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By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County Director of Schools Charlotte McCoy was Tuesday’s guest speaker at the Campbell County Rotary Club Luncheon held at the LaFollette Methodist Church.
McCoy addressed Rotarians about “education in Campbell County Schools and its tie to economic development” saying that “education is the foundation of community success.”
“The strength of our schools determines the strength of our workforce, and the strength of our workforce determines the strength of our local economy, our quality of life, and our ability to grow as a community,” McCoy said, explaining that “every business, organization, and public service in Campbell County depends in some way on the work happening in our schools.”
“Long before a student becomes an employee or a community leader, they are shaped in our classrooms, in their homes, and in the community around them. That is why public education is not just a school system responsibility—it is a shared community responsibility,” McCoy said.
She told Rotarians that “a school district operates similarly to a business” and must manage resources, hire and support talented staff, set goals, measure outcomes, and continually improve performance.”
“We are accountable to the public we serve, and we are expected to operate efficiently and effectively. But there is also a fundamental difference that matters deeply. A school district does not produce a product or a profit—we serve children. Every decision we make affects the development, opportunity, and future of real young people whose lives are still being shaped. Because of that, our “return on investment” is not measured in dollars or market share, but in human potential, in opportunity created, and in the lives we help prepare for success. That responsibility makes our work similar to business in structure, but profoundly different in purpose,” McCoy said.
She spoke about reading and math proficiency, saying that it directly affected workforce skills and was something the school district and the community could not afford to ignore.
“When we say that only 35% of our students are proficient in reading and math, we must understand what that truly means. It means we are accepting—whether intentionally or not—that 65% of our students are not yet proficient in the foundational skills required for long-term success.
That is not just an academic concern. That is a workforce development concern. That is an economic development concern. That is a community-wide challenge that affects every employer in this room. We cannot build a strong future while accepting that most students are not meeting proficiency in core academic skills,” McCoy said.
She said that “high expectations change outcomes” and “one of the most consistent truths in education is that expectations drive performance.”
“In Campbell County Schools, we are committed to a simple belief: all students can learn at high levels, and all students deserve access to high levels of instruction and support. We cannot normalize low proficiency. We cannot accept stagnation. And we cannot define success as simply maintaining current results,” McCoy said.
She spoke on the importance of preparing students who are college-ready AND work-ready, saying it was one of the “most important responsibilities of the school district to ensure that students graduate ready for their next step—whether that is college, technical training, military service, or directly entering the workforce.”
McCoy also touched on the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE).
“Our CTE pathways are not secondary options—they are essential pathways that connect students directly to high-demand careers in our region and beyond,” McCoy said.
“Through programs in fields such as health sciences, welding, automotive technology, construction, information technology, and other skilled trades, students are gaining hands-on experience that translates directly into workforce readiness.”
“Importantly, we are now expanding this work even earlier in a student’s educational journey. We are offering formal career and technical instruction beginning in middle school. Each school in Campbell County that serves middle grades now has a dedicated career and technical lab, giving students early exposure to career pathways, hands-on learning, and real-world skill development. This early exposure helps students begin thinking intentionally about their future, their interests, and the skills they will need long before they reach high school,” McCoy said, adding that “when students participate in CTE programs, they are not just learning about careers—they are preparing for them. They are developing skills that allow them to graduate ready to contribute immediately to local employers. Strengthening and expanding our Career and Technical Education offerings is one of the most direct ways we can support both students and local industry at the same time.”
McCoy said that schools, parents, and the community had a shared responsibility in investing in the students.
“No school system can do this work alone. Real improvement happens when three groups are aligned: schools, parents, and the broader community. Schools must provide strong instruction, relevant programs like CTE, effective leadership, and timely intervention when students struggle. Parents must remain engaged, support learning at home, encourage attendance, and reinforce expectations. And the community—including civic organizations like the Rotary Club, businesses, and industry partners—must actively participate in preparing students for the real world. When students see that their education is valued by the entire community, their motivation and engagement increase. That leads to better outcomes.”
The director of schools also said that “improving student outcomes also means strengthening all parts of the district—not just academics, including athletics, arts, and extracurricular programs that are essential to student development.”
“When students are connected to school through these programs, they are more likely to attend, more likely to engage academically, and more likely to succeed. A strong district is not defined by one area of excellence—it is defined by excellence across all areas of student experience,” McCoy said.
She told Rotarians her vision for Campbell County Schools was that it would “rise into the top twenty percent of school districts in the state of Tennessee.”
“That vision includes significant increases in student proficiency in reading and math. It includes stronger graduation outcomes and higher levels of post-secondary success. But it also includes something broader. It includes a district known for producing both college-ready and work-ready graduates. It includes a CTE program that is recognized for excellence and industry alignment. It includes athletic and extracurricular programs that build pride, discipline, and school spirit. It includes a school system where excellence is expected in every area, not just some.”
She said for a stronger community and a stronger workforce, the bar for student achievement and opportunity must also be raised.
“That means we must be willing to say that 35% proficiency is not enough—not for our students, not for our employers, and not for Campbell County It also means asking important questions:
How do we strengthen early literacy and math instruction?
How do we better align CTE programs with local industry needs?
How do we support teachers, coaches, and program leaders more effectively?
How do we intervene earlier when students struggle?
And how do we ensure that every student has access to a pathway for success?
Director McCoy closed saying that she had high expectations for the district and that she believed in the students and the community.
“High expectations are not about being harsh. They are about being honest—and hopeful. Because when we truly believe in our students, we do not settle for outcomes that leave most of them behind. We build systems that prepare every student for success—whether that path is college, career, or military service. When we settle for 35% proficiency, we are not just accepting a number—we are accepting a future that does not reflect what our students are capable of achieving. I believe Campbell County can do better. I believe we will do better. And I believe we can become one of the top districts in Tennessee—not by chance, but by commitment and by design,” McCoy said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/17/2026-6AM)