WEDNESDAY'S WORD
AUGUST 12, 2026
WA R R E N C O U N T Y P U B L I C S C H O O L S VISION
MISSION
Students will graduate with the determination to succeed personally, intellectually, and professionally.
To provide an engaging, inspiring and challenging learning environment, which prioritizes safety, achievement, and opportunity.
Welcome back, Team WCPS, here's to our best year yet. Today, our schools came back alive as we welcomed more than 18,000 students back into our hallways for the first day of what promises to be an amazing new school year. Our district leadership team continued our tradition of visiting schools this first day, and I could not be more proud of the outcome of your tremendous preparation and hard work. As I begin my 34th year in education and a mind boggling 27 years in an administrative role, I don't recall being more excited than I am for the upcoming year. I admire the team of professionals we have assembled to tackle the challenge and embrace the fun that comes with working with today's youth. Their potential is unlimited and you are the ones that bring it out of them, and I admire how you embrace and champion each and every student we serve. In every school, we saw students excited to be back, teachers ready to teach and mentor, and staff focused on creating a positive start to the year. The first day is a reminder of why the work we do matters. While much of the preparation happens behind the scenes and may go unnoticed, it takes the commitment of an entire team to make the first day for students successful. I also wanted to share that this past year alone, our Human Resources team processed 872 new hires and transfers. To those that are new to Team WCPS, we are honored to have you on our team and eager to support your professional growth.
Monday's Opening Day at Hillview was especially meaningful because our students were at the heart of the celebration. Our students helped lead the ceremonies and shared their voices, talents and excitement with our entire district. Hearing from them was a great reminder of the incredible potential within our students and the importance of giving them opportunities to lead, grow and make a difference. You can also watch the Opening Day “Did You Know?” video to learn more about some of the exciting things happening across WCPS. One of the most memorable moments of Opening Day was hearing choirs from across our schools join the WCPS District Choir in song. Hearing our students sing together was truly impactful. It was a beautiful reflection of the talent, pride and sense of community that make WCPS such a special place.
ANNOUNCEMENTS STEM GRANT OPPORTUNITY The 2026 TVA STEM Awards are open and will close September 15, 2026. K–12 teachers and school administrators at schools in the TVA service area are eligible to apply for awards of up to $5,000. Learn more about the TVA STEM Awards and apply. DELTA KAPPA GAMMA GRANT OPPORTUNITY Delta Kappa Gamma, an international organization of professional women educators, is accepting applications for teacher grants. The application deadline is October 2, 2026. Access the Delta Kappa Gamma teacher grant application.
Please remember that anyone applying for a classroom grant, school grant, district grant or any other grant must also complete the Grant Approval Form prior to applying. $500 BUS DRIVER REFERRAL BONUS As a reminder, WCPS is offering a $500 bus driver referral bonus. If someone you refer is hired as a WCPS bus driver and drives 90 days accident-free, you can receive a $500 bonus. If you know someone who would be a great fit, encourage them to apply for a WCPS bus driver position and make sure they list you as their referral. Thank you for helping us recruit great drivers and support our students!
If there is anything you need, please reach out to your primary supervisor or to any of us at Central Office. Our first responsibility is to make sure you have the resources and support you need to do what you do best: educate and inspire our students. For our first Wednesday's Word of the year, please enjoy some of the back-to-school pictures. I'm excited about what's ahead for our students, our schools and all of Team WCPS!
Respectfully,
Rob Clayton SUPERINTENDENT
BACK TO SCHOOL 2026
AUGUST
ETHICAL
ACTION OF EXCELLENCE
Through thoughtful action, follow accepted expectations of behavior and be morally good and right.