Principal Message
Welcome from Dr. Garner
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! It is an honor to serve as the Executive Principal of John Overton High School; a place that is especially meaningful to me as a proud Overton alumna from the Class of 2006. Whether you are returning or joining our community for the first time, I am excited to welcome you to the Bobcat family!
At John Overton, we proudly believe All BOBCATS Belong. Our students represent more than 60 countries and speak more than 57 languages, making Overton one of the most diverse schools in Tennessee. We are committed to ensuring every student feels known, valued, supported, challenged, and connected to our school community. Belonging must also be accompanied by high expectations, rigorous learning, and meaningful support. Our students are capable of exceptional outcomes, and we believe in challenging them to reach their fullest potential. No one rises to low expectations, so at Overton, we Expect the Best from our students, and we work together to help them achieve it.
Our instructional focus this year is student ownership and evidence of learning through teacher clarity and high expectations. Students should understand what they are learning, why it matters, how they will know when they have learned it, and what they must do next. Teachers will clearly communicate the learning intention, relevancy, and success criteria while regularly checking for understanding and using evidence of learning to provide feedback and adjust instruction. Students are the drivers of their learning, while teachers serve as the GPS: providing direction, monitoring progress, and adjusting the route when additional support or challenge is needed. We expect students to actively participate in class, ask questions, use feedback, reflect on their progress, and take responsibility for their academic success. Completing an assignment is not always evidence that learning has occurred; students must be able to demonstrate what they know and can do.
Student success requires a strong partnership among students, families, educators, and the community. We ask families to remain actively engaged by monitoring attendance and academic progress, communicating with teachers, attending school events, and encouraging students to seek support when needed. We ask students to attend school every day, arrive on time, make responsible decisions, work hard, and take full advantage of the many academic, athletic, artistic, and extracurricular opportunities available at Overton. Together, we will make this our best year yet and develop Confident Learners. Courageous Thinkers. Successful Bobcats.
With Immense Bobcat Pride,