According to reports by the Herald News in Rhea County, the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) honored outstanding school facility projects and health-focused districts across the state at its annual convention in Nashville. The 2025 TSBA School of the Year Awards recognized architectural excellence in several categories: Cope Architecture won New Construction–Elementary for Lincoln Heights Elementary School (Hamblen County); Lyle Cook Martin Architects, LLC took New Construction–High School for Lewis County High School; Community Tectonics Architects, Inc. earned the Renovation award for Bristol Municipal Stadium at Tennessee High School; and Upland Design Group received the People’s Choice award for Dayton City School, as voted by TSBA members. Projects were judged on cost efficiency, aesthetics, energy and environmental design, flexibility, expandability, and site development.

In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education’s Division of Coordinated School Health and Wellpoint, TSBA also celebrated participants in the Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge, an initiative that rewards districts for creating healthier environments that support both student wellness and academic success. Sixteen districts achieved Platinum Level status (meeting 12 of 13 criteria) and received $8,000 each, including Athens City, Benton, Franklin, Gibson County Special, Giles, Grundy, Lake, Lexington, Loudon, McMinn, Oneida Special, Roane, Rogersville, Trousdale, Van Buren, Washington, and White County schools. Six districts earned Gold Level ($6,000), eight reached Silver Level ($5,000), and four attained Bronze Level ($4,000) recognition for their efforts in health education, physical activity, and removing barriers to care. The awards highlight TSBA’s ongoing commitment, as the statewide federation of all Tennessee school boards, to advancing effective governance, student achievement, and overall school community well-being.