Transylvania County Schools
Building a Stronger Tomorrow... Today
Huge THANK YOU to the UNCA Atmospheric Science Students that came and presented to our BES 5th graders!
Dear Transylvania County Schools community,
This is a reminder that there will be no school on Friday, October 2. Educators will use this required teacher workday to participate in several different professional development opportunities.
We hope you have a safe and restful weekend.
Thank you!
This is a reminder that there will be no school on Friday, October 2. Educators will use this required teacher workday to participate in several different professional development opportunities.
We hope you have a safe and restful weekend.
Thank you!
Three Transylvania County Schools teachers are spending six days in a special training this week: Baylee Bicio, Emily Reader, and Robin Lavery. 📚
Project GLAD® (Guided Language Acquisition Design) is a professional development model that equips educators with research-based strategies to support multilingual learners and strengthen academic literacy.
We are proud of these teacher leaders for investing their time in growth that will benefit our students. We look forward to their return and to the knowledge they will share with colleagues across our district.
#TransylvaniaCountySchools #TCS #Buildingastrongertomorrow
Project GLAD® (Guided Language Acquisition Design) is a professional development model that equips educators with research-based strategies to support multilingual learners and strengthen academic literacy.
We are proud of these teacher leaders for investing their time in growth that will benefit our students. We look forward to their return and to the knowledge they will share with colleagues across our district.
#TransylvaniaCountySchools #TCS #Buildingastrongertomorrow
Transylvania County Schools has been ranked the top district in North Carolina in the Districts with the Best Teachers category of the 2027 Niche Best Schools rankings. The district placed first out of 117 districts statewide.
The ranking is an improvement over last year, when Transylvania County Schools placed second in the state. Niche rankings are based on analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
The district also earned strong marks in two other categories. Transylvania County Schools ranked fourth out of 118 districts in Best Places to Teach in North Carolina and 16th out of 118 in Best School Districts in North Carolina.
The top ranking reflects the work of the educators who lead classrooms across the district's nine schools every day. Teachers in Transylvania County build relationships with their students, know their families and hold high expectations for what every child can achieve. Caring and skilled educators shape a student's confidence, curiosity, and success well beyond a single school year.
Transylvania County Schools extends its thanks to the teachers at all nine schools. Their dedication, their skill, and their care for students are the reason the district earned this recognition. The district is proud of the educators who show up for Transylvania County's children and grateful for the community that stands behind them.
The ranking is an improvement over last year, when Transylvania County Schools placed second in the state. Niche rankings are based on analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.
The district also earned strong marks in two other categories. Transylvania County Schools ranked fourth out of 118 districts in Best Places to Teach in North Carolina and 16th out of 118 in Best School Districts in North Carolina.
The top ranking reflects the work of the educators who lead classrooms across the district's nine schools every day. Teachers in Transylvania County build relationships with their students, know their families and hold high expectations for what every child can achieve. Caring and skilled educators shape a student's confidence, curiosity, and success well beyond a single school year.
Transylvania County Schools extends its thanks to the teachers at all nine schools. Their dedication, their skill, and their care for students are the reason the district earned this recognition. The district is proud of the educators who show up for Transylvania County's children and grateful for the community that stands behind them.
We have been talking a lot about our most recent state testing data rankings, and we are very proud of the growth our teachers and students have accomplished! But, our schools are so much more than scores.
Take a look at where Transylvania County Schools stands in the 2027 Niche rankings! Teachers...we know that's right!
Take a look at where Transylvania County Schools stands in the 2027 Niche rankings! Teachers...we know that's right!
Valerie Surrette, a retired educator in Transylvania County, spent her final years of service as a special education teacher at Strauss Elementary and Pisgah Forest Elementary. She passed away on January 22, 2026, after a period of declining health.
In honor of her dedication and compassion for students, a memorial tree has been planted and a plaque installed at Pisgah Forest Elementary. Donations from fellow educators who worked with Mrs. Surrette made the tribute possible.
Her husband, Pete Surrette, preceded her in death. Her son, Jeffrey, of Henderson County, attended the memorial dedication in August.
The tree at Pisgah Forest Elementary will grow taller with each school year, and the plaque beside it will tell students and staff who come after them about Mrs. Surrette and the care she gave her students. Her colleagues chose a living tribute for a teacher whose influence continues in the classrooms and lives she touched.
In honor of her dedication and compassion for students, a memorial tree has been planted and a plaque installed at Pisgah Forest Elementary. Donations from fellow educators who worked with Mrs. Surrette made the tribute possible.
