Franklin Special District

We are so proud of our Food and Culinary Services team for showcasing the incredible work they do in our district! Moore Elementary manager Chantal Parker and Franklin Elementary manager Debby Persch are presenting the after-school cooking classes, and Mrs. Price is presenting with Johnson Elementary manager Lacey Haynes and assistant manager Michelle Buchanan about creating short videos to keep the community informed.

Looking for fresh ideas to bring back to your program? 💡🍎 Marne’ Price of Franklin Special District is bringing creativity and innovation to our 2026 Annual Conference with two sessions, "Lights, Action, Camera" and "Store it Up/Mix it Up." From new approaches to practical inspiration, attendees will walk away with ideas they can put into action right away. ✨🎥

Make plans to join us in Gatlinburg and register today for this year's conference: https://tnsna.com/state-conference/

You may not know that your family can be part of Franklin Special District—even if you don’t live inside the district.

For families who work in Franklin but live in another county, live outside FSD boundaries, or are exploring a transition from homeschool or private school, FSD offers tuition options that make an exceptional public school experience possible.

Franklin Special District is known for its high-achieving schools, strong academic programming, and resource-rich learning environments. Students benefit from honors and accelerated learning opportunities, high-quality fine arts instruction, engaging extracurricular offerings, and a whole-child philosophy that supports academic, social, and emotional growth.

With outstanding teachers, a welcoming school community, and a commitment to helping every child thrive, FSD gives families the opportunity to be part of something truly special.

Tuition space is limited and available on a program-capacity basis. Learn more and apply at fssd.org/registration/tuition.

All aboard for reading adventures! The FSD Story Bus is currently parked at Kroger on Columbia Avenue and ready for children to climb aboard, explore books, and enjoy some reading fun!

Stop by today before noon to visit. The Story Bus will be out again on Thursday at the Kroger on Highway 96 East.

Full Summer Schedule: https://www.fssd.org/about-us/announcements/details/~board/district-news/post/story-bus-rolls-into-summer-june-1-july-24

For some families, the start of a new school year comes with more than first-day photos. It comes with financial concerns.

Right now, FSD has $8,500 in student food service debt — balances carried by families who are doing their best, but may be facing financial hardship, unexpected expenses, or simply trying to make ends meet.

It is for this reason that the FSD created a donation program to alleviate the burden of unpaid meal balances carrying over into the next school year for struggling families. Through our "Take a Bite Out of Student Lunch Debt" program, our community can help erase this debt and give some of our most vulnerable families a fresh start before the first bell rings.

Our latest donor to the Take a Bite program is Wold Architects and Engineers, with a $500 donation. Their generosity is helping lift this burden for FSD families, and we invite others to join them.

A gift of any size matters. Together, we can make sure our students begin the year nourished, supported, and ready to learn.

To learn more and to donate online: https://www.fssd.org/resources/fcs and click on Take a Bite Campaign.

Franklin Special District’s leadership team came together today for a day of collaboration, learning, and strategic planning during our annual Leadership Retreat. Throughout the day, principals, district leaders, and instructional teams engaged in meaningful conversations focused on strengthening outcomes for students and staff across FSD.

Highlights from today’s work included:

* Practicing Results Coaching strategies to support continuous improvement
* Participating in team-building activities that strengthen collaboration across schools
* Discussing employee relations and ways to foster a positive workplace culture
* Reviewing processes that help connect students with the right support at the right time
* Participating in roundtable discussions focused on ELA and Math fluency, student motivation, and student responsibility
* Beginning the process of identifying and prioritizing key agenda items for the 2026–27 school year

The team also took time to celebrate Amy Fisher, FSD’s retiring district nurse, and recognize her years of dedicated service, care, and commitment to the students, families, and staff. Her impact on our schools and community are immense.

We look forward to tomorrow’s professional learning opportunity with Solution Tree’s Eric Twadell.

Academically, Franklin Special District stands apart. It is a Tennessee Department of Education “Exemplary District” – one of only 14 statewide. Among Tennessee’s 147 public school districts, it consistently ranks in the top 10 percent across all standardized test categories, outperforming state averages by double digits. All FSD elementary schools have been recognized as Tennessee Reward Schools, and more than 70 percent of faculty and administration hold advanced degrees.

Read more in Williamson Parent magazine.

Franklin Special District: A Foundation for Success at Every Level - Nashville Parent For families who value a whole-child approach to education, Franklin Special District (FSD) offers something truly distinctive: a close-knit public school community where students are known.

At tonight’s School Board meeting, Franklin Special District Instructional Technology Specialists Dr. Amber Whitley and Shelly Robinson were recognized for earning Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) designation through the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).

The CETL certification is awarded to educational technology leaders who demonstrate advanced knowledge and expertise in effectively integrating technology into K–12 learning environments. The certification process includes a rigorous examination covering areas such as digital learning, data-informed instruction, cybersecurity, technology leadership, and strategic planning.

This professional achievement strengthens FSD’s ability to support teachers in using instructional technology platforms to enhance classroom engagement, analyze student performance data, and make informed instructional decisions that support student growth.

At tonight’s Board of Education meeting, Dr. Alisha Erickson was honored for receiving the University of Tennessee’s William J. and Lucille H. Field Award for Excellence in School Principalship for the State of Tennessee (Elementary Division). The award recognizes school leaders whose impact extends beyond academic achievement to the culture, relationships, and vision they build within their schools.

Under Dr. Erickson’s leadership, Poplar Grove has earned statewide recognition for both student achievement and its collaborative school culture. Her approach to leadership has focused on creating an environment where students, teachers, and families work together toward a shared commitment to excellence.

Congratulations to Dr. Erickson on this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations to Beau Bigler, Franklin Special District’s Student Artist of the Month. Beau was nominated by Poplar Grove Elementary art teacher Mrs. Hamby and selected for his creativity, artistic talent, and thoughtful approach to his work. His artwork is currently on display in the FSD Central Office Gallery and is also featured on the FSD employee birthday cards. Beau was recognized by the FSD Board of Education and Director of Schools, Dr. David Snowden, at tonight’s School Board meeting.