DeKalb County Director of Schools Patrick Cripps received an honor last week after being named the 2024-25 Tennessee Upper Cumberland Regional Superintendent of the Year. The award was presented by the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS), which is a membership association for Tennessee’s school superintendents and directors of schools. TOSS provides high quality professional learning, legislative advocacy and many other services.

“It’s an honor, it really is, just to be recognized by you peers,” Cripps told the Smithville Review. “I see this as a DeKalb County recognition. It’s not about me, but it’s about the faculty and staff, as well as our administrators and everyone that supports our school system. The make the day go each day, and that includes students and parents.”

TOSS selects eight regional Superintendent or Director of the Year winners, with one selected as the state winner. The state winner will move on to the national level.

“God has blessed me with this job and for letting me have the opportunity to do it,” said Director Cripps. “I have to give Him all the praise and glory. He’s with me every day and He guides my footsteps. He keeps me out of trouble, and it’s the same with my faculty and staff. They keep me in tow. I thank everyone because it is an honor amongst your peers.”

Director Cripps said he is also thankful for the support of his wife Jamie, and their three children, Callie, Zoe and Brody Cripps, and stepchildren Seth, and his wife Elizabeth Wright, and Cole Wright, along with grandson Rhett Wright.

Cripps received a BS degree from Tennessee Tech University in the fall of 1995 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. In the fall of 1999, Cripps earned an MA in Educational Psychology and Counselor Education.

Prior to his selection as Director in 2015, Cripps served as Principal at DCHS for three years, and began his education career in DeKalb as a Safe Schools Counselor in 1997. Two years later, he was named a School Counselor at DCHS, and in 2005, he became Assistant Principal at DCHS, a position he held until being named Principal in 2012.

Cripps the fourth director of schools in DeKalb since the state law changed in 1998 requiring school superintendents to be appointed by local boards of education instead of being popularly elected.

The first appointed director locally was Aubrey Turner, Jr. who served from 1998-2002, followed by Jim McCormick from 2002-2006, and Mark Willoughby from 2006-2015. Dr. Danielle Collins was named as interim director in April 2015 after the departure of Willoughby and served three months in the position. She continues to serve today as Federal Programs Supervisor for the School System.