November 11, 2024
By JAMES EVANS & MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
Students across Rutherford County have spent today learning about and celebrating the many Veterans in our community, through parades, assemblies, and even pancake breakfasts, like the one held at Stewartsboro Elementary School this morning.
It’s Veterans Day in our country, and Rutherford schools love to use the occasion as a teaching moment for students.
The school district also employees many veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, many of whom have chosen to continue their lives of service by giving back to students and families.
Below is a list of RCS employees who responded to a survey to identify their military service history.
The school district also featured two of those employees in this week’s RCS Sunday Message and we have included more about their service history below.
Col. Leonard Brannom (Retired)
Leanard “Trey” Brannom entered the armed forces because, like a lot of young adults, he wanted assistance to attend college.
“They had a huge bonus of $4,000 and they had tuition assistance — not near what it is today — so I joined to get some college money and then four years later, somebody asked me, ‘you have ever though about going to OCS,’”said Brannom, referring to officer training school.
He spent 30 years in the service, flying Cobra and Blackhawk helicopters, and had several oversea deployments to exotic locations such as Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan. He rose to the rank of colonel and spent the end of his military career as the “G1” for the state of Tennessee, which is the personnel director for the military.
After retirement in 2021 and with one child still in school, Brannom decided to teach JROTC at Riverdale High School.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with young people, through Scouts and youth sports, and it’s just something that I explored and thought it would be fun, Brannom said. “It has far exceeded my wildest expectations. It gives me the opportunity to give back to some young people who might need a little direction. They certainly reward me every day by the things that they do.”
Brannom added: “It’s really fun, sometimes my wife asks me why I work more hours now than I did before, but it’s really a job of love more than anything else.”
Dr. LaTonya Jones
Dr. LaTonya Jones, a health science teacher at Blackman High School, has followed in the footsteps of her parents. Her father served in the military and her mother was an educator.
After graduating from Tennessee State University, Jones began working at a hospital as a respiratory therapist. She went on to spend six years in the Tennessee Army National Guard after talking to a recruiter about ways to serve.
“I felt like I could do it,” Jones said, adding that while her path may seem untraditional, it equipped her with the right lessons and tools along the way.
Finance was the focus of her military career, as she opted to do something not tied to medicine. In the hospital setting, Jones was a preceptor and taught what she knew about respiratory therapy to others.
Ongoing positive feedback led Jones to teach at Tennessee State, where she spent two years as an instructor in the Cardio-Respiratory Program. She joined Rutherford County Schools seven years ago.
“I’m proud of the time that I served. I’m always talking to my students about the military,” Jones said. “In the classroom, it has helped me with patience. I also try to instill responsibility and leadership, so I graft some things from my time so that I can show and teach my students.”
Jones is a published Young Adult author and is currently working on a second book while pursuing dual degrees – an Education Specialist and Doctor of Education.
——
The following 113 employees listed themselves as U.S. Veterans:
|
Margaret Tillman |
Blackman Elementary |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Merica Berry |
Blackman Elementary |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Anika Taylor-Robinson |
Blackman Elementary |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Donald Walls |
Blackman High |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Thomas Capouch |
Blackman High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Robert Fortel |
Blackman High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Rob Eidemiller |
Blackman High |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
First Sergeant (Retired) James Christopher Hart |
Blackman High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Eric Hopper |
Blackman High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Clinton L. Ervin |
Blackman High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Josh Pope |
Blackman Middle |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Maranda Allen |
Blackman Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Dustin Stem |
Blackman Middle |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Jay McGee |
Blackman Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
SRO Mike Farmer |
Buchanan Elementary |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Shelly Dallas |
Cedar Grove Elementary |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Steve Bull |
Central Magnet School |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Stuart Leach |
Central Magnet School |
Navy / Navy Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Andrew Wilson |
Central Magnet School;Central Office;Homer Pittard Campus School;McFadden School of Excellence |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Matt Parker |
Central Office |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Ricky Foster |
Central Office |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Brian Gentry |
Central Office |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Jayson Harvey |
Central Office |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
COL (R) Jeffrey L. Gaylord |
Central Office |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Shane Morgan |
Central Office |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Mike Moore |
Central Office |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Corey Mullins |
Central Office |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Eric Davis |
Central Office |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Christina Lynn Dawson |
Christiana Elementary |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Shawn McNerney |
Christiana Middle |
Coast Guard / Coast Guard Reserve |
|
Karyl Paul |
Eagleville School |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Nathan Robison |
Kittrell Elementary |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Joe Clark |
