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The district has hosted a series of successful dyslexia screening events during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years for families in the Montgomery County community. All events are held at the CMCSS Learning Center, 343 Pageant Lane, Clarksville. Dates for the 2026-27 school year will be announced in the summer of 2026.

About the Participants

• During the 2025-26 school year, 98 families participated in evening screening events while 62 families participated in daytime screening events.
• Of the 160 families served:
  • All school levels (elementary, middle, and high) were screened
  • Several out-of-district students were screened, including private, Fort Campbell, out-of-state, and homeschool students

To participate in the screening, children must be at least four years old and up to 12th grade. Students do not have to be enrolled in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System. A parent or guardian must remain on-site during the screening. If the child is a CMCSS student, the screener’s results will be shared with the child’s school.

If a student has been previously screened for characteristics of dyslexia, please bring or share the information using the registration link.

Event Dates and Times

2026-27 dates will be announced soon

Additional Resources

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that affects reading and spelling skills at the word level. Individuals with dyslexia manifest along a spectrum, with some impacted in minor ways and others experiencing significant difficulty acquiring the ability to recognize and spell words and read with automaticity and fluency.

Click here to read the Signs of Dyslexia by Age from the National Center on Improving Literacy. 

Click here to read about understanding the definition of Dyslexia from the National Center on Improving Literacy.

Click this link to read the Dyslexia Resource Guide

Click this link to see the Screening for Characteristics of Dyslexia – Companion Guide

Why is Screening Important?

By screening for early warning indicators of characteristics of dyslexia, teachers and instructors can better pinpoint areas of concern and design support. If your child’s profile reflects characteristics of dyslexia, parents or guardians will be provided information about dyslexia, and the school will be notified of the screening data. A student does not need to be formally diagnosed with dyslexia to receive appropriate intervention. The survey-level assessments used in screening are sufficient to identify your child’s needs and plan for dyslexia-specific intervention.

How to Participate

Screenings will be held on the dates above. Families must sign up for an appointment time via the Google Form above. No walk-ins will be available. There will also be an option on the form to discuss your child’s reading data and answer questions. This will not include a screener, and the student does not have to be in attendance.

The CMCSS Special Populations Department will continue its Family Engagement Sessions for the 2025-26 school year, beginning with an overview of services. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the department will host the first event at the William O. Beach Civic Hall (350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville) from Noon to 1:15 p.m. and again from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to any family with questions regarding unique learning needs within CMCSS. Families can choose to attend three of the five topics of interest below.

Session One: Understanding Special Education

• Special Education Eligibility: What Parents Need to Know
• IDEA vs. 504

Session Two: Supporting Learning at Home

• Building Language & Communication Skills
• Understanding Dyslexia: Signs, Supports, and Strategies
• Early Childhood Milestones: What to Expect and When

Session Three: Social-Emotional Development

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Helping Children Build Resilience and Emotional Intelligence
• Supporting Behavior at Home: Positive Strategies for Parents

Session Four: Developmental Growth

• Motor Milestones

Session Five: English Learners (EL)

• Supporting English Learners at Home and School: Language Development and Academic Success
• Understanding EL Services: What Parents Should Know

SAVE THE DATE

Two additional sessions will be held later in the year at Central Services South (1312 Highway 48, Clarksville). More information will be available soon.

The CMCSS Special Populations Department will continue its Family Engagement Sessions for the 2025-26 school year, beginning with an overview of services. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the department will host the first event at the William O. Beach Civic Hall (350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville) from Noon to 1:15 p.m. and again from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to any family with questions regarding unique learning needs within CMCSS. Families can choose to attend three of the five topics of interest below.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT – USE THIS GOOGLE FORM

Session One: Understanding Special Education

• Special Education Eligibility: What Parents Need to Know
• IDEA vs. 504

Session Two: Supporting Learning at Home

• Building Language & Communication Skills
• Understanding Dyslexia: Signs, Supports, and Strategies
• Early Childhood Milestones: What to Expect and When

Session Three: Social-Emotional Development

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Helping Children Build Resilience and Emotional Intelligence
• Supporting Behavior at Home: Positive Strategies for Parents

Session Four: Developmental Growth

• Motor Milestones

Session Five: English Learners (EL)

• Supporting English Learners at Home and School: Language Development and Academic Success
• Understanding EL Services: What Parents Should Know

SAVE THE DATE

Two additional sessions will be held later in the year at Central Services South (1312 Highway 48, Clarksville). More information will be available soon.

Interested in reading the Special Populations Manual for families? Click here. 

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System will host the Teach with the Best Hiring Event on Tuesday, March 25, at 4:00 p.m. Applicants who hold a current TN Teaching License or are actively pursuing a TN Teaching License are invited to attend. The event will be held at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville, and interested candidates are encouraged to register for the event here.

