Decatur County Schools seeks middle school band teacher for 2026-27

If Decatur County Schools does not fill its middle school band and music teacher opening, Grades 5 through 8 students at Decatur County Middle School could lose the instruction, rehearsal time and performance opportunities that keep the district’s music pipeline moving into high school.

The district is hiring for the 2026-27 school year at Decatur County Middle School, 2740 Hwy. 641 South in Parsons. The posting calls for a teacher with a current Tennessee license and an endorsement in Instrumental Music K-12, making this a specialized job rather than a general classroom vacancy. Applicants also must pass a TBI fingerprint and background screening before the school year begins.

The deadline to submit materials is Friday, June 12, 2026. Interested applicants can pick up forms at the Board of Education office at 59 West Main Street in Decaturville, email the personnel supervisor, or complete the district’s online application. Kodi Breeden, the principal at Decatur County Middle School, is listed as the contact for more information at kodi.breeden@decaturschools.org or 731-847-6510.

The opening carries added weight in a district where music is not optional filler. Tennessee guidance says K-8 public schools must include art and music education, and state graduation requirements include one full credit of fine arts. At Decatur County Middle School, a band teacher helps determine whether students have a regular place to learn an instrument, perform, and build the skills that feed into later music offerings.

That matters in Decatur County, where the latest Census Bureau estimate put the population at 11,800, and about 20.1% of residents are under 18. Parsons is the county’s largest city, while Decaturville serves as the county seat. In a small system, one specialty vacancy can affect a large share of students and families, especially when the district is also advertising a separate 2026-27 high school band and music teacher position at Riverside High School.

The posting also fits into a broader round of staffing for the coming school year. Decatur County Schools’ board normally meets on the second Thursday of each month, with public input at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 6:15 p.m. The district’s 2026 meeting dates listed online include June 11, July 9, August 13 and September 10, giving families a formal place to raise questions as the system fills out its fine arts staff before the new year begins.