DCMS seeks teacher shout-outs, fills custodial job opening

Decatur County Middle School is asking families for teacher shout-outs even as it works to fill a custodial opening that keeps the building running every day.

The school will deliver the messages during Teacher Appreciation Week, which will run May 4-8, 2026. Tennessee’s Department of Education marks May as Teacher Appreciation Month, putting Teacher Appreciation Week and Teacher Appreciation Day inside a broader statewide effort to recognize educators.

For parents and students, the shout-out campaign offers a simple way to name the teachers who have made a lasting difference. For the school, it arrives at the same moment it is trying to hire a custodian, a reminder that gratitude at a school only goes so far without the staff who clean, secure and maintain the campus behind the scenes.

The custodial position at DCMS is a 12-month job with hours from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The proposed annual salary is $25,910 for the 2026-2027 school year.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, pass a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation fingerprint background screening and complete a health screening from a licensed physician. Applications can be picked up at the Decatur County Board of Education Office, submitted to Hugh Smith or completed online. The deadline was Friday, May 1, 2026. Kodi Breeden, the principal at Decatur County Middle School, is listed as the contact for more information.

The hiring post reflects the same practical reality that keeps schools open across Decatur County: classrooms depend on more than teachers alone. Custodial work touches the daily routine students see and the support teachers count on, from clean floors and restrooms to the kind of orderly building that helps instruction stay on track.

The appreciation push also fits a familiar pattern for Decatur County Schools. In November 2024, the system said it received the Best Appreciation Program in West Tennessee award at a statewide meeting in Nashville, a sign that staff recognition has become part of the district’s identity. DCMS has also regularly highlighted teachers in past recognition posts, including names such as Jill Farlow, Kayla Tharp and Wendy Hendrix.

That mix of celebration and staffing need says a lot about school life in Decatur County. The messages honor the people already making an impact, while the job posting shows how much daily work still has to be done to keep the school safe, clean and ready for students.