Ms. Emily Hancock Named Principal Of Woodbury Grammar School

Cannon County Director of Schools William F. Curtis has named Ms. Emily Hancock as Principal of Woodbury Grammar School in Woodbury, Tennessee. The position became available upon the retirement of Mr. Rick Meacham, who has served as Principal for the past five years. A Press Conference will be held on Tuesday, June 25th, 2019 - 9 AM at the Woodbury Grammar School Library.

Ms. Emily Hancock is a thirteen year veteran teacher from Woodbury, TN. She began her teaching career in Cannon County Schools at Woodbury Grammar in 2006. She has taught first grade, served as a school-wide Title I teacher for ten years, building test coordinator, and Assistant Principal at Woodbury Grammar. Emily attended Woodbury Grammar as a student until the 3rd grade, and graduated as valedictorian at Boyd Christian in 2002. After attending Motlow State Community College, she continued to Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville to receive a kindergarten through 8th grade teacher certification in 2006. As a lifelong resident of Cannon County, family and community are important values to her.

In 2008, Emily graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a masters in Instructional Leadership, and in 2012 with an Educational Specialist Degree in Reading. In 2016 and 2017, she taught at Motlow State Community College as a reading adjunct professor. Emily has served as a Cannon County Literacy Teacher Leader, and Data Coach. As well as a presenter with TNCore at state level reading trainings. Her specialty area is working with Kindergarten - 3rd Grade students with the Read to be Ready Summer Reading Camps. Ms. Hancock was a teacher at the first state offered reading camp for Cannon County students in the summer of 2016. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 she was co-director of Cannon County Read to be Ready Camp which focuses on literacy in grades K-3 with our Upper Cumberland goal of 90 percent of Tennessee students to reading proficiency by the end of third grade in the year 2025.

Woodbury Grammar School had thirteen total applicants for the position. Director Curtis conducted extensive interviews with each applicant and established a Woodbury Grammar School Advisory Committee consisting of Chairperson Mrs. Bonnie Patterson Supervisor of Attendance / Coordinator of School Health, as well as, former Principal of Woodbury Grammar School; 5th District Board Member Brian Elrod; four veteran teachers; and four parents from the school. The Committee met and submitted a recommendation to Director Curtis, and he chose Ms. Emily Hancock on Wednesday, June 19th, 2019.
Director Curtis stated the following, "I am excited to announce Ms. Emily Hancock as Principal of Woodbury Grammar School. She is a proven veteran educator and well respected among her peers. I am extremely appreciative of her willingness to be the leader of the team to achieve our Mission of Cannon County Schools and specifically Woodbury Grammar School - 'Preparing ALL Students for their Future' through our VISION - 'The New E3 = 'Engaged in Excellence Every Day!'"

Principal Hancock will be meeting with the Director of Schools William F. Curtis and former WGS Principal Rick Meacham in the next few days working on a transition plan. She will then meet with other School District Personnel, and WGS faculty and staff at a date to be determined after July 1st, 2019.
We are certainly very glad to announce this hire and are excited about the future at Woodbury Grammar School.