Principal’s Message
Welcome to Jefferson Middle School! It has been an honor to be a part of the Jefferson community for the past 15 years. We take pride in providing a culture and environment where all students can succeed at a high level.
I began my journey at Jefferson Middle School in 2006 as Vice Principal and then named Principal in 2013. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge Schools, I began my educational career in Anderson County Schools as first a teacher and then an administrator at Norris Middle School and Lake City Elementary.
One of our goals at Jefferson Middle School is to provide a safe and structured learning environment for all students each day. We have an amazing staff that work together to impact their practice to best serve all students with a shared leadership approach. Our goal is for teachers to engage in collective inquiry, identify best practices in student learning, analyze multiple data sources and set achievement goals for all students.
We offer a concentrated curriculum and are excited to offer multiple opportunities for our students to be prepared to enter a workforce familiar with STEM careers and requirements. We are actively working to ensure every student is prepared for college, career and life success through our Oak Ridge Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate.
We are very proud of our STEM journey as we were initially AdvancED STEM certified in 2017. We recently completed our Cognia STEM Recertification in November 2020 becoming the first school in Tennessee to be recertified by Cognia. Please take the time to review the website and learn more about “Building A STEM Culture” at Jefferson Middle School.
Communication is a key component of your child’s success and I encourage you to reach out to our administrative team and your child’s teachers if we can assist in any way. You can find up to date information in the Parent Newsletter sent out every Sunday evening. Jefferson Middle School has a fantastic PTO, as well as many community partners who provide support to our teachers and students. We encourage you to continue supporting your child’s success by being an active participant in their education and keeping the lines of communication open at all times.
We look forward to another amazing year and working with you to ensure your child has a wonderful experience at Jefferson Middle School. We will work hard to do what is best for students at all times.
Mr. Phil Cox