History

Dexter Middle School was founded in 2002 under principal Eddie Jones. Jones opened the new school year welcoming an estimated 520 students, grades five through eight, from Chimney Rock, Macon Hall, Riverdale, and Mt. Pisgah. Dexter Middle School was yet another effort by the Shelby County System to alleviate the population boom in the unincorporated Cordova area.

The land, which surrounds Dexter Middle and Dexter Elementary Schools, is rich in local history. It is an area that was owned by small farmers, both white and African Americans, who kept their land pure and agriculturally productive until the encroaching population of Memphis became too much to hold off. The Bridgewater House, today a local Bed and Breakfast, was once an African American schoolhouse for first through the eighth grade. Clifford Brady, a former African-American landowner who still lives in the community, recalls his days at the school. “There were three classrooms and three teachers who were responsible for teaching all the students at every grade level. At the most, there were about 98 students. There were no indoor facilities in the school. We used an outhouse. There was also no running water. We would have to take turns walking to the well on my daddy’s land to get water. In the winter, we would volunteer to collect sticks for the next day’s fire.” “ I graduated from the school in 1946 and went on to the Woodstock Training Academy in Millington for high school. “ Mr. Brady went on to serve in the military and became a 29 year employee of Shelby County Schools where he ended his career as an assistant principal at Germantown High School.

Mr. Brady recalls when he began to notice the change in the Bridgewater community in the late 1960’s. Older families began to sell off their lots because their children preferred to live and work in the city. In the early 1980’s, the changes caused the community to come together and develop a last resort pact. The largest land owner, Mr. Bud Rogers knew that building developments were unavoidable but wanted to keep as much as the area in tact as possible. Ms. White, a local African American landowner, recalls the town hall style meeting. “Mr. Rogers, who owned the larger plot of land where he farmed and raised cattle, made a verbal pact with the smaller African-American community of Bridgewater to not sell his land if they promised to hold on to theirs.” The agreement stood for a short time but the rising value of the property was too much for some families to reject. Mr. Rogers eventually decided to sell a portion of his land to Shelby County in order to build a school. It only seemed like the right thing to do since it would benefit the children of the community.

Dexter Middle has benefited from the leadership of three principals. The founding principal, Mr. Eddie Jones, came in with both vision and enthusiasm. Mr. Jones had begun his educational career as an English teacher at Kirby Middle. He moved from the classroom where he was a founding member of Schilling Middle School administrative team as the curriculum coordinator. His experience led him to the leadership position of Dexter Middle where he handpicked his faculty and support staff to fit his dream of educational excellence and sense of family. “What more could a leader ask for but the opportunity to help establish and shape an environment that would produce far-reaching results. I was fortunate to have had the input and contributions of several faculty members, parents, and students who like me wanted the same things for Dexter Middle: A nurturing climate, a school of excellence, and a safe environment for children and employees to grow personally and professionally. The experience of serving as a founding principal still stands as one of the most unique and wholesome experiences I've ever had. “

In 2004, Dr. Reo Pruiett stepped in as principal of Dexter Middle School. She has been with Shelby County Schools for 22 years. She began as a science teacher at Bartlett and eventually Bolton High School, where she moved to the Board of Education as an Exemplary Educator for High School and then to the Science Supervisor position. She finally began her journey into school administration as the Vice Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Bolton High School, which led to her position as principal of Dexter Middle School. “Dexter Middle School is the best kept secret in the Shelby County School District. The students, parents, teachers, and administrative staff are a cohesive unit that works diligently to provide the students of DMS an opportunity to succeed academically. I was honored to serve as principal of the greatest middle school in SCS, state of Tennessee and the United States.” Dr. Pruiett is now the Director of Middle and Secondary Schools at the Shelby County Board of Education.

Dexter Middle School’s current principal, Phyllis Jones is a native of Mississippi. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Mississippi State University in 1990, and a Master of Science Degree from Mississippi State University in 1994. Ms. Jones worked for the Escambia County School District in Pensacola, Florida for three years before relocating to Memphis, TN in 1997. Ms. Jones worked at Bolton High School for seven years as a school counselor. In 2004, she received an Education Specialist degree in education administration from Union University, and accepted a job at Dexter Middle School as an assistant principal. In July 2005, Ms. Jones was selected as the principal of Dexter Middle School. “I am thrilled and honored to be a part of the Dexter Middle School family. My goal is to work with Dexter Middle School’s staff, the parent community, and the students to maintain a warm, friendly, and supportive environment that fosters student learning.”

When Dexter Middle opened in 2002, Mrs. Debbie Levy was given the unique opportunity of being the first Assistant Principal at Dexter Middle School. Mrs. Levy was Mr. Jones’ right hand and was able to welcome and guide each new leader and enjoy the growth the school has experienced. “ With each change of principal, positive growth has resulted. I am most proud of the family atmosphere that exists within the school and the students’ academic growth and commitment to excellence. With each passing year, opportunities available to students expand as new clubs and activities are added and teacher enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication continues to flourish. Mrs. Levy retired at the end of the 05-06 school year, after working eighteen years as a classroom teacher and three years as a Shelby County Schools’ Exemplary Teacher.

With the growing population, Dexter was able to add an assistant principal in the 2005 - 2006 school year. Mrs. Detris Anderson came on board just as school was about to open for the new school year. Mrs. Anderson-Dent came to Shelby County in 1995 at E. E. Jeter Elementary School as a 7th and 8th grade Reading and 7th grade Social Studies teacher. After Jeter was changed to a K-5 school she followed her middle school students to Woodstock where she served as computer/technology teacher at Woodstock from 2000 – 2005. “ As a teacher, I was always compelled to make a difference in my students’ lives. I felt personally responsible for the education of each and every one of my students. As an administrator, I feel equally compelled but on a broader spectrum. I have the ability and privilege to touch over 600 lives each year. The greatest excitement for me has been getting to know the students of Dexter Middle.”

Brandon Ballard is now walking the hallways as Dexter’s newest assistant principal. Brandon Ballard was appointed interim assistant principal in April of 2007. Mr. Ballard, originally from Memphis, taught for five years before being appointed as assistant principal at Dexter Middle. I love teaching, and I will always be a teacher, but I am now ready to serve the students and parents at another level. It is a wonderful feeling being in a position to positively impact the lives of so many young people.”

Dexter Middle School is already beginning to leave its mark on the community and the world around them. In the five short years that it has been in existence it has excelled in academics and athletics. Its diverse student population, which is now approximately 750, has united under efforts such as a Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive, Kids Kans Food Drive, and an annual Veteran’s Day assembly to honor its local servicemen and women. The students of Dexter Middle come into these doors as young, impressionable children. The time period in which these students are at Dexter Middle School is the time when these young minds and personalities decide the path their lives are going to take and it is our responsibility to instill in them the knowledge and the confidence to take on the world. Both the teachers and administrators realize the important task on their hands and accept it as a life mission to accomplish.

DMS HISTORY