THE SPEED limit isn’t the only change that has taken place on Fairfield Pike over the last several years. A once undeveloped piece of land is now a state-of-the-art learning facility. Cartwright Elementary School opened for the 2024-2025 school year with a capacity of 800 students. Its modern two-story design includes 16 classrooms downstairs, a spacious office, an inviting entryway, a gymnasium, a large cafeteria, an art room, and a library. Upstairs holds another 24 classrooms. Before Cartwright was completed, Eastside Elementary, Southside Elementary, and Eakin Elementary were bursting at the seams with students, and portable classrooms only temporarily patched the leaks.
Over the last decade, census numbers in Bedford County have swelled, posing challenges for teachers, school staff, and the Board of Education (BOE). Under the direction of the superintendent of Bedford County Schools (BCS), Dr. Tammy Garrett, these challenges, along with the need to increase staff pay scales and improve students’ districtwide test scores, were addressed.
When Garrett signed a three-year contract with the BOE in March 2021, she brought three decades of experience and a fresh perspective. Between 2022 and 2024, Gov. Bill Lee promoted Tennessee’s Innovative School Models and Career and Technical Education grants. These provided major funding to help districts expand career‑focused learning. High schools were eligible to receive up to $1 million, and middle schools, up to $500,000, to build or upgrade career‑advancement classrooms, labs, and hands-on learning spaces.
These funds arrived at a pivotal moment. Thomas Magnet School (TMS), which originally enrolled students from pre-K through fifth grade, expanded to include sixth through eighth grade. This reduced the number of students filtering into Harris Middle School, but space at TMS remained limited. Across the county — from Community High School in Unionville to Liberty School on the eastern corridor — campuses were facing similar space constraints. Under the direction of Garrett, walls came down, footers were poured, and TMS, Liberty, and Community High School received much-needed square footage added to their original footprints due to these grants.
“What I value most is the collective progress we made, strengthening instructional practices, supporting educators, expanding opportunities for students, and responding to growth with thoughtful planning. Seeing schools improve while maintaining a student-centered focus has been incredibly rewarding. Some of our greatest accomplishments have been getting our students out of portables,” Garrett said.
Imagine opening your report card and seeing a shiny gold star on top. In 2023 and again in 2024, this happened when BCS received the designation of “Advancing” status on its annual report card from the state. And even though in-person instruction was hampered during 2020-2021 due to COVID-19, BCS rebounded and posted strong district-wide gains. Between 2021 and 2025, statistics consistently show that students’ grades have been trending upward.
“That progress belongs to our teachers, principals, students, and staff,” Garrett said. “Their commitment to continuous improvement, data-informed instruction, and collaboration made the difference. Consistency, alignment, and a shared belief in our students drove that success. I believe you hire the best person for the job, and you build their capacity through professional development and modeling. I believe we have been able to do that and see success. We have also been able to expand our behavioral and mental health services, which helps students meet the academic needs.”
Before Garrett’s contract expired in 2024, the BOE extended it for another two years. When she officially retires on June 1, 2026, and incoming-Superintendent Tim Harwell takes on the role, Garrett will have spent 35 years in public education. She said, “I feel a sense of peace in knowing the district is positioned well for the future. This felt like the right moment to step aside and allow new leadership to build upon the strong foundation already in place. Any success during my tenure is the result of a strong leadership team and dedicated employees across the district. I am deeply grateful for their professionalism and heart for students. I believe we have accomplished great things as a team working together with one purpose — student achievement and making this community great.”
Garrett was drawn into public education by the influence of Doyle Parham and Tom Miller, who coached her when she was a student. Garrett said, “They set high expectations but paired them with care and encouragement. That balance has guided my leadership philosophy: accountability and compassion must always go hand in hand. Throughout my career, I have told my students, ‘Work hard and be kind.’ I believe if you do that every day, you will be successful.”
With her retirement only a few months away, Garrett plans to continue pouring into our community, but she’s also looking forward to a slower pace. “As an educator, you make many sacrifices, and time with family is one of those. I plan to spend more time with my husband, children, aging father, and my grandson. I will be in this community, and you never know where my next path will lead.”
As Garrett closes this chapter of her life and turns the page, she would like to leave our community with a sincere thank you. “Public education is about people, students, educators, families, and community. It has been the privilege of my career to serve Bedford County with integrity, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in our children’s potential.” GN