Lascassas Elementary |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Victor M. Sanchez |
LaVergne High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Allen Vongsavath |
LaVergne High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Barbara Dawn Bunn |
LaVergne High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Henry R. Canas |
LaVergne High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Justin Smith |
LaVergne High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Joey Danko |
LaVergne High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Angela Benzy |
LaVergne High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
April Wright |
LaVergne Lake Elementary |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Ashley Restrepo |
LaVergne Lake Elementary |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Jordan Rouse |
LaVergne Middle |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Thomas Fleck |
LaVergne Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
David Rosson |
McFadden School of Excellence |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Jim Klaus |
Oakland High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Jeffery Benson |
Oakland High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
CSM Mike Daniels |
Oakland High |
Army / Army Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Alison Manning |
Oakland High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Dallas Huling |
Oakland High |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Quincy Harris |
Oakland Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Steve Matuszewski |
Oakland Middle |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Nicholas Traub |
Oakland Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Josh Thouvenin |
Plainview Elementary |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Becki Louden |
Riverdale High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Leonard Brannom |
Riverdale High |
Army / Army Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Derek Picklesimer |
Riverdale High |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve;TN State Guard;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Michael Campbell |
Riverdale High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Tim Layne |
Riverdale High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Autumn Grant |
Rock Springs Elementary |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
James Elliott |
Rock Springs Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard);Clarification: USAF-4 years, TN Army Nat'l Guard-16 years |
|
Jerry Hadley |
Rockvale High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Tim Thompson |
Rockvale High |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Franklin M. Salisbury |
Rockvale High |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Josh Bush |
Rockvale High;Plainview Elementary |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Jennifer Paris |
Rockvale Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Dawn Golson-Saunders |
Rocky Fork Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Kasi Crawley |
Roy Waldron Elementary |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
David Spatz |
Roy Waldron Elementary |
Retired Navy |
|
Benjamin Menes |
Roy Waldron Elementary |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Ronnie Argo |
Siegel High |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard);Army / Army Reserve |
|
Roger Alcendor |
Siegel High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Scott Myers |
Siegel High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Jaron Pruitt |
Siegel Middle School |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Martaveon Dockery |
Siegel Middle School |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Keith Thompson |
Siegel Middle School |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Dr, Rufus Lowe (USA Major Retired) |
Siegel Middle School |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Fernando Moya |
Simon Springs Community School |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Cody Bellmore |
Smyrna Elementary |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Robert Drake |
Smyrna High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
William Ingram |
Smyrna High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Denise Hiott |
Smyrna High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Dean Martin |
Smyrna High |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Robbins, Lucas |
Smyrna High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
James O Jones, Jr |
Smyrna High |
Army / Army Reserve;Retired Army |
|
Esther Taj Clark |
Smyrna High |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Richard Lutz |
Smyrna High |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Kim Stavros |
Smyrna Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Mitchell Moss |
Smyrna Middle |
National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Madeline Casity |
Stewarts Creek High |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Selena Jelic |
Stewarts Creek High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Donna Pearson |
Stewarts Creek High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Clark Harrell |
Stewarts Creek High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard);TN State Guard |
|
Jeffrey Sobocinski |
Stewarts Creek High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Les Greer |
Stewarts Creek High |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve;National Guard (Air National Guard / Army National Guard) |
|
Loralyn Meadows |
Stewarts Creek High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
David Swezey |
Stewarts Creek High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Jesse M. Maust |
Stewarts Creek High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Michael Agee |
Stewarts Creek High |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Roger Crownover |
Stewarts Creek High |
Navy / Navy Reserve |
|
Tina Duggin |
Stewarts Creek Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Allen Kessinger |
Stewarts Creek Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Dwight Gray, Colonel, United States Army (Retired) |
Stewarts Creek Middle |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Anthony Mason Schmidt |
Walter Hill Elementary |
Army / Army Reserve |
|
Michael Gilliland |
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Stanley Joslin |
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Samuel Grosch |
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |
|
Matthew Forman |
Whitworth-Buchanan Middle |
Air Force / Air Force Reserve |
|
Sgt. John F. Acton |
Rutherford County Sheriff - SRO Division |
Marine Corps / Marine Corps Reserve |