Sullivan Central High School
Encyclopedia
Sullivan Central High School is a 9th through 12th grade high school in Blountville, Tennessee
. It has around 1000 students annually. The two middle schools that feed into Central are Blountville Middle School and Holston Middle School. The school's mascot is the cougar. The current principal is Dee Musser.
On August 30, 2010 an armed man, Thomas Richard Cowan (62) entered the school around 8:30 am. The Student Resource Officer, Carolyn Gudger, and the principal, Melanie Riden, talked to the gunman and kept him at bay, leading him away from areas populated by students until the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office arrived. The man aimed at officers and was then shot when he aimed his weapon at the S.R.O. The suspect was the only person injured and was airlifted to a local hospital, where he later died.
The Cougar Band program, now under the direction of Chris Smithson, consists of around 70 students performing in various groups and ensembles that consistently receive superior ratings at regional and state events. Many Sullivan Central High School band members also represent the school in the all-county, all-state, and all-district bands as well as participate in many regional, state, and national honor bands.
Central's band has placed first in many competitions throughout the region over many years. Along with the marching band program and concert band, they have a jazz ensemble, winterguard and woodwind, brass and percussion ensembles. http://www.sullivancentralband.org
The suspect allegedly packed two loaded guns, pointed one at the principal's head and ignited a standoff with the school resource officer, Carolyn Gudger.
Gudger remained in a moving standoff with Thomas Cowen for several minutes until deputies arrived, when they were forced to shoot and kill Cowan near the entrance to the library.
The school went into an immediate lockdown, which lasted until after 10:30, when students were released room by room and taken by bus to Carolina Pottery across Interstate 81.
No staff or students were injured.
Office Renovations and Door Security
In 2004 someone broke in and stole books and wrote a quote from and English Language book on the chalk board.
In December 2009 the offices began to prepare for some relocating and renovations. The guidance office was moved out of the main building into the career-tech building going where the attendance office was. The attendance office was moved into a renovated guidance office along with an assistant principal's office.
Also in December over winter break, the school's outside doors were fitted with an auto locking system connected to the bell system. They lock during class time and unlock when the bells ring. Buzzer systems will be then used to enter the buildings during class.
External links
Blountville, Tennessee
Blountville is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,074 at the 2010 census...
. It has around 1000 students annually. The two middle schools that feed into Central are Blountville Middle School and Holston Middle School. The school's mascot is the cougar. The current principal is Dee Musser.
History
The school opened in 1968 with its main building and eventually expanded by means of a classroom addition and a vocational building in 1978. The only construction since that time has been a football fieldhouse, which opened in the fall of 1997.On August 30, 2010 an armed man, Thomas Richard Cowan (62) entered the school around 8:30 am. The Student Resource Officer, Carolyn Gudger, and the principal, Melanie Riden, talked to the gunman and kept him at bay, leading him away from areas populated by students until the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office arrived. The man aimed at officers and was then shot when he aimed his weapon at the S.R.O. The suspect was the only person injured and was airlifted to a local hospital, where he later died.
Athletics
The school has athletic teams in all traditional varsity sports, including football, swimming, soccer, basketball, track, cross country, tennis, baseball, softball, and volleyball. Despite its relatively small enrollment, the school fields three football teams each fall; freshman, junior varsity, and varsity, as well as three men's basketball teams and two to three women's basketball teams in the same divisions. Central maintains very few close games against its "rivals."Boy's basketball
The basketball teams play in the Dickie Warren Dome, which was named after one of the greatest Tennessee basketball coaches, Trigger, of all time during the 04-05 season. Its boy's basketball team is coached by Tony Vaughn and he has coached his teams to 20 wins in each of the past six seasons, including a state tournament berth in 2005 in which they went 25-11 that season and won the Watuaga Conf. runner ups in the District 1-AA Tournament, Champions of the Region 1-2 AA Tournament and also beat Alcoa during their Sub State game. Significantly, the school was forced to move up in classification the following season, but still finished with 24 wins and won the TSSAA's District 1-AAA Tournament Championship. The 07-08 cougars, however, gave the school their first losing record in over seven years and the first in seven years they did not advance to the regional tournament.Cheerleading
Sullivan Central High School has tryouts every spring for Varsity, Junior Varsity, and just recently, Competition Team members. The Varsity cheerleading squad cheers for the Varsity football team, and Varsity Boys' Basketball team. The Junior Varsity cheerleaders cheer for the Freshman and Junior Varsity football teams, as well as the Varsity Girls' Basketball team.Golf
Centrals golf team had a good 2008 season. Joseph Conrad led the way to victory with Matthew Millard, Zach Davison, Jamie Bales, Brittany Rogers, Sydney Bryant, and Cody Hyden backing him up. Central's golf team won the Big 6 Tournament for the first time in several years.Swimming
The heat to the Sullivan Central Pool went out in 2008. This is related to the pool being asked to close by the Principal in a meeting with Sullivan County in October 2008. The swim team then had to practice at sister school Sullivan South High School. The pool was reopened in January 2011, and was dedicated to Bradley Brock, a senior who died of cancer in September 2010.Band
From its beginnings in the early 70's, the Sullivan Central High School Band has become an integral part of the school and surrounding community. Under the leadership of past directors such as Pete Pino, George Naff, Bill Canny, Al Doty, Bonnell Young, and Rod Dye, the band has received numerous superior ratings at festivals and contests across the southeast.The Cougar Band program, now under the direction of Chris Smithson, consists of around 70 students performing in various groups and ensembles that consistently receive superior ratings at regional and state events. Many Sullivan Central High School band members also represent the school in the all-county, all-state, and all-district bands as well as participate in many regional, state, and national honor bands.
Central's band has placed first in many competitions throughout the region over many years. Along with the marching band program and concert band, they have a jazz ensemble, winterguard and woodwind, brass and percussion ensembles. http://www.sullivancentralband.org
Faculty and administration
Central High School has a total of 76 teachers and administrators. The principal is Mr. Dee Musser. Assistant principals are Mr. Josh Davis, Mrs. Allyson Raines, and Mr. Mark Foster.2010 Shooting
Approximately a year after training at Sullivan Central for just such a scenario - and even within the same area of the high school - deputies shot and killed a gunman on August 30, 2010.The suspect allegedly packed two loaded guns, pointed one at the principal's head and ignited a standoff with the school resource officer, Carolyn Gudger.
Gudger remained in a moving standoff with Thomas Cowen for several minutes until deputies arrived, when they were forced to shoot and kill Cowan near the entrance to the library.
The school went into an immediate lockdown, which lasted until after 10:30, when students were released room by room and taken by bus to Carolina Pottery across Interstate 81.
No staff or students were injured.
Office Renovations and Door Security
In 2004 someone broke in and stole books and wrote a quote from and English Language book on the chalk board.
In December 2009 the offices began to prepare for some relocating and renovations. The guidance office was moved out of the main building into the career-tech building going where the attendance office was. The attendance office was moved into a renovated guidance office along with an assistant principal's office.
Also in December over winter break, the school's outside doors were fitted with an auto locking system connected to the bell system. They lock during class time and unlock when the bells ring. Buzzer systems will be then used to enter the buildings during class.
External links