RE: James Evans – Rutherford County Schools Communications and Community Relations Coordinator
We have some unfortunate information to share this morning about one of our principals, who unexpectedly passed away last night after an emergency medical situation. We have a message under way to parents (which I have included below) and I have included some additional biographical information about the principal for you all.
Mrs. Ginger Tucker has been the principal of Stewarts Creek Elementary School since 2012.
A devoted wife and mother of four daughters, she loved her school children and treated them as her own. She is highly respected among her peers and will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Tucker has served children for most of her adult life.
A veteran educator of 40 years, Tucker spent 26 combined as a classroom teacher at Smyrna Primary School, Stewartsboro Elementary School and Rock Springs Elementary School. She served for three years as the Title I schoolwide coordinator at Smyrna Elementary School before moving to Stewarts Creek as an assistant principal, a role she held for six years prior to being named principal.
The employees of the school were notified of the tragedy this morning by Assistant Superintendent Richard Zago, who worked alongside Mrs. Tucker for many years while he was principal of Stewarts Creek Elementary School and Smyrna Elementary School.
We are not planning to announce the situation to students today because we want parents to have the first opportunity to do so, but we also know that undoubtedly some students will hear about the situation. The school district has additional counselors on campus today and tomorrow to help employees and students as they process the situation. Parents can also pick up their children earlier if they so choose.
We know