Sherry Phillips Named Principal of New Schilling Middle School

By Craig Meek
– The Collierville Herald –

Sherry Phillips, who served as principal at Collierville Middle School for 19 years, will be the first principal of the new Schilling Farms Middle School, which is scheduled to open in the fall.

Ingrid Warren, who began serving as interim principal at Collierville Middle School after Mrs. Phillips’ departure, has been named the full-time principal for that school.

Mrs. Phillips began teaching in 1972 at Collierville Elementary School, where she taught kindergarten for four years. She then spent one year teaching fifth and sixth grade mathematics at Riverdale Elementary School in Memphis before becoming the principal of Arlington Elementary School.

She left Arlington, after two years as principal, to become the principal of Collierville Middle School in 1979 and served until 1998, when she became an interim administrative assistant to the Shelby County schools superintendent, Dr. James Mitchell jr.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and a Masters of Education degree from the University of Memphis.

Mrs. Phillips said she is excited about working in Collierville again.

"I’m looking forward to the opportunity to open a new school and to return to the community of Collierville," she said.

The new 97,000 square foot school, which is under construction int eh Schilling Farms Neighborhood, will include 44 classrooms, a media center, a gymnasium, two science and computer labs, two computer rooms, two art rooms, and a cafetorium with a stage.

Mrs. Phillips said that, in addition to the computer labs, all the classrooms are wired for Internet access.

"It’s important that we focus on meeting the changing needs of today’s learners and prepare our students with the necessary skills for them to be competitive in the work world," she added.

"Our primary goal is to work with the students, staff, parents, and community to create a school environment that promotes high studies, team work, and a commitment to the total child."

The new school, for grades six through eight, is projected to open with 570 students.

Mrs. Warren has worked at Collierville Middle for 15 years. She taught sixth-grade science there for five years before returning to school for her master of administration supervision degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Waynesburg College in Philadelphia.

She returned to Collierville Middle as a curriculum coordinator, a position she held for eight years before being named interim principal.

"I’m very very happy and excited to be named as full-time principal at Collierville Middle School," said Mrs. Warren. "Although next year will encompass some change with the relocation of some students and teachers, I’m still anticipating a very academically challenging year and looking forward to meeting our goals."

Richard Holden, the Director of Research and Planning for Shelby County Schools, said all of the students currently living in the Crosswind Elementary School district will be going to the new Schilling Farms Middle School. Students in the district for Schilling Farms who wish to remain at Collierville Middle School must individually request transfers from the Pupil Services Department of the Shelby County Schools, Holden said.

Students in the districts for Collierville Elementary School and Tara Oaks Elementary School will continue to attend Collierville Middle School.

Collierville Elementary and Tara Oaks will stop teaching sixth grade students, according to Holden. Their students will go to Collierville Middle School as soon as they complete the fifth grade.