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Chelsea’s Forest Oaks Elementary School kicked off the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 8. (For the Reporter/Cindy Warner)

Chelsea’s Forest Oaks Elementary School kicked off the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 8. (For the Reporter/Cindy Warner)

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE | Special to the Reporter

CHELSEA – Aug. 8 was the first day of the 2024-2025 school year, and it was a busy morning according to Principal Stevi Sims.

There was also a special visitor on campus, as Superintendent Lewis Brooks stopped by to visit.

Brooks said that it has been heartwarming to see all the kids coming back to school and the energy. He said he was asked by students if he was the mayor or governor, or of course, a basketball player.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “I love doing this every year. Our employees just make it all so wonderful for our kids. “It’s been an amazing day.”

FOES currently has 600 students, along with 11 new employees and a new School Resource Officer.

Students and parents had opportunities to meet their teachers, get important information and ask questions during an introduction the day before school on Aug. 7.

Sims said that “everything went beautifully” the morning of the first day of school.

“Everyone was excited and energetic,” she said. “The teachers have a renewed sense of excitement for the new year. They’ve been working hard attending professional development this summer and preparing their classrooms and have spent countless hours in preparation for the students coming back. There were lots of smiles and hugs and excitement for the new year and moving up a grade and getting to be with their peers again. They are just excited for all the new things.”

Brooks said the thing he wants most is for Shelby County students, parents and community members to trust that we’re going to do great things to take care of their children and give them their best learning opportunities.

Now in his 34th year in education, Brooks said he is excited and energized about the new school year.

“I’m just a relationship person and really blessed to lead this wonderful district,” he said. “I don’t know if I ever imagined myself in this position, but it’s amazing. I’m very humbled and thrilled to have this opportunity.”

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