Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Meet and Greet Set for New Director of McKenzie Schools

Saturday, May 20, 5 to 8 p.m.

Posted

McKenzie Special School District introduces Dr. Justin Barden, director-elect of the McKenzie Special School District. MSSD officials are announcing a meet and greet for Dr. Barden and his family.

The event is Saturday, May 20, 5 to 8 p.m. at Hometown Hangout, 14985 Highland Dr., McKenzie.

This is an opportunity to welcome the new family to McKenzie.

Barden is a Jackson native and Jackson Central Merry graduate (1999). He earned his bachelor’s at Union University (2003) B.S. in Physical Education and Health, master's at Trevecca Nazarene University-Nashville Education Leadership, and his Education Specialist (Ed.S.) 2009, and Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) at Union University in 2012.

Barden is now the principal of Lewis County High School, and the family resides in Dickson. He previously taught at Humboldt 2005-2010, where he was a teacher and later assistant principal at Humboldt Elementary, assistant principal at Charlotte Middle School (2013-2016) and principal at Charlotte Middle School (2016-2022).

He has served as a teacher, coach and administrator.

Dr. Barden is married to Allyson Clark, a native of Jackson, who is a social worker.

They have four children - Baylee (15), Kynlee (12), Jackson (11) and Deacon (9) - all of whom will enroll at McKenzie.

The McKenzie Special School District invitation reads, “Please join us for a meet and greet where you can stop by to say hello and welcome them. Come and go as you wish.

Hometown Hangout will be open for you to enjoy some delicious food and ice cream while you’re there.
We hope you can make it.”