The following was written and released as part of our Class of 2026 Graduation special publication back in May.

As students walk the line to receive their diplomas and close their chapter at Tullahoma City Schools, Dr. Catherine Stephens is in a similar situation, as the Class of 2026 commencement ceremony would be her last as Director of Schools.

Stephens began her role as Director of Schools in June 2020 and announced in October 2025 that she will be retiring in June 2026 after serving for six years.

“It’s been a joy, but what a ride to get here,” Stephens said as she thought about her journey. “I’m utterly proud of it, and now it’s time for the next adventure.”

Stephens began her career as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher at Parkway Elementary in August 1989, before moving to Texas in January 1991. While in the Houston area, she taught at two schools before assuming her first administrative role in 1997, serving as Assistant Principal at Black Elementary School. A year later, Stephens and her family would move to Tennessee, as she was a full-time instructor at Middle Tennessee State University. She returned to the elementary level in January 2000 and was the assistant principal at Bellwood Elementary School in Murfreesboro. Two years later, she was named principal at Northfield Elementary School, before leaving to take the same position at Scales Elementary School.

In July 2012, Stephens was named Associate Director of Schools for Teaching and Learning for Franklin Special Schools. Stephens said she was happy where she was at the time under the leadership of Director of Schools Dr. David Snowden, whom she praised for his impact on her as a leader, mentor, and friend.

But it was 2018 when she saw the announcement that Director of Schools for TCS, Dr. Dan Lawson, had announced his retirement after 15 years. This wasn’t the first time she saw the name “Tullahoma,” as she recalled taking summer trips and making a stop at Dairy Queen, as well as teaching future Tullahoma teachers at MTSU.

“My heart pulled, to say, almost like I felt, ‘Ooh, I should really look at Tullahoma City Schools,” she said.

However, at the time, she said she quieted her heart and said to herself, “You’re very happy here. What are you doing?”

A year passed before she felt her heart pulled again for Tullahoma when the opportunity was reopened, and this time, she knew she had to really consider it.

“I need to consider this superintendent role,” Stephens said to herself at the time. “I somewhat fought it, I researched, I read, I went to every website, every social media page, the local news, and the state-level information. I watched a year’s worth of board meetings as I was really reflecting and evaluating, and I kept feeling this call.”

Before she continued her story, she shared that she does a “word of the year,” where at the start of the year she really reflects on a word and goes out to live it out.

“It’s not a New Year’s resolution, it’s a word,” Stephens explained. “In 2019, my word was ‘ready.’”

Going back to the end of 2019, as she was researching the role of TCS Superintendent, she said her word of the year “ready” was probably her least favorite in the years she was doing it.

“It’s not really a magical word like transform, inspire, joy, cherish, peace,” Stephens said.

By December 2019, Stephens was at the Tennessee School Board Association Prospective Superintendent Academy, where she was to be interviewed by three retired superintendents, simulating what a board interview would be.

“This is part of what we have to do to pass this academy,” Stephens recalled. “In that interview, the first person says to me, ‘We’ve looked at your resume. Why on earth aren’t you a superintendent?’ And my first response was I’m very happy where I am, and I have not necessarily found that right thing, so there you have it.”

After the interview, Stephens said one of the gentlemen, who was from West Tennessee, asked her if she knew that there were openings.

“Of course, I did know that because I had been doing my research and work,” Stephens said she told herself at the moment. “I just said, ‘Yes, sir, and one is calling to my heart.’’

“I hope it’s Tullahoma City Schools,” he said to Stephens

Stephens was stunned, as she didn’t know him or the other two retired superintendents talking to her, and he was talking to someone who was already thinking about that role.

The other gentleman, also from West Tennessee, named George, who sat at the center, spoke to her at the end of the interview.

“You’ve certainly passed,” George said to Stephens. “Dr. Cat, I want you to listen to me for just a minute.”

“Yes, sir,” Stephens said in response.

“I want you to really focus,” George said. “You are ready.”

Stephens was overcome with emotion at the moment, but kept it together long enough to get back to the car to call her husband. It was then she burst into tears as she called him because she knew then what the word “ready” was about.

“I am ready,” Stephens said. “I am ready.”

Stephens said she visited with people in Tullahoma, ate at a local restaurant, and asked about the schools. She said this was when she knew she was being called to pursue and apply.

The interview process for the TCS superintendent was a “very arduous process” and something Stephens had not experienced before. She spent the entire day doing four interviews at schools in the morning, had lunch with school board members, and did three other interviews at schools in the afternoon. She added that for the afternoon interviews, she would get mic’d up as it was going to be recorded for people in the school system.

“It was quite overwhelming, and when I left that night. I was utterly drained and exhausted,” Stephen recalled. “I had no doubt in my mind that this was home for me, and this was where I was supposed to come.”

When she got home, she told her husband that she needed a 7-0 vote, and her husband just chuckled.

“Okay, so you’re a perfect stranger, and there’s a board of seven, and there’s several candidates who have interviewed, but you believe the only way you come is if you get a 7-0 vote,” Stephen recounted what her husband said.  

