Sumner County Schools

BHS Students Named Advocates of the Year in Washington D.C.

Incredibly inspired by the work of the Sumner County TNSTRONG Ambassadors, recently recognized as the 2022 Group Youth Advocates of the Year in Washington D.C. Join us, in congratulating Beech High School students, Nahzah Blair, Hadley Brown, Niya Angelova, and Ella Paligo. During their freshman year of high school, they started a tobacco prevention group to educate their classmates about the dangers of vaping and now serve as state representatives for the Tennessee Stop Tobacco and Revolutionize Our New Generation (TNSTRONG) Ambassador Program.

Constantly looking for new ways to connect with fellow students to promote tobacco prevention, they created their “Be a Hero, Drop Vaping to Zero” campaign and convinced 700 of their peers – as well as U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and other elected officials – to pledge to remain vape-free. In addition to their community work, they presented a universal substance abuse policy – with a focus on vaping – to the Sumner County Board of Education, which adopted the policy, and convinced the Governor to declare March as Anti-Vaping Month. As a result of their relentless efforts, they gained the sponsorship of America’s largest health insurer, United Healthcare, and their local Sumner Prevention Coalition.

“We are thrilled to honor the Sumner County TNSTRONG Ambassadors as our Group Youth Advocates of the Year,” said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “The TNSTRONG Ambassadors are making a difference in the fight for healthier, more equitable communities. They are proof that a group of young people can come together and stand up to the tobacco industry while inspiring their peers to be tobacco-free and encouraging elected officials to take action.”

Every year, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids honors a National Youth Advocate of the Year, four Individual Youth Advocates of the Year, and Group Youth Advocates of the Year. The winners receive scholarships to continue their tobacco prevention efforts and serve as youth ambassadors for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Additional information about the youth award winners can be found at tfk.org/awards and more resources and information about tobacco can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.

SCHS Teacher Shares Purple Heart with Students

It's very rare to be awarded with a Purple Heart, but Station Camp High School students got to see one thanks to their History Teacher, Drew Van Huss. During the Vietnam War, Van Huss' father was injured when his unit was ambushed. His father was one of the few survivors of that attack. Van Huss even wears his father's service jacket as he shows students the telegram his grandparents received after his father had been wounded in combat.

Van Huss is the 2021-22 Outstanding Teacher of American History by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) state chapter.

Hendersonville High School Named National Beta School of Distinction

Sumner County Schools is proud to announce that Hendersonville High School is a 2021-2022 National Beta School of Distinction. The school earned this recognition by increasing their club’s membership by at least 10% from last year.

National Beta School of Distinction is an honor for Beta clubs striving towards academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership and service to others. With an ongoing quest to instill these qualities in more students, the National Beta School of Distinction Award is designed to award those schools that show an increase in membership from the previous school year. This year, only 2,250 Beta Clubs across the country received this award.

In a congratulatory letter to the school, Bobby Hart, CEO said, “This national award speaks highly of your commitment to academic excellence and illustrates your dedication to preparing students for their future.”

Award recipients will receive a National Beta School of Distinction banner to proudly display as a symbol of their accomplishment.

About National Beta:

With more than 500,000 active members and 9,000 chapters nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. National Beta recognizes outstanding achievement, promotes character and social responsibility, encourages service involvement to school and community, and fosters leadership skills. National Junior Beta includes grades 4-8 and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12. The National Beta program offers over $300,000 annually to its Senior Beta Members. Visit betaclub.org for more information.

White House Middle School Teacher Wins $10,000 Scholarship

White House Middle School Teacher, Kristen Schillo, received a pleasant surprise this morning from Western Governors University. WGU Chancellor, Dr. Kimberly Estep, alongside WHMS Principal, Mark Mills and School Board Member, Ted Wise, presented Schillo with a $10,000 check.

Schillo has been a teacher for 15 years and teaches seventh grade science. She is working to obtain her master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Schillo beat around 600 students to win the Tenn-K Scholarship and was selected due to her impeccable academic record.

Since launching in 2013, WGU Tennessee has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships to Tennesseans.