Dear Hawkins County Schools Families, Staff, and Community Members,

Welcome to the very first issue of The HCS Spark, your new monthly resource dedicated to keeping you informed about the exciting activities, accomplishments, and important initiatives across our entire district!

As we enthusiastically dive into the second semester of the 2025–2026 school year, this newsletter serves as a crucial link between our schools and the communities they serve. Our core mission remains the same: Igniting a Lifelong Passion for Learning in every student, every day.

Building on First Semester Momentum

The first semester was marked by significant achievements in our classrooms, outstanding performances in athletics and arts, and a renewed commitment to professional development among our dedicated staff. Our students and educators have set a strong foundation, and we are now focused on maximizing growth through the spring.

What to Expect in The HCS Spark

Every month, you can expect this newsletter to highlight:

School Spotlights: Celebrating the unique accomplishments, events, and programs happening at individual schools.

Board of Education Highlights: Upcoming meetings, current topics, and important decisions. 

Appreciation Highlights: U-trust sponsored monthly appreciation days. 

Monthly Topics: Various Topics depending on current actions. 

Important Dates: Key dates for holidays, board meetings, and community events.

We believe that strong communication is the foundation of a strong school system. By keeping our entire community informed, we can work together more effectively to support our students.

Thank you for your continued partnership. We are looking forward to a successful and engaging second semester!

The December Board meeting was productive and concluded efficiently, with several key actions and notes:

New Board Member: We officially welcomed Bob Larkins as the newest appointed member of the Hawkins County Board of Education.

Special Performance: The meeting featured a wonderful and festive performance of two Christmas songs by the Cherokee High School Choir, led by Director Erika Woods.

Transportation & Travel: Multiple bids for new school buses were accepted, and the Board approved several overnight student trips to support extracurricular activities and academic enrichment opportunities.

We believe that strong communication is the foundation of a strong school system. By keeping our entire community informed, we can work together more effectively to support our students.

During the month of November, we celebrated our Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Matt Hixson. In his honor, schools across the district worked together to complete food drives, resulting in huge donations to help stock the Hawkins County Family Resource Center. We sincerely appreciate Mr. Hixson and all he does for our district, and the generosity shown in his honor was truly evident of our strong community spirit.

Our next appreciation day will be on January 8, 2026 where will honor all the wonderful staff that work in our cafeterias and make sure that our students are fed twice a day, each day.  Please join us in wishing our dedicated team a Happy Food Service Appreciation Day! 

From the Director’s Desk: Igniting a Strong Start to 2026

Welcome Back, Hawkins County Family!

I hope everyone had a restful and safe holiday break. As we return to our classrooms and offices today, January 5th, I want to express my excitement for the semester ahead. We are entering a critical time of the school year—a time to solidify the lessons learned in the fall and push toward new academic heights.

As we look toward the spring, our eyes are fixed on the TCAP assessments in April. I want to express my absolute confidence in our students and staff. We have the data, the talent, and the grit to achieve great things. This is a long-distance marathon, not a sprint, and I encourage everyone to help one another stay focused as we pile up the miles toward success.

Reflecting on a Season of Achievement

Despite the unpredictable weather and schedule interruptions we faced in December—during which our priorities remained student safety, early notification, and minimal disruption—our district accomplished incredible things.

Celebrating Excellence:

Reward Schools: We are incredibly proud to announce that Cherokee High, Hawkins Elementary, and Mt. Carmel Elementary have been officially recognized as 2024-25 Reward Schools. This designation demonstrates ongoing student growth and achievement. Congratulations to the administrators, teachers, and staff at these sites!

State-Level Leadership: Congratulations to Becky Redding (Hawkins Elementary) for being selected to serve on the TDOE Library Advisory Committee. Additionally, we continue to celebrate Dr. Krista Mann (RMS), who represented us exceptionally well in Nashville as a top-eight finalist for Tennessee Principal of the Year.

The Arts: I was blessed to attend the Hawkins County Schools Fine Arts collaborative Christmas Cantata. The professionalism and talent on display were breathtaking. A massive thank you to directors Erika Woods and Matthew Johnson, and all our musical staff and students for a memorable performance.

Operational Updates & Looking Ahead

Transportation Win: We are starting this semester on strong footing! As shared before the break, our transportation department has successfully filled driver vacancies that had been open for over a year. Kudos to Supervisor Rolando Benavides and his team for ensuring our students are transported safely and on time.

Teacher Planning Task Force: The Early Release Task Force has recommended a Wednesday shortened day model to protect teacher planning time. Schools are currently working on schedules with this recommendation in mind. Please stay tuned for more specific updates as we finalize these plans to support our educators.

Board Meeting Schedule: Please note there will be no Board of Education meeting in January. Monthly meetings will resume on February 5, 2026.

Thank you for allowing me to serve our students alongside all of you. Let’s make this a stellar semester!

Sincerely,

Matt Hixson
Director of Schools