CMCSS is looking to fill nearly 100 teaching positions at over 40 schools. While available teaching positions exist in almost every school, high-needs areas include Special Education, elementary teachers, secondary math and science, and school counselors. The complete list of openings is available at cmcss.net/best.

While at the job fair, interested applicants can meet school administrators and learn more about the school culture. From 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., attendees will have an open session to network and make connections. School administrators will host interviews from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., and principals may set up interviews on the spot.

As the district continues to grow, so will the need for dedicated high-quality teachers. In 2023, with the support of the CMCSS School Board, Montgomery County Commission, and the community, the district implemented a mid-year, 5% pay increase for all employees.

CMCSS is one of the few districts in the state with a three-year teacher induction program, offering extensive opportunities for professional development. The district also remains committed to providing a superior employee benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and other supports.

Alternative licensure opportunities may be available if you are a college graduate interested in a career with a meaningful purpose. To learn more, email Sabrina Wasan, at [email protected].

Register for the CMCSS Teacher Job Fair on March 25 and receive career-related information at cmcss.net/best.

About CMCSS

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Clarksville, Tennessee, is an award-winning, nationally recognized district with 39,500 students across 45 schools. CMCSS employs over 5,400 difference makers and has been named the “Best in State Employer” two years in a row. Clarksville continues to be a nationally-ranked community for people of all ages. It has been named the Best Place to Live in America by Money.com, one of the top three cities where millennials buy homes, and the 4th in the nation for talent attraction.

The following Point of Pride awards were presented by the School Board on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Northwest High School’s Katherine Kim and Rossview High School’s Carson Carroll, Jason Moon, and Cale Weber competed against hundreds of students across the state of Tennessee in the 2024 State Math Competition. We are so excited to share that out of all the students who competed, Katherine from Northwest and Carson from Rossview tied for 2nd place in the state in Algebra II. From Rossview, Jason won 5th place in Geometry and Cale won 7th place in Algebra II. This marks the most winners CMCSS has had since 2018.

Janiya Johnson from Kirkwood High School is the national champion in the 16U 155 at the 2024 FloWrestling Who’s Number One National Championships. She is the first female from Tennessee and only the second wrestler from Tennessee to ever accomplish this milestone. This national championship invites only the top wrestlers from each weight class in the nation to compete at the event, and she was one of the youngest wrestlers there. In a recent ClarksvilleNow article, Janiya’s mother, Mrs. Johnson said, “Wow, what a year for Janiya. From Women’s Nationals runner-up, to undefeated at National Duals, to Fargo National Champion. She has taken on the best wrestlers in the country and shown them this Tennessee girl is the real deal. She is only getting started!”

Spanish Immersion Elementary School at Barksdale has been recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. For context, out of approximately 1,700 public schools in the state of Tennessee, this year only 6 schools received this honor. Nationally, 316 public schools out of approximately 90,000 public schools were recognized, which is approximately 0.35 % of schools both statewide and nationally. The coveted National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. Spanish Immersion Elementary School at Barksdale is CMCSS’ second school in two years to be awarded, with Middle College at APSU being named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School. Congratulations to the amazing faculty and staff, and the wonderful students and families at Spanish Immersion Elementary School at Barksdale for this accomplishment!

Spanish Immersion Elementary School at Barksdale has been recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School! The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education seeks out and celebrates great American schools, schools demonstrating that all students can achieve to high levels. For context, out of approximately 1,700 public schools in the state of Tennessee, this year only 6 schools received this honor. Nationally, 316 public schools out of approximately 90,000 public schools were recognized, which is approximately 0.35 % of schools both statewide and nationally.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”

The coveted National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content. The National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. Spanish Immersion Elementary School at Barksdale is CMCSS’ second school in two years to be awarded, with Middle College at APSU being named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School.

“I am incredibly proud of the students, faculty, staff, administration, and families at Spanish Immersion Elementary School at Barksdale for this outstanding achievement,” stated Director of Schools Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder. “CMCSS is committed to improving outcomes for all students and providing choices for families. Having two of our schools of choice awarded with this distinction demonstrates the strength of our options. We will continue strengthening academics at all schools in CMCSS, expanding our schools and programs of choice, and supporting additional schools as they achieve National Blue Ribbon School awards in the future.”  

The CMCSS Special Populations Department will continue its Family Engagement Series on Wednesday, February 7, with the session “What’s DIDD?” The District is joined by the TN Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and will share the programs offered at the state level. Services include early intervention, support for children with disabilities, services to transition to independence, and behavioral health support.

This free event is open to the public, and CMCSS families are encouraged to attend. The meeting will be held at the William O. Beach Civic Hall at Veterans Plaza (350 Pageant Lane, Suite 201) from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact Shannon Peacock, CMCSS Director of Special Populations, at [email protected].

The first session in the series, “Understanding IDEA and Section 504,” was held in November 2023.