉
#SpencerElementary #BookFair #ReadersAreLeaders #ScholasticBookFairs
🌟 Staff Spotlight Sunday: Van Buren Voyagers on the Move! 🌟
This summer, Coordinated School Health sponsored the Hike and Hype 2025 Challenge 🥾⛰️, encouraging our school staff to get outdoors 🌞, stay active 💪, and enjoy the beauty around us 🌿🌸.
🏆 A huge shoutout to Kanden McDonald, Renee Guy, Charlotte Hart, Denise Whittenberg, Kelly Lewis, and Christy Troglen—our top hikers who each completed 8+ hikes and earned a Van Buren Voyager t-shirt 👕🎉!
✨ An extra round of applause to Renee Guy, who went above and beyond with 19 hikes—earning the title of Ultimate Van Buren Voyager! 🌟🥇
🥜 Other participants who completed at least two hikes received trail mix 🥾🥜, while those with five hikes received mini first aid kits 🚑🩹 to keep the adventure going!
👏 Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge—we hope it brought health ❤️, happiness 😊, and adventure 🌍 to your summer!
#StaffSpotlightSunday #HikeAndHype2025 #VanBurenVoyagers #HealthyAdventures #SmallSchoolBig Opportunities
This week’s spotlight shines on Bryson Locke, a proud VBHS Senior 🎓. After being in a wreck back in July, his recovery is going well, and we were so thankful to see him on campus for Senior Photos this week! 📸✨
With smiles shared alongside family and friends, it was a reminder of strength, resilience, and the support of our school community. 💛💙
Keep shining, Bryson—your senior year is going to be amazing! 🌟
#SaturdayStudentSpotlight #VBHSPride #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
LEAPs After School is back! Starting Monday, September 2, 2025, students can join us Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM for fun, learning, and enrichment activities.
For more information please contact Denise Whittenberg at 931-946-2242🌟📚✨
#LEAPsAfterSchool #LearningAndFun #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
We’re excited to spotlight Dr. Courtney (Dishman) Bennett, VBHS Class of 1992! 💙💛 Daughter of former Van Buren County Road Superintendent Willis E. Dishman and Bettye Cummings Shockley, Courtney proudly shares how the small class sizes and personal attention at Van Buren County High School laid the foundation for her future success.
That foundation led her to earn her doctorate from Carson Newman University and build an incredible 27-year career in education—from public schools to higher education.
In 2015, she launched one of the first accredited public virtual schools in Tennessee, years before online learning became mainstream. Today, she serves as Director of Virtual Learning for Warren County Schools, helping high school students graduate with opportunities to work, attend TCAT, or study at Motlow while finishing their diplomas online.
Her outstanding leadership was recognized in 2024 when she was awarded Tech & Learning Magazine’s Best Implementation of Technology in a Rural School District for the Southeast Region. She also serves on the Tennessee Educational Technology Association VLN Board and as an advisory board member for Tech & Learning Magazine. 📚💻
Outside of her career, Courtney has been married for 17 years to her husband, James Bennett (longtime Warren County High School principal and former Pioneer football coach). Together, they love traveling, golfing, and cheering on the UT Vols 🧡🏈—GBO!
Dr. Bennett’s journey is a shining example of how a strong foundation at Van Buren County Schools can lead to lifelong success. 🌟
#ThrivingThursday #VBHSAlumni #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
Throwing it back to the Spencer Elementary Marching Melodica Band from 1989–90! 🥁🎶 This group was made up of talented 5th and 6th graders who proudly represented our school.
Did you know? The 1986–87 band even had the honor of marching in the Inaugural Parade in Nashville for Governor Ned McWherter! 🎺🎉
If you look closely in this photo, you might spot a couple of familiar faces—current Van Buren High School staff members and even a 4-H leader. 👀💛💙
#WaybackWednesday #VBCSPride #SmallSchoolBigOpportunities
