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Contact Us
Lauderdale County Department of Education
402 South Washington Street
P. O. Box 350
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone: 731-635-2941
Fax: 731-635-7985
jhassell@mail.lced.net 

 

Lauderdale Middle School

309 Griggs Avenue
Ripley, TN 38063
Phone – 731-635-1391
Fax – 731-635-0028

Principal: Greg Billings is beginning his 20th year as a professional educator. He has a wealth of experience in both the rural and urban educational settings. He is serving his first year as principal at Lauderdale Middle School. He served as a band director in the Tipton County School System for 11 years. He served the Memphis City School System for eight years both as a band director and administrator. Mr. Billings’ most recent tenure was as an administrator at Overton High School, the “School for the Creative and Performing Arts.” Beyond his teaching experience, Mr. Billings has served as the president of the Tipton County Education Association, Memphis City Schools Diplomat, Quadrant Leader/Mentor for Band Directors, Chairman of the West-Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association’s Honor Band Clinic, and many other leadership positions.

Interim Assistant Principal: Latonya Jackson (ljackson@mail.lced.net)

Mrs. Latonya Jackson is a graduate of Dyersburg State Community College and the University of Memphis with a degree in elementary education. She holds a master’s degree with a focus on school counseling from the University of West Alabama, and she has completed coursework in educational leadership through Trevecca Nazarene University. A native of Lauderdale County and a Ripley High School graduate, Mrs. Jackson has taught seventh-grade English and science in Tipton County, and before coming to LMS, she served as the school counselor for Brighton Middle School.

Assistant Principal: Vanessa Spoon
(vspoon@mail.lced.net )
Vanessa Spoon was chosen to serve on the Lauderdale Middle School’s administrative team at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. Spoon worked in the Trenton Special School District for 10 years as a kindergarten and second-grade teacher. She joined the Lauderdale County School District in 2002, teaching first and second grade and serving as project LEAD tutor for four years before joining the administrative team at Ripley Primary School as Curriculum Coordinator. She holds an Associate of Science Degree from Jackson State Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Union University and a Master’s Degree in Leadership from the University of Memphis. She is a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teacher Fraternity and the Lauderdale County Education Association.
 

Curriculum Coordinator: Michael Shirley (mshirley@mail.lced.net

Michael Shirley currently serves as Curriculum Coordinator at Lauderdale Middle School. Prior to this position, he taught eighth grade English at LMS for 12 years.

Shirley grew up in the small town of Johnston City, Illinois. He holds an Associate’s Degree from John A. Logan College, a Bachelor’s Degree from Murray State University, and a Master’s Degree in Education from Union University. He and his wife, Ashley, have two children.
 

LMS acknowledges Walmart as a partner in education

LMS Sixth Grade Counselor Lynda Cliff and Ripley Walmart manager Christopher Stanback Walmart recently presented students with a Walmart gift certificate. “We appreciate Walmart,” said Cliff. “And all the other sponsors who contribute to our schools throughout the year.”


Verbs!

Sixth graders in Ms. Tammy Pipkin’s English class at Lauderdale Middle School recently created lap books filled with pictures, graphic organizers, writing samples, and everything about verbs.

 

The students worked very hard as they collected several weeks worth of activities to paste inside their “books.” Each project can be used as a verbs study guide for years to come.
 


Lowe’s Toolbox provides quick fix for LMS science lab


Lauderdale Middle School was recently awarded a check to help provide the right tools for science skills through Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant. The $5,000 grant will be used to update the school’s science lab. Pictured are LMS Principal Greg Billings, Nate Johnson, David Burnham, Jimmy Turnbow, Greg Bontrager, Lori Halliburton, Carole White, Kathy Cox, Assistant Principal Vanessa Spoon, Theresa Pennington, Don Meacham, Dewayne Dunn, Steve Littlejohn, Assistant Principal Latonya Jackson and Curriculum Coordinator Michael Shirley.

The Lauderdale Middle School science department was recently awarded $5,000 from the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant to update the school’s science lab. This grant will help LMS educators provide a more state-of-the-art lab, where students are actively engaged in the learning process through cooperative/interactive learning experiences.

Much of Tennessee’s “new” science curriculum standards for middle schools require a tremendous amount of hands-on learning. The new LMS lab will provide room for microscopes, triple beam balances, beakers, and much more. Students will complete earth science, physical science, and life science experiments in this environment.
 


Jackson to serve at LMS

Lauderdale County Schools Superintendent Joey Hassell recently announced that Mrs. Latonya Jackson is the Lauderdale Middle School Interim Assistant Principal. Mrs. Jackson is a graduate of Dyersburg State Community College and the University of Memphis with a degree in elementary education. She holds a Master’s Degree with a focus on school counseling from the University of West Alabama, and she has completed coursework in educational leadership through Trevecca Nazarene University. A native of Lauderdale County and a Ripley High School graduate, Mrs. Jackson has taught seventh grade English and science in Tipton County, and she currently serves as the school counselor for Brighton Middle School.

Mrs. Jackson will join Mr. Greg Billings, principal; Mrs. Vanessa Spoon, assistant principal; and Mr. Michael Shirley, curriculum coordinator, to complete the instructional leadership team at Lauderdale Middle School for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year.

“Mrs. Jackson is a leader who exhibits dedication, organization, dependability, and a ‘focus’ on the needs of all students. She will be an asset to the school and great support for our faculty and staff,” Superintendent Hassell said.


Two LMS students are top yearbook ad sellers

Lauderale Middle School wishes to congratulate Ambria Platzke and Danielle Oswald for earning the title of Top Sellers for 2009-2010 yearbook ads. To reach the top, each girl each sold over $1,000 worth of yearbook ads. Yearbook ads help offset the cost of the yearbooks. Way to go girls!


Mitchell earns Top AR Points for sixth grade

Nathan Mitchell, a sixth-grade student at Lauderdale Middle School, recently earned the most Accelerated Reader Points for the second nine weeks of the 2009-2010 academic year. He was top sixth-grade reader with 250 points. Nathan, the son of Billy and Stacy Drew, received a $25 gift card for his accomplishment.


Teachers honored for perfect attendance

Lauderdale Middle School recently honored faculty members achieving Perfect Attendance for the first semester. From left, Kelly Thompson, Theresa Pennington, Patricia Ford, Hattie Chaney, Greg Bontrager and Kathy Hodge.


LMS hosts school-wide spelling bee

 

 

Lauderdale Middle School recently held its 2009-2010 Spelling Bee competition, with three students from each grade level competing for not only the LMS championship, but also for an opportunity to move on to the Lauderdale County Spelling Bee.

Representatives included sixth graders La Shell Dawson, Marquaveon Gray and Michael Korszoloski; seventh graders Jamonte Balton, Chad Culbreath and Lindsey Stovall; and eighth graders Justin Brown, Elizabeth Edwards and Peter Glass.

Elizabeth Edwards, daughter of Jeff and Tina Edwards, won first place in the competition; Jamonte Balton, son of Ella Balton, earned second place; and La Shell Dawson, daughter of Kenyatta Jarrett and Derrick Dawson, placed third. The runner-up/alternate was Chad Culbreath, son of Charles Culbreath.
The LMS faculty and staff wish to offer congratulations to all of these fine young people.


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