Bristol Tennessee City Schools has been recognized as one of Tennessee's leading school districts for its commitment to helping every student succeed.
The Tennessee Tiered Supports Center (TSC), in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, has named Bristol Tennessee City Schools a 2025-2026 RTI²-A + RTI²-B Community Builders Award recipient. The Community Builders Award is the highest honor a Tennessee school district can receive through the state's RTI²-A + RTI²-B District Model of Demonstration Program.
The award recognizes districts that demonstrate exceptional leadership in building and aligning systems of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support for students. Community Builders Award recipients are recognized for coordinating services across schools, providing meaningful professional learning, engaging families and communities, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
"This recognition belongs to the dedicated educators, school leaders, interventionists, counselors, and support staff who work every day to ensure our students receive the support they need to be successful," said Dr. Annette Tudor, director of Bristol Tennessee City Schools. "Our mission is to help every student reach his or her full potential, and this award reflects the collaborative effort taking place in every school across our district."
At the heart of the district's work is Acceleration for All, Bristol Tennessee City Schools' comprehensive framework for supporting students. The framework brings together tutoring, Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI²-A + RTI²-B), and special education services to ensure students receive individualized support based on their academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. School teams work collaboratively to identify student needs, implement interventions, and monitor student progress so every learner has the opportunity to succeed.
The Community Builders Award recognizes the district's ongoing commitment to creating systems that help students thrive. Through collaboration among educators, families, and community partners, Bristol Tennessee City Schools continues to strengthen the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports available to students across the district.
The Tennessee Tiered Supports Center praised the district's efforts, noting, "Districts like Bristol Tennessee City Schools represent the very best of what's possible when schools, families, and communities work together for student success. We are proud to recognize Bristol Tennessee City Schools' leadership as a model for districts across Tennessee."
While the award recognizes accomplishments from the 2025–2026 school year, the work continues. During the 2026–2027 school year, the district will continue refining its school recognition system, providing interventions based on student needs, measuring student growth through benchmark assessments, and using data to strengthen supports across all schools.
"We are honored to receive this recognition," Dr. Tudor said. "While this award celebrates the work our district has accomplished together, it also inspires us to continue improving so every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive."