The final class at Fort Craig School graduates MHS

Graduation for the Maryville High School Class of 2024 was last week, but for 13 of them, they first had to travel back to 2012.

That’s the year each was enrolled at Fort Craig School of Dynamic Learning as kindergartners; as they exited at the end of that 2012 school year, it closed. Ana Elam, Allie Wheeler, Allie Barham, Ollie McQueen, Ashlyn Mullins, Braden Hearon, Eli DeSha, Ellanah Looney, Olivia McGuigan, Avery Sinclair, Adam Kirkham, Luke Wilcox and Jack Patterson are some of the last students who called Fort Craig their elementary school. On May 9 they assembled in the MHS auditorium to link arms once again and express gratitude for their Fort Craig experience.

Ramona Best was the last principal at Fort Craig, from 2008 to 2012. She then moved on to become Coulter Grove Intermediate School’s principal. She was on hand at this final gathering with other staff that included Maria Sinclair, Julie Keyl, Sharron Waddell and Mitzi Ingleston. There were other end-of-year activities going on, but the turnout for this sendoff was a good one, Best said.

Best said these MHS students only spent one year at Fort Craig, but each had memories to share, mostly of great teachers and family gatherings in the Fort Craig gymnasium. It served K-3 students.

As Best explained, Fort Craig was a school of choice within the Maryville City Schools. Foothills Elementary School was opening its doors so the Fort Craig building would be empty. School leadership decided to use this extra building for something a little different.

“We partnered with UTK Early Education Program so we got a lot of student interns,” Best said. “We had certain standards around professional developmnent and collaboration. We followed the Highly Effective Teaching Model.”

Only students within Maryville city limits could attend, and families had to apply to be accepted. There was no bus service and parent agreed to volunteer. Before it became Fort Craig School of Dynamic Learning it was a regular school in the Maryville system.

MHS Class of 2024 member Jack Patterson attended the May 9 breakfast at MHS. He still remembers his time at Fort Craig.

“Fort Craig is where it all started,” he explained in a text message. “Where I made my first friends. I still remember what integrity means thanks to family gatherings. I was lucky enough to have been part of something special.”

As they gathered that morning before graduation practice, photos were made and memories shared. Before leaving, these students and their teachers placed their hands on each other’s shoulders as they moved in unison in a long line to the song “Love Train,” just as they had done numerous times at Fort Craig family gatherings.

Charlene DeSha’s son Eli was in that last Fort Craig kindergarten class. She said even though she knew Fort Craig was closing, she still wanted Eli to experience it. The kindergarten class was smaller than in years past because families knew they would only get to attend that one year.

“It was the best decision to send him there,” she explained via text. “The school created an extremely warm and inviting environment in order for him to start off his primary years. From the classroom to family gatherings, it was a truly positive experience and we are so grateful to have been a part of that.”

Initially, there was no ending date of when Fort Craig would no longer be a Maryville City Schools elementary school of choice. But the building of new schools created a different path forward.

The Maryville City Schools Central Office is moving into that space now. It also houses the school system’s virtual school; Maryville Academy is finding its place there too.

Best said there was a lot of sadness on the part of Fort Craig families and staff when it ceased to be a school. The Blount County Boys and Girls Club called the building home for many years after that.

This principal said she has been able to follow many Fort Craig students on their way to becoming adults. “You hope you make a lasting impression on kids,” she said.

Staff members formerly at Fort Craig moved on to other schools and integrated their curriculum that focused on life skills, Best said. Fort Craig will forever be part of Maryville’s history, she added.

“It had a legacy of connectedness,” Best explained. “It was absolutely a special place.”