Knox County Schools is excited to begin the 2025-26 school year. Below is a list of events available for media coverage leading up to the first day of school on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Please note two or more Board members may be present. Also below are details about some key resources available to families and the community.

One of the district’s key priorities is having great educators in every school. KCS is hosting a Welcome Celebration to kick off the start of a yearlong New Teacher Experience. Interviews with teachers and our Business and Talent team will be available.

Date: Tuesday, July 29

Time: 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Location: Crowne Plaza, 401 W. Summit Hill Drive

Hundreds of educators from schools across Region 5 will gather for professional development opportunities designed for teachers by teachers. Region 5 leadership and educators will be available for interviews.

Date: Wednesday, July 30

Time: 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

Location: Fulton High, 2509 N Broadway

Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk will be joined by KCS leaders and representatives of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knoxville Police Department to discuss school safety in the upcoming academic year.

Date: Tuesday, August 5

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: West Hills Elementary School, 409 Vanosdale Road

A media availability will highlight orientation activities at KCS middle and high schools. Bearden Middle School principal Michael Toth, an educator, and a student can be available for interviews. Limited B-roll opportunities will also be available.

Date: Tuesday, August 5

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Location: Bearden Middle School, 1000 Francis Road

KCS is excited to welcome students back to school on our first day, Thursday, August 7 (half day). Principal Bill Baldwin, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk, and a Bonny Kate educator will be available for interviews. Parent or guardian permission is required before interviewing students or using them in videos or photos.

Date: Thursday, August 7

Time: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Location: Bonny Kate Elementary, 7608 Martin Mill Pike

Knox County Schools’ new, family-focused district website has launched. Over the past year, we’ve worked alongside families, staff, and community members to redesign the site with easier navigation, improved tools, and better access to important information.

Text-A-Tip is a secure, anonymous reporting tool that allows students, staff, families, and community members to share safety or mental health concerns—anytime, anywhere. Designed with students in mind, Text-A-Tip lets users attach photos or videos to their reports and ensures 24/7 monitoring so that time-sensitive issues are addressed quickly and appropriately.

The Edulog Parent Portal is a free mobile app that helps families stay connected to their student’s school bus. With real-time GPS tracking, the app shows the planned stop location, current bus position, and sends alerts as the bus approaches. It’s a convenient way to stay informed and ensure peace of mind during daily transportation.

The Givebacks App is a free mobile tool that makes it easy for families to manage payments and support their school community – all in one place! With an easy-to-use interface, the app enables parents to effortlessly pay school fees, contribute to fundraising campaigns, purchase event tickets, and turn everyday shopping and dining into donations for your school.

Qustodio is a free service that gives families additional tools to supervise school-issued Chromebooks outside of school hours. When schools are in session, student activity is monitored by school staff. Outside of school hours—including evenings, weekends, and holidays—Qustodio allows families to set custom web filters, manage screen time, pause internet access, monitor browsing activity, and receive usage summaries by email. Families can get started by creating an account using the parent email on file in Aspen.