Decatur County Schools names Jaclyn Arnold as Parsons Elementary Pre-K teacher

Parents planning for Parsons Elementary’s Pre-K classroom now have a name to put with a critical early-learning seat: Jaclyn Arnold will teach the program for the new school year. For families in Decatur County, that hire matters because the Pre-K room is often the first classroom stop before kindergarten, and the teacher in that space helps set the tone for school readiness, daily routines and family connection.

Arnold is not new to Decatur County Schools. The district said she started working there in February 2022 as a teaching assistant, and that experience pushed her to renew her interest in education and pursue a teaching degree. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education for grades K through 5 from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a program that prepares teachers in English and language arts, science, social studies and mathematics and includes field experiences in real classrooms.

That path gives Parsons Elementary families a teacher who already knows the district’s culture and student needs from the inside. In a small system like Decatur County Schools, that kind of internal move can help with continuity as the school year begins, especially in Pre-K, where stability can make the difference for children adjusting to a structured classroom for the first time.

The district says its Pre-K program is open to children who are 4 years old on or before August 15. It describes the program as hands-on and focused on language, literacy, writing, math and social-emotional skills. That lines up with Tennessee’s Voluntary Pre-K initiative, which is state-funded and intended to build school-readiness skills for 3- and 4-year-olds, with special emphasis on at-risk 4-year-olds. State guidance says the program addresses cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.

Arnold’s hire also fits a pattern at Parsons Elementary. Decatur County Schools previously introduced Jenni Cox as a Parsons Elementary Pre-K teacher in July 2024, noting her 17 years of education experience, and announced Blake Lindsey as the school’s resource officer in January 2025. Those hiring updates show the district has been actively filling key posts at the school and publicizing those changes for families who are making back-to-school decisions now.