Stephens said she understood that her husband was helping her see that maybe getting the unanimous vote was a little unrealistic. Time passed, and she’s meeting with a principal in Franklin when her phone rings. She noted that before her phone rang, she got a text from her husband that said three words: You got it. She steps outside to take the call, and the call is from Pat Welsh, current school board member and then chairman of the board.

“Just wanna let you know we would really like to welcome you as the new superintendent,” Welsh said to Stephens. “I have to tell you something special. It was a 7-0 vote.”

“Mr. Welsh had no idea what I had said to my husband,” Stephens said. “No one had any idea of that, but it was just such a clear truth to this is where I was supposed to be.”

Her announcement for the job was made in March 2020, and she would sign her contract six feet apart from Welsh as the COVID-19 pandemic had hit.

“There was no welcome reception for a new superintendent,” Stephens said. “There was no get-to-know-you event because we were all, as was everybody in the world, scrambling with how do we continue to do what we’re doing, survive, serve, work. Yeah, it was an unbelievable year, but we navigated it.”

By her second year in the role, the school system had returned to attending in person, but still faced challenges along the way. However, Stephens said they were working on building strategic plans, creating student advisory groups, and doing all the work that was needed to navigate during a challenging time of uncertainty.

“I think for me, my heart and spirit since I joined as a teacher in 1989, my first year of teaching, to today, has always been students first,” Stephens said. “In all decisions, whether it was COVID-related or strategic plan-related or student advisory-related or artwork or birthday cards or visits to the schools, it was all rooted in students.”

For Stephens, putting in place and working on a strategic plan while she goes to all school events, ranging from sports to fine arts to banquets to awards, and dedicating time and investment, she knew her time in Tullahoma would be the final stop for her.

“I knew I would not be here for many years,” Stephens said. “I wanted to ensure there was a strategic plan in place and set and being worked on. That was a big goal.”

Another goal for Stephens was shaping or influencing the mindset of what students-first or student-centered really looked like. This first started with having students make birthday cards for employees, then displaying the students’ artwork at the central office, and having choirs perform at the central office. This would lead to the creation of the student advisory boards, where students would meet with the administration to discuss concerns and determine ways to address them.

“Part of my goal was to ensure everybody understood why this organization exists,” Stephens said. “It is to serve and support students, to ready them for the next step post high school.”

Her other goal was focused on leadership and relationships, where she was not only students first, but she was also there for the faculty and staff. The first thing she did when she got into the role was go to each school and meet with the faculty, whether it was one-on-one or in groups. Another aspect of relationships was being at all school functions and events, where she could build relationships with the families.

“It’s really powerful, the insights that you get when you just place yourself in a position to listen, and that builds trust,” Stephens said. “Relationships allow you to do that with integrity and professionalism, and with the end in mind being to do what’s right and best for students.”

With all of the school district’s accomplishments with her at the reins, as her retirement date draws closer, Stephens had a moment to reflect on the graduating class, as the Class of 2026, and the students entering middle school, were her first group of students as superintendent.

“This is a very special group to me,” Stephens said as she fought back tears. “They were my eighth graders. Knowing them in middle school and watching them walk through that journey to graduation is powerful. They lost so much, and this class is spectacular. You have so many state-level accolades, whether it’s state-level competitions athletically, artistically, or musically. It’s unbelievable what they’ve accomplished.”

As for what she wanted to say to students, she said she is a champion of students, and she will continue to do so.

“My role isn’t right here, but it’s here in Tullahoma,” Stephens said. “Our relationship alters, shifts, but it doesn’t go away. The care and compassion and the belief in student success doesn’t go away.”

As for any parting words to the upcoming superintendent, Dr. April Norris, as well as other superintendents, Stephens’ advice was to remain grounded in their beliefs, their philosophy and focus on students first.

Stephens then decided to share a letter for the next superintendent 25 years from now, as part of the 50^th anniversary of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, where attendees wrote letters and put them in a time capsule to be opened later.

Her letter reads as follows:

“Hi, friend. Let me introduce myself. I’m Dr. Catherine Stephens, the current superintendent of Tullahoma City Schools. I was named in 2020, the year of the worldwide pandemic, also known as COVID. What a journey that was.

Wow. I want you to know that I’m proud of you as you represent a long line of outstanding TCS superintendents, and you’re now a part of its rich history. Whoop. Thank you for leading in these current times. Thank you for keeping students first. Thank you for serving a community who deeply loves its schools.

While in the role, I had the opportunity to open a virtual school, Tullahoma Virtual Academy. I had the chance to build a new school and create an early learning center. I also was blessed with opening a daycare. All of these initiatives were grounded in serving students and staff. Additionally, I started student advisory groups at middle school, virtual, and high school.

Student voice matters. Remember that. They are so insightful and really honest. Keep listening to students and staff, my friend. Keep supporting students at all their events. Keep engaged with parents and community members. Lead with your heart, passion, and intellect. Lastly, take care of you. Take moments to think about all things you are grateful for.

Choose joy daily. Keep on keeping on. You rock. And remember, continue being a champion for children.”