Teachers reflect on final school day as historic Malesus Elementary closes

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jackson-Madison County School System students are officially on summer break. Five of the district’s 27 schools will not reopen in the fall.

Missy Coley taught her last class Wednesday at Malesus Elementary School. She started teaching at the school in Jackson 30 years ago. “I actually attended here as a student grades one through six,” Coley said. “My children went here. My dad went here.”

The more than 100-year-old school will close its doors this week for good. Employee Sandra Mincher said her dad graduated from Malesus in the 1940s when it was a high school. His picture hangs in the hall. “It’s hard to leave the memories,” Mincher said. “I get to walk by my dad every day when I go to my room.”

Chelsea Arment went to Malesus, met her husband there and now teaches fifth grade. “The teachers here are the reason that I became a teacher,” she said.

Most of the teachers said they are headed to either South Elementary or Denmark Elementary but plan to take memories from Malesus Elementary with them.

Debbie Henson said the school stood by her several years ago when she donated bone marrow to her brother. “Helped support me money wise,” she said. “They did fundraisers and just were there for me when I needed somebody to lean on to talk to.”

Despite the changes, Coley said spirits are high. They are moving on. “It’s just kind of bittersweet knowing that we won’t be pulling into this parking lot in August,” Coley said.

Other schools also closing this year include Beech Bluff Elementary, Nova Elementary, West Middle, and Jackson-Central Merry High School. The Early College High will move into JCM’s annex building.