THE FIRST thing you notice when stepping into Tullahoma middle and high schools is the creativity — a nice blend of colors, movement, and melody coming from every corner. The gymnasium boasts student artwork, from bold, abstract brushstrokes to careful sketches of still lifes. Each one is a window into the minds of young artists. There’s a joy and an overlapping compilation of creativity that seems to say, “We’re learning. We’re trying. We’re making something beautiful.”
A group of theater students rehearse for the spring musical in the gymnasium. Their voices resound as they belt out harmonies. Accidental ad-libs and bursts of laughter punctuate the earnest strains of their performance.
Then, there’s the band room. Inside, the drum major stands at the conductor’s podium. With a flick of their wrist, the music resumes — tentative at first, then swelling into something full and rich.
This is the world Atticus Hensley has helped build: where community members share in the beauty of the arts that keeps this small town thriving. For nearly 30 years, Hensley has been an educator, mentor, motivator, and guide for many students in the community’s beloved band program. Growing up in East Tennessee, Hensley tried Scouts and sports, but nothing felt right. It wasn’t until he saw his father playing guitar that he found his passion.
After learning to play, Hensley joined David Crockett High School’s band in Jonesboro, Tennessee, where he discovered music could be more than just a hobby.
“The students were amazing musicians but also an amazing family. You could feel the heart in everything they did.”
“I thought, ‘I finally found my place. This is what I want.’”
After discovering his love for music in the high school band, Hensley knew he wanted music to be a lifelong pursuit. This guided him to begin his teaching career in Tullahoma in 1995 as a private instructor.
He later taught beginning band and, in 2010, became a full-time seventh and eighth grade band director. His career eventually led him to become the district’s fine arts coordinator, where he introduced five new fine arts teachers — four elementary teachers in 2018 and a high school teacher in 2024.
This was a big step for the fine arts department. They knew the lessons of unity and creativity and that the academic growth that followed would stick with students well after they left high school. And for Hensley, that’s what made the arts so powerful.
One story that he believes expresses that power involves a sixth grade boy who joined the band program a few years ago. The boy had been struggling in school, barely passing his classes and frequently getting into trouble. Hensley believed the band was an outlet and confidence boost for the student.
“School was not his happy place, except when he was in the band room.”
Challenges have always been part of the job, but for Hensley, they’ve also been opportunities to rethink what education can be.
“Education tends to focus on products. This class teaches you math; this class teaches you how to write,” he explained. “We need to encourage creative, independent thinkers who can approach problems with curiosity and confidence.”
He pointed to an elementary art classroom as an example.
“In an elementary art class, kids splash paint and make messes, but that’s the point. They’re learning to be independent thinkers. In a band, each child decodes the music, thinking about their role in the ensemble and the notes they play. That creative process is what sets them apart.”
Hensley made the bittersweet decision to retire in 2023. However, he is never far from the arts. He now serves as the Tennessee Department of Education’s fine arts manager.
Like many people, Hensley believes the arts are not about teaching students what to think but how to think. And the results speak for themselves.
Colorful murals in the hallways, joyful harmonies pouring out of the gymnasium, and rich, resonant melodies from the band room are proof of a thriving program. But more importantly, they’re proof of thriving students learning to take risks, collaborate, and become impactful community members. GN
