Jenni Smith, Principal
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Ms. Jenni Smith has dedicated 31 years to Rutherford County Schools, where she is both a proud native and graduate. A product of Riverdale High School, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, where she is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education.
Ms. Smith spent 19 years in the classroom as a high school science teacher, specializing in Biology and Anatomy & Physiology. In 2013, she joined the founding faculty of Stewarts Creek High School, initially serving as Science Department Chair before being named Assistant Principal in 2014. In January 2023, she became Principal of Smyrna West Alternative School, where she feels truly blessed to be part of the SWA family and grateful for the opportunity to support and inspire its students.
Outside of her professional role, Ms. Smith enjoys swimming, kayaking, visiting lakes and oceans, and traveling. She also loves spending quality time with family and friends, reading, listening to live music, and attending performances.
Julie Atkin, Assistant Principal
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Julie Webb Atkin, a native of McMinnville, has been an educator since 2002, when she started as a 6th-grade ELA teacher at O.P. Evans Middle School in Newnan, Georgia. Before starting her career in education, she worked for Averitt Express and Tenneco Automotive in the area of Human Resources.
She joined Rutherford County Schools in 2003 as a 6th-grade math teacher at Smyrna Middle School where she became an interim Assistant Principal. In 2010, she became Assistant Principal of Oakland Middle School and Lascassas Elementary. In 2011, she became the Assistant Principal at Rock Springs Middle School. Mrs. Atkin transferred to Smyrna West Alternative School as the Assistant Principal in 2018. Mrs. Atkin is also the Safety Cheerleading Coordinator for the county.
Julie Atkin graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and also received a Master's and Ed.S. in Education from Tennessee Technological University, where she was a Golden Eagle Cheerleader.
