ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Anderson County Schools has announced long-time educator Robbie Herrell will be the new principal of Clinton High School.
Herrell is a 1993 graduate who has served in multiple Anderson County School District positions. Most recently, he's worked as the Anderson County Career and Technical Center principal since 2016.
"As Principal of Clinton High School, I look forward to utilizing my career and technical background to impact students by preparing them for their individualized future opportunities. I want to specifically focus on each student's next step, including post-secondary and workforce opportunities. Clinton High School is a great school with great teachers and staff, I am excited to once again be a Dragon," Herrell said.
RELATED: Two teachers fired, principal resigns amid grade fixing investigation in Anderson County Schools
This comes after the previous CHS principal, Dan Jenkins, resigned amid a grade-fixing investigation.
On Wednesday, Ryan Sutton, the director of communications for Anderson County Schools, said three guidance counselors would not have their contracts renewed. The head counselor, Carrie Jenkins, was suspended pending the investigation.
Earlier this month, Anderson County's school board voted unanimously to fire CHS teachers Rachel Jones and Clay Turpin for unprofessional conduct, insubordination and neglect of duty concerning the investigation into the grade fixing.
A "charges of dismissal" document said investigators noticed irregularities with the credit recovery program. It said Jones, under Jenkins' direction, changed grades in the 2022-23 school year. Turpin was involved in 2023-24 after Jones said she was done with it.
The charges of dismissal document continued and said CHS head football coach Darell Keith told Jones in August 2022 he needed a student's grades replaced and Jenkins signed off on the change. On Tuesday, Keith told WBIR that the school chose not to renew his contract as a teacher.
Sutton said Nate Martin, the school's athletic director, has brought in a lawyer.
The Tennessee Department of Education also released a statement about the grade-fixing investigation. That statement is available below.
"The district made us aware of the situation quickly and is handling this local matter. We are very appreciative of their proactiveness to alert us and support their students. They opened an investigation and have communicated corrective actions they will implement, which provide support for impacted students and to avoid this happening again in the future. The department is not involved in the district’s investigation but stands ready to support."
The District Attorney General also released a statement, available below.