GATLINBURG –The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents released the following statement announcing Dr. David Snowden as the winner of the 2024 Superintendent of the Year Award on September 10th, 2023:
The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) met in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on September 10th, 2023, for their annual Awards Banquet. The 2024 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year was announced at the banquet on Sunday night. This year the honored award recipient was Dr. David Snowden of Franklin Special School District, representing the Mid-Cumberland region of Tennessee. Dr. Snowden was selected for this honor from a distinguished group of eight Regional Superintendents of the Year, which included Dr. Jeanny Phillips (Oneida Special School District), East; Dr. Steve Barnett (Johnson City Schools), First; Dr. Norma Gerrell (Paris Special School District), Northwest; Dr. Joey Vaughn (Manchester City Schools), South Central; Mr. Robert Greene (Athens City Schools), Southeast; Dr. John Combs (Tipton County Schools), Southwest; and Dr. Clint Satterfield (Trousdale County Schools), Upper Cumberland Tennessee.
Growing up on a small farm in rural Mississippi, Dr. Snowden says that he learned “the value of hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and the importance of relationships.” He states, “I watched my parents model the importance of serving and giving back to your community. Both served in the local civic and church groups, and I observed how they provided home-grown vegetables from our garden each year to those around who were less fortunate. Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time, but they were demonstrating what “servant” leadership was all about.” Dr. Snowden has carried these values into his long and successful career in education.
Dr. David Snowden enrolled in a small community college in Meridian, Mississippi after graduating high school. Soon afterwards, he transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi to focus on becoming a public-school educator, majoring in History and Secondary Education. After graduation he was hired as a junior high school teacher in Meridian Public Schools, where he taught during the day and took night classes at Mississippi State University to earn his Master’s in Education Administration degree. He then earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Education Leadership degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1990. Prior to accepting the Superintendency at Franklin Special School District in Franklin, Tennessee, Dr. Snowden began his career in Mississippi. He spent eight years as a high school classroom teacher, nine years as the assistant principal at Pascagoula High School in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and six years as the principal at Colmer Junior High School in Pascagoula, Mississippi. After completing his doctorate, he served as an assistant superintendent in the district office for six years before transitioning to the Superintendent of Schools for the Pascagoula School District. After serving twenty years in the Pascagoula School District and four years as the superintendent, he applied for leadership position outside of his home state of Mississippi, the Director of Schools in the Franklin Special School District in Franklin, Tennessee.
Since becoming the Director of Schools in the Franklin Special School District (FSSD) in 2001, Dr. Snowden has put an emphasis on community collaboration, transparency, high quality educators and training, and student mental health. Dr. Snowden recognizes that students face various issues in today’s world that can negatively impact their lives both in school and at home. So, in 2018 under his leadership, FSSD created a partnership with Mercy Community Healthcare, where students have access to a mental health therapist each day. Dr. Snowden says, “This has been a significant support to students and their families as we all work together to meet the needs of the whole child and to do all we can to enhance their opportunity for success.” In addition, Dr. Snowden and the FSSD implemented the FSSD Therapy Dog Pilot Program in 2019, to determine if the use of specifically trained canines could provide another strategy to help students who have anxiety and/or behavioral issues, cope with the stresses of school and to improve the overall school environment. The pilot program was a huge success, and they now have a therapy dog in each school, experiencing overwhelming results from the addition of their canine friends.
Other community partnerships implemented under Dr. Snowden’s leadership include The StoryBus and United Way Raise Your Hand (UYRYH). The StoryBus is a mobile library that travels the streets and parking lots of Franklin every summer as part of FSSD’s community outreach designed to foster a love for reading in children ages four through fourth grade. The StoryBus mobile library is free and offers children the opportunity to choose a book from the shelves, curl up on a beanbag and read or have books read to them by StoryBus staff members. United Way Raise Your Hand (UWRYH) funds before and after school tutor in in reading and math for our pupils and arranges for volunteers to assist licensed teachers in this work for the majority of each school year.
Dr. Snowden and his wife, Kathy, have three children and seven grandchildren with whom they enjoy spending time. In their free time, they also enjoy traveling, reading, and spending time on the water.
TOSS Executive Director, Dr. Dale Lynch stated, “I want to congratulate all of this year’s Regional Superintendents of the Year. A special congratulations goes to Dr. David Snowden for being selected as the 2024 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Snowden is an exceptional leader and has proven that quality leadership can be long lasting school districts. His leadership has exemplified dedication, innovation, and a deep understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within modern education. His tireless efforts to enhance student outcomes, foster a culture of excellence, and create collaborative partnerships have not only benefited Franklin Special School District but have also inspired educators around the state. Dr. Snowden continues to serve in leadership roles across the state and has been a superintendent mentor for many school system leaders.”
Dr. Snowden will represent the state of Tennessee at the 2024 AASA National Conference on Education, which will be held in San Diego, California this February. TOSS also presented the George "Kip" Reel Award for Leadership in Education to Mr. John Aitken of AIMS, the Friend of TOSS Award to Mr. Bob Eby, Chairman of the Tennessee State Board of Education, and the TOSS Legislative Award to Tennessee Representative, Sam Whitson.
The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) is the leading advocate organization for public education in the state of Tennessee. Since 1975, TOSS has been progressing public education and addressing the needs of its administrators. TOSS provides advocacy at the state level for education issues that are high priorities for Tennessee schools, and is comprised of district leaders who are committed to lifelong learning, best practice sharing, and continuous improvement.
