Bess T Shepherd Elementary School

Please welcome Mr. Kyle Powers to the RAMily! Mr. Powers will be serving as one of our two Assistant Principals.

This year marks his 10th year in education. He has spent five years teaching 3rd grade, followed by one year serving as a Dean of Students. For the past six years, he has been at Harrison Elementary School, serving as the Assistant Principal for the last three years.

When he is not at school, he is either traveling or spending time with friends and family. He is also the author of two children's books, with his newest book being released this year. Originally from Indiana, he began his career in Ohio before moving to Tennessee in 2020. Since then, he has considered Tennessee a wonderful place to work—even if his favorite sports teams don't exactly align with the sea of Tennessee and Georgia fans around him!

We look forward to Mr. Powers supporting the incredible work already happening across the school, building meaningful relationships with students, families, and staff, and celebrating the successes of our school community.

We are grateful to have him become part of the Bess T. Shepherd school community and we look forward to a fantastic school year ahead! 🐏♥️💛

📚🎨🥳Retirement Celebration 🥳🍎💻📝

We had the honor of celebrating two incredible women who have poured their hearts into Bess T. Shepherd Elementary for so many years. 💐

Ms. Yolanda Smith, our dedicated secretary, is retiring after an incredible 30 years of service. A strong and steady presence in our front office, she has supported generations of families and staff. Though she was known for her firm approach, those who knew her best experienced her kindness, dedication, and willingness to help whenever it was needed.

Ms. Sandra Lehn, our beloved art teacher, is retiring after 15 years of inspiring creativity, imagination, and confidence in our students. Her impact will live on in every child she encouraged to express themselves through art.

We are so grateful for the love, commitment, and legacy both of these women leave behind. Bess T Shepherd is better because of them, and they will always be a part of our family. 🤎💛

Join us in wishing Ms. Lehn and Ms. Smith a happy, well-deserved retirement! 🎉 you will be missed 🐏

A huge thank you to our amazing art teacher, Ms. Lehn! 🎨💛 She has truly brought out the creativity in our students and filled our school with beautiful artwork.

As she steps into retirement, we will miss her dearly and are so grateful for the impact she’s made at Bess T. Shepherd. Wishing her all the best! 💐✨

We are so proud of our talented Bess T. Shepherd students who showcased their artwork at the 2026 We Make Festival, hosted by Art 120 at the Sculpture Fields! 🎨✨

Aurora (5th grade) displayed her beautiful piece inspired by artist Hundertwasser. Julianna and her sister Genesis also shared their creative works, inspired by The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush and a worm’s-eye view of a tree influenced by artist Georgia O’Keeffe.

A special congratulations to our award winners:
🥇 Solange – 1st Place (Elementary Division)
🥈 Chloe – 2nd Place (Elementary Division)

We are incredibly proud of all of our young artists for representing Bess T. Shepherd so well! 💙👏

What a beautiful and memorable day celebrating our 5th graders at the Bess T Shepherd’s Promotion Ceremony! 🎓✨

This day marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another as our students walked across the stage, full of pride, confidence, and excitement for what’s ahead. From awards to heartfelt speeches and proud smiles with cheering families, every moment reminded us just how special this class truly is.

We are so proud of each and every one of our students for their hard work, growth, and perseverance. You have left your mark on Bess T Shepherd, and we know you will continue to shine bright in middle school and beyond. Best wishes 🥰

Special thanks to our guest speaker Pastor Wilson. Your words were powerful, inspiring, and right on time for our students as they take this next step in their journey. We truly appreciate you always pouring into our scholars and helping make this day even more special!

Peace out ✌️ 5th grade! We will miss you guys 🤎💛🐏✨