Her husband, Pete Surrette, preceded her in death. Her son, Jeffrey, of Henderson County, attended the memorial dedication in August.
The tree at Pisgah Forest Elementary will grow taller with each school year, and the plaque beside it will tell students and staff who come after them about Mrs. Surrette and the care she gave her students. Her colleagues chose a living tribute for a teacher whose influence continues in the classrooms and lives she touched.
Attention 9-12th graders!
Dear TCS Families and Community Members,
We're grateful for the many visitors, volunteers, and guests who make our schools such welcoming places to learn and grow. To continue strengthening the safety and security of our campus, we are implementing a new visitor management system powered by VisitU.
Beginning October 5, 2026, all visitors, volunteers, and guests will check in through our new system when arriving on campus.
What to Expect:
-An iPad will be available at each front desk for check-in.
-Visitors will scan the back of their driver's license to check in.
-Visitors will be asked to take their picture the first time they sign in.
-A sticker label will be printed for visitors to wear while in the building.
-When leaving, visitors will scan the QR code on their badge to sign out at the front office.
Why We're Making This Change:
The safety of our students, staff, and visitors is our highest priority. Our new Visitor Management System helps us:
-Improve campus security by knowing who is on campus
-Streamline the visitor check-in process
-Support school safety procedures and emergency preparedness
-Maintain accurate visitor records
Please contact your school if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe.
We're grateful for the many visitors, volunteers, and guests who make our schools such welcoming places to learn and grow. To continue strengthening the safety and security of our campus, we are implementing a new visitor management system powered by VisitU.
Beginning October 5, 2026, all visitors, volunteers, and guests will check in through our new system when arriving on campus.
What to Expect:
-An iPad will be available at each front desk for check-in.
-Visitors will scan the back of their driver's license to check in.
-Visitors will be asked to take their picture the first time they sign in.
-A sticker label will be printed for visitors to wear while in the building.
-When leaving, visitors will scan the QR code on their badge to sign out at the front office.
Why We're Making This Change:
The safety of our students, staff, and visitors is our highest priority. Our new Visitor Management System helps us:
-Improve campus security by knowing who is on campus
-Streamline the visitor check-in process
-Support school safety procedures and emergency preparedness
-Maintain accurate visitor records
Please contact your school if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe.
Today, we are celebrating our teacher assistants, who support our teachers and help make each school day a success for our students. Thank you for all you do to make a difference!
On Thursday afternoon, the last bells rang and students headed home, to sports practice, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, dozens of #TCS teachers gathered at the Transylvania County Library's Rogow Room to keep growing as educators.
The occasion was the Beginning Teacher Support Program, led by Assistant Superintendent and Human Resources Director Brian Weaver. The program pairs teachers in their first few years in the classroom with experienced mentor teachers, offering guidance, encouragement, and a trusted colleague to lean on as they build their careers.
Thank you to every teacher who showed up on a Thursday afternoon to invest in themselves and in our students. Your dedication and your commitment to this profession make Transylvania County Schools stronger. 🍎
The occasion was the Beginning Teacher Support Program, led by Assistant Superintendent and Human Resources Director Brian Weaver. The program pairs teachers in their first few years in the classroom with experienced mentor teachers, offering guidance, encouragement, and a trusted colleague to lean on as they build their careers.
Thank you to every teacher who showed up on a Thursday afternoon to invest in themselves and in our students. Your dedication and your commitment to this profession make Transylvania County Schools stronger. 🍎
Our students are representing Transylvania County Schools on Capitol Hill!
This week, HOSA officers from Brevard and Rosman high schools traveled to Washington, D.C. for a national leadership retreat, joining more than 500 students from across the country. Out of all the chapters in attendance, our students are the only ones representing North Carolina. That is something our whole community should be proud of.
Tomorrow, they will walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol to meet with government representatives and advocate for Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding and support for programs like HOSA. Thank you to HOSA advisor Amber Khalafalla for guiding our officers through this experience and helping them grow into confident leaders and advocates.
However far from home they are this week, they are carrying Transylvania County with them. We are so proud to see our students represent TCS on this national stage.
This week, HOSA officers from Brevard and Rosman high schools traveled to Washington, D.C. for a national leadership retreat, joining more than 500 students from across the country. Out of all the chapters in attendance, our students are the only ones representing North Carolina. That is something our whole community should be proud of.
Tomorrow, they will walk the halls of the U.S. Capitol to meet with government representatives and advocate for Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding and support for programs like HOSA. Thank you to HOSA advisor Amber Khalafalla for guiding our officers through this experience and helping them grow into confident leaders and advocates.
However far from home they are this week, they are carrying Transylvania County with them. We are so proud to see our students represent TCS on this national stage.
Celebrating our IT Team 🎉
The Transylvania County Schools Board of Education recognized the district's Information Technology staff during its recent meeting in honor of National IT Professionals Day, observed this year on September 15.
Board members and district leaders thanked the team for the work that keeps schools running behind the scenes, from classroom technology to the networks connecting every building in the district.
Recognized by Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher and the school board:
Blake Tesnow, Director of Technology
Chris Lambert, WAN Engineer
Stephen Shields, Technology Specialist
Jordan Eubanks, Technology Specialist
Ryan Shannon, Technology Specialist
Alyse Sheppard, Educational Technology (EdTech) Coach
Their work often goes unseen, but it touches nearly every part of the school day. Transylvania County Schools extends its gratitude to this team for supporting students and staff throughout the district.
#TCS #TransylvaniaCountySchools #BuildingaStrongerTomorrow...Today #BuildingaStrongerTomorrow #Transylvania County
The Transylvania County Schools Board of Education recognized the district's Information Technology staff during its recent meeting in honor of National IT Professionals Day, observed this year on September 15.
Board members and district leaders thanked the team for the work that keeps schools running behind the scenes, from classroom technology to the networks connecting every building in the district.
Recognized by Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher and the school board:
Blake Tesnow, Director of Technology
Chris Lambert, WAN Engineer
Stephen Shields, Technology Specialist
Jordan Eubanks, Technology Specialist
Ryan Shannon, Technology Specialist
Alyse Sheppard, Educational Technology (EdTech) Coach
Their work often goes unseen, but it touches nearly every part of the school day. Transylvania County Schools extends its gratitude to this team for supporting students and staff throughout the district.
#TCS #TransylvaniaCountySchools #BuildingaStrongerTomorrow...Today #BuildingaStrongerTomorrow #Transylvania County
🎨 Celebrating National Arts in Education Week 🎨
This year, National Arts in Education Week was celebrated September 13-19, 2026, and here in Transylvania County Schools, we're keeping that celebration going all month long!
Arts education includes a rich array of disciplines: dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts. The arts are an essential part of a complete education, and students of all ages benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity.
Across our district, teachers weave the arts into lessons in every subject, not just art class. Whether it's sketching a scientific diagram, composing a piece of writing, or designing a hands-on project, students are building skills in self-expression, problem-solving, and creative thinking that carry into every part of their education and beyond.
We deeply value the role the arts play in shaping well-rounded, creative thinkers. For all they do to enrich our students' lives, we thank our arts educators, and we thank our community for their continued support of arts programs in our schools.
A few glimpses of the arts in action:
📍 At Rosman Elementary, Mrs. Morris' class explored line and form through self-portrait art.
📍 At Brevard High School, Mr. Chapman's Carpentry Class blends art and design as students build live-edge tables, picture frames, and other handcrafted projects.
Thank you to every educator who finds creative ways to bring the arts into learning every day! 🎭🎶🖌️
The 4th generation of rainbow trout eggs have arrived at the OCS trout in the classroom tank at Rosman High School. Students will raise these little eggs up to be fingerling trout that will swim in the waters of the French Broad River right here in Rosman in April!
Thank you Trout Unlimited Pisgah Chapter for keeping our stream of learning and experiencing stocked!
Thank you Trout Unlimited Pisgah Chapter for keeping our stream of learning and experiencing stocked!
Thank you, CFSSP!
Last night, champions for education came together in Connestee Falls for the annual Celebration of Education Gala and Fundraiser, hosted by the Connestee Falls Student Scholarship Program (CFSSP). 🎓
Through the extraordinary generosity of Connestee Falls residents and local businesses, CFSSP recently awarded a record breaking $153,000 in scholarships to almost 30 Transylvania County students, the largest single-year total in the program's history.
TCS Chief Academic Officer Carrie Norris spoke at the event, thanking the program and its generous donors for making college possible and more accessible for so many of our students.
One of the past year's four-year scholarship recipients, Sophia Miguel, took a night away from her nursing studies at Catawba College to share how the scholarship changed her future and to thank the Connestee Falls community in person. Just last year, she was a senior at Brevard High School. Now she's already serving as Freshman Class President at Catawba.
This past year, 25 TCS students received one-year scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, and for the first time in the program's history, three students were named recipients of four-year, full undergraduate scholarships, each worth $10,000 per year for a total of $40,000.
Over the last 39 years, CFSSP has raised more than $2.3 million and helped over 1,000 Transylvania County residents pursue their education, with funds distributed each year to students at Transylvania County Schools, Brevard College, and Blue Ridge Community College.
RMS teacher, Ashlee Zachary, and Student Support Director, Courtney Owen, have been accepted into the Education Policy Fellowship Program.
Built around the three pillars of leadership, policy, and networking, fellows will come together from across the state to learn the history of education policy in North Carolina, how it still impacts education systems today, and the principles of advocacy that can be used to improve education policy for a better future.
This program is funded by the Appalachian Gear Up grant. TCS is currently in Year 3 of this 7 year grant, serving grades 6-12.
Built around the three pillars of leadership, policy, and networking, fellows will come together from across the state to learn the history of education policy in North Carolina, how it still impacts education systems today, and the principles of advocacy that can be used to improve education policy for a better future.
This program is funded by the Appalachian Gear Up grant. TCS is currently in Year 3 of this 7 year grant, serving grades 6-12.
Pisgah Forest Elementary School had a special visitor yesterday! 🐾 Mrs. Beck's second grade class welcomed school psychologist Lisa Kent and her therapy dog, Dez, for a fun and calming classroom visit.
Students loved getting to meet Dez and spend time with him.
Students loved getting to meet Dez and spend time with him.
This year, 71 BHS juniors and seniors answered the call to become mentors and a friendly face to welcome freshman. They trained together before school started, then spent orientation day leading freshmen through campus scavenger hunts, turning what could have been a nervous first day into one full of laughter and energy. That bond does not end after orientation. Every Wednesday throughout the school year, mentors and their freshmen gather again in Devils Den, small groups guided by a faculty partner who keeps the connection going.
Two springs ago, a group of BHS staff sat down for a School Improvement Team meeting and had an idea. They noticed students arriving from smaller schools or home school settings were sometimes struggling with the jump to high school, and sometimes feeling isolated.
That conversation planted the seed for the BHS Mentorship Program, developed by TC STRONG and SparkPoint in partnership with Transylvania County Schools. It was spearheaded by BHS Assistant Principal Melinda Stinson.
With 71 mentors and 18 faculty advisors this year, every incoming freshman has someone in their corner from the very beginning.
#BuildingAStrongerTomorrow
Two springs ago, a group of BHS staff sat down for a School Improvement Team meeting and had an idea. They noticed students arriving from smaller schools or home school settings were sometimes struggling with the jump to high school, and sometimes feeling isolated.
That conversation planted the seed for the BHS Mentorship Program, developed by TC STRONG and SparkPoint in partnership with Transylvania County Schools. It was spearheaded by BHS Assistant Principal Melinda Stinson.
With 71 mentors and 18 faculty advisors this year, every incoming freshman has someone in their corner from the very beginning.
#BuildingAStrongerTomorrow
Mark your calendars for THIS THURSDAY 9/10 and join us for Community Night at Hawg Wild Smokehouse in Pisgah Forest! Visit from 5:30-7:30PM and 10% of proceeds will directly benefit Transylvania County Schools and TCSEF. Grab the family, friends, neighbors and we hope to see you there!
💙 A Heartfelt Thank You! 💙
TCS would like to extend our sincere gratitude to The Shop of St. Philips for opening its doors today and providing School Social Workers with the opportunity to shop for our students at no cost.
Our School Social Workers—Lovey Puryear, Tristen Beasley, and Olivia Shuler—were able to stock our school closets with much-needed items to help ensure that our students can come to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn.
We are incredibly thankful for your generosity and for the difference you are making in the lives of our students and families. Your kindness and support truly make a lasting impact! 💙
Thank you, The Shop of St. Philips, for supporting our students and our schools! 🙏✨
TCS would like to extend our sincere gratitude to The Shop of St. Philips for opening its doors today and providing School Social Workers with the opportunity to shop for our students at no cost.
Our School Social Workers—Lovey Puryear, Tristen Beasley, and Olivia Shuler—were able to stock our school closets with much-needed items to help ensure that our students can come to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn.
We are incredibly thankful for your generosity and for the difference you are making in the lives of our students and families. Your kindness and support truly make a lasting impact! 💙
Thank you, The Shop of St. Philips, for supporting our students and our schools! 🙏✨
