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The Collierville Connection - February 2026

Posted Date: 02/01/26 (04:00 PM)


The Collierville Connection district newsletter with students and staff in the background banner.

February 2026 Edition

Rooted in our CS2030 mission: Empowering all students to achieve success through a comprehensive educational journey that prepares them for college, careers, and life.
 

In This Issue

  • Message from Dr. Dyer
  • What's For Lunch?
  • Important Dates
  • Save the Date: District-Wide Career Fair
  • Durham Adds New Buses to Collierville Fleet
  • Around the District: Events, Highlights & Happenings
  • Upcoming Fine Arts Opportunities
  • CEF Denim & Diamonds Event
  • Stay Updated
  • Collierville Cares Line
 

Message from Dr. Dyer

Dear Collierville Schools Families and Staff - 
 
Recent winter weather has disrupted our normal school schedule and created challenging conditions across our community. I know this has not been easy for families, and I appreciate your continued patience and understanding.
 
During this time, our leadership and operations teams have been actively monitoring conditions and preparing our campuses with student and staff safety as our top priority. While progress has been made, we remain focused on ensuring that school facilities and travel conditions are safe before we resume in‑person learning.
 
As we move forward, our goal is to return to regular school operations as soon as it is safe to do so and to provide a smooth transition back for students and staff. We will continue to share updates as decisions are made and appreciate your partnership as we navigate these circumstances together.
 
Thank you for your flexibility, your support of our schools, and your trust as we work through this situation.

Sincerely, 
Dr. Russell Dyer
Director of Schools
 

What's For Lunch?

Collierville Schools Menus
 

Important Dates

  • February 5: High School Parent/Teacher Conferences (3-6 PM)
  • February 12: Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences (4-7 PM)
  • February 16: PD Day (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
  • February 17: Board of Education Work Session (4 PM)
  • February 19: Elementary School Parent/Teacher Conferences (4:15-7:15 PM)
  • February 24: Board of Education Business Meeting (6 PM)
Collierville Schools Calendars
 
Collierville Schools District-Wide Career Fair on February 17, 2026, from 5-7 PM at Collierville High School.

Save the Date: District-Wide Career Fair

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Collierville High School to meet with school and district leaders about potential opportunities within the district. Collierville Schools is a 2025 Top Workplace, and we look forward to meeting prospective educators and staff members who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of our students. 
 
Date: February 17, 2026
Time: 5-7 PM
Location: Collierville High School
Address: 11605 E. Shelby Drive, Collierville, TN 38017
Audience: Teachers, substitute teachers, and others interested in learning more about Collierville Schools
Career Fair Homepage
 

Durham Adds 10 New Buses to the Collierville Fleet

Durham School Services has added 10 new buses into circulation for Collierville Schools and is actively hiring school bus drivers. If you know anyone looking for employment opportunities, please share the information below:

How to Apply:
  • Apply in person: 342 New Byhalia Road, Collierville, TN 38017
  • Questions: 901‑786‑3174 or 901‑206‑8402
  • Apply online: Indeed.com

Pay & Incentives:
  • $21.60/hr starting pay for applicants without a CDL, plus a $2,000 sign‑on bonus
  • Free CDL training provided by Durham
  • $25.00/hr starting pay for applicants with a CDL and experience
 

Around the District: Events, Highlights & Happenings

Connecting our school community—students, staff, and families.
A diverse group of students and adults pose for a photo in a classroom setting.

WCMS 'Lunar-Tics' Selected to Participate in NASA's TechRise Student Challenge

Their project focuses on a real issue NASA scientists and astronauts deal with: lunar dust. Lunar dust is made up of tiny, sharp particles that stick to almost everything and can cause equipment to malfunction. It can even be dangerous if it’s breathed in.

Under the direction of Dr. Carmen Kelsey, 7th and 8th grade AgriSTEM and 8th grade STEM teacher at WCMS, the students will meet virtually for the next 16 weeks with NASA engineers as they build their experiment in the classroom. Later this summer, their project will be sent to NASA and launched on a high‑altitude balloon that climbs between 70,000 and 95,000 feet. Once the payload returns to Earth, the team will receive all of their data to analyze.

A group of five people, including a young woman holding awards, pose for a photo.

CHS Senior Kayden Morgan Named Patriot Bank CHS Student of the Month

Congratulations to Kayden Morgan for being named the Patriot Bank Mortgage Collierville High School Student of the Month for January. Kayden, captain of the CHS dance team, and her family were recognized at the Collierville Chamber of Commerce January luncheon.

As Mr. Jones shared in his remarks, Kayden exemplifies leadership, integrity, and purpose in everything she does. She is passionate about health and human performance and plans to attend physician assistant school, with the goal of working with athletes to support their rehabilitation and help them return to peak performance.

Congratulations, Kayden!
Khaleah Evans, an Apple Distinguished Educator and Instructional Technology Facilitator, smiles in front of a school sign.

WCMS ITF Khaleah Evans Named Apple Distinguished Educator

Apple is pleased to welcome Khaleah Evans, Instructional Technology Facilitator at West Collierville Middle School, to the Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) Class of 2026. In 1995, Apple created the ADE Program to recognize K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using Apple technology to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways. Celebrating 30 years, the program has grown into a worldwide community of visionary and innovative leaders in education, helping other educators rethink what’s possible with iPad and Mac. Learn more about the contributions of ADEs worldwide at https://www.apple.com/education/k12/apple-distinguished-educator/.

Congratulations, Khaleah!
AP School Honor Roll 2025 award with a silver acorn emblem.

Collierville High School Named to the AP School Honor Roll

Collierville High School has been named a SILVER Member of the 2024-25 AP School Honor Roll! 

Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing their school’s college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

CHS had a total of 429 out of 774 seniors in the Class of 2025 take at least one AP Exam in high school. Collierville High School offers 28 AP Courses for students.

Click here for a complete list of the AP Courses CHS has to offer: CHS AP courses

Five people stand together holding a large check for $1,900 from the Rotary Club of Collierville, TN.

Family Resource Center Awarded Grant from Collierville Rotary Club

Thank you to the Collierville Rotary Club for their generous donation of $1,900 to the Collierville Schools Family Resource Center! This money will go to the Family Resource Center weekend food program.
A student and two instructors work at pottery wheels in a classroom setting.

School Principals Visit WCMS in January

Our principals hit the trail to West Collierville Middle School this week as part of their visits to every school this year. WCMS showed us why they’re WILD about the 3As+—Academics, Athletics, The Arts, and Attitude!

From learning about their Wild, Wild, West theme to visiting classrooms, sharing good news, and even throwing clay on the pottery wheel, it was a day full of enthusiasm and imagination.

Click here to tune into the WCMS Jazz Band and a recap video of their visit. Thank you, WCMS, for welcoming our principals last month!
Young basketball players in green and white uniforms compete on a polished wooden court.

Elementary Basketball Tips Off

The Collierville Schools Elementary Basketball League (CSEBL) tipped off in January and is now in its third year. The season is just getting started, and we appreciate the strong support from our families as elementary teams take the court, with gyms packed for our first games.

Schedules and updated scores are available at colliervilleschools.org/elementarybasketball.
 

Upcoming Fine Arts Opportunities

  • West End Theatre - The West Collierville Middle School theatre will present a Disney musical review titled Dare to Dream, Jr. next weekend. Performances will be held at 7 PM on February 6, and 7, along with a 2 PM matinee on Saturday. Click here to purchase tickets.
  • Jazz Cafe (RESCHEDULED for March 10) - Enjoy an evening of great food and live jazz featuring performances by the West Collierville Middle School Jazz Band and the Collierville High School Jazz Band on March 10. Tickets are $30 each and include a full dinner with salad, three pasta options, drinks, and dessert. Ticket sales now close March 4. Click here to purchase tickets.
  • Draco Playhouse - CHS will host eight performances of Water for Elephants, February 19 - March 1. Based on the bestselling novel by Sara Gruen, this dazzling, heart-filled musical tells the story of Jacob, a young man desperate to escape his past, who jumps aboard a moving train uncertain of the road ahead. Finding himself on the ride of a lifetime, Jacob joins the colorful company of a traveling circus and is hired by the imperious ringmaster, August, as caretaker to the animals. Jacob soon develops an unspoken attraction to the star performer and August’s wife, Marlena. A last-ditch effort to save their struggling show brings an elephant into the troupe, drawing Marlena and Jacob dangerously close, forever changing the circus’s fate. Click here to purchase tickets
 

CEF Invites You to Denim & Diamonds Event

Dust off those boots — it’s time to sparkle and shine!

Get ready for one of Collierville’s most anticipated nights of the year — Denim & Diamonds is back and bigger than ever! This is the event where community pride meets honky-tonk fun, and trust us… you don’t want to miss it.

Whether you're rocking your sharpest cowboy boots, your favorite broken-in Wranglers, or a little rhinestone glam, come ready to dance the night away with live music from The Neon Mooners — a crowd favorite that keeps the floor moving all night long!

Want the true VIP experience?
Our Sponsors & VIP Ticket Holders are invited into the Sponsor Saloon from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM for:
• Exclusive early access
• Signature drinks + pre-event appetizers
• A special VIP gift to take home 
It’s the perfect way to kick off the evening in style!
And the best part?

Every ticket, every sponsor, every cowboy hat in the room helps support The Collierville Education Foundation, funding teacher grants and educational resources that directly strengthen classrooms across our community.

This is where good friends, good music, and a great cause come together.

If you know, you go. And if you go — you’ll be glad you did.

Purchase Tickets Here
 

Stay Updated

For the latest news, updates, and resources, please visit:
 
Collierville Cares Line
Career Opportunities
Collierville Schools logo with children in the background.