Dr. John Ash
Director of Schools
Dr. Ash has been in education for 38 years. He has taught at Smith County High School, Brentwood High School, and LaVergne High School. Dr. Ash taught many things but primarily AP chemistry, honors chemistry, and physics. He has served as a head football coach, head baseball coach, track coach, and basketball coach. Dr. Ash began his administrative career as an assistant principal at LaVergne High School. He then had the privilege of being the first principal of Christiana Middle School. Dr. Ash served in that capacity until he was hired as the first principal at Central Magnet. During his time at Central Magnet, he has been named the 2014 and 2018 NASSP Principal of the Year for the state of Tennessee. He has also received the AF Bridges Sportsmanship Award from the TSSAA. Central Magnet has been named the number 1 school in Tennessee and was named the number 3 school in America in 2025. Dr. Ash has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for 35 years. The couple has two children, Dr. John E. Ash and Megan S. Dunn. Dr. Ash and Jennifer are the proud grandparents of Avery Suzanne Dunn.
Board of Education
The Mission of the Smith County School System is to produce academically competent citizens who have the necessary career and life skills to earn an adequate living and assume the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in their community, state, and nation. We are very proud to be named an Exemplary School System. This is a great honor and shows the dedication and experience our staff as a whole. Great parents, students, and community support. “I believe the best people in the world live in Smith County Tennessee.” I am the luckiest person in the world to get to work with all these people each day.
School Addresses/Contact Info
Carthage Elementary School Grades Pre-K – 4
Principal: Dave Silcox – dsilcox@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Zac Cole – zac.cole@smithcoedu.net
Adddress: 149 Skyline Drive
Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-0433
Fax: (615) 735-8256
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/carthage
Defeated Elementary School Grades Pre-K – 8
Principal: Meranda Cook
Address: 451 Defeated Creek Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 774-3150
Fax: (315) 774-3900
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/defeated
Forks River School Grades Pre-K – 8
Principal: Leslie Pope
Address: 611 Cookeville Hwy
Elmwood, TN 38560
Phone: (615) 897-2676
Fax: (615) 897-2222
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/forks-river
Gordonsville Elementary School Grades 3 – 6
Principal: Rachel Kelley – rkelley2@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Scott Clemons – sclemons@smithcoedu.net
Address: 100 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
Phone: (615) 683-8252
Fax: (615) 683-8253
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/gordonsville
Gordonsville High School Grades 7 – 12
Principal: Mac Petty – pettym@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Darrell White – darrell.white@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Lindsay Foster – lfoster3@smithcoedu.net
Address: 110 Main Street East
Gordonsville, TN 38563
Phone: (615) 683-8245
Fax: (615) 683-5193
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/gordonsville-high
New Middleton School Grades Pre-K – 2
Principal: Shawn Frye
Assistant Principal: Leigh Petty
Address: 402 New Middleton Hwy
Gordonsville, TN
Phones: (615)683-8563 / (615) 683-8411
Fax: (615) 683-8422
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/new-middleton
Union Heights School Grades Pre-K – 8
Principal: Wendolyn Kittrell
Address: 663 Lebanon Hwy
Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-1975
Fax: (615) 735-0667
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/union-heights
Smith County Middle School Grades 5 – 8
Principal: LaShae Johnson – ljohnson5@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Cara Clay – cara.clay@smithcoedu.net
Address: 134 SCMS Lane
Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-8277
Fax: (615) 735-8255
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/smith-county-middle
Smith County High School Grades 9 – 12
Principal: Scott Apple – apples@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Annette Hord – ahord@smithcoedu.net
Assistant Principal: Kit Jenkins – kit.jenkins@smithcoedu.net
Address: 312 Fite Ave East
Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-9219
Fax: (615) 735-9049
Webpage Link: https://www.smithcoedu.com/o/smith-county-high
Smith County Alternative Education Grades 5 -12
Principal: Bob Dillard – dillardb@smithcoedu.net
Address: 207 Main Street N
Carthage, TN 37030
Phone: (615) 735-9646
Fax: (615) 735-9849
OFFICE INFO
Business Hours
Address
Smith County School System
126 S C M S Lane
Carthage, TN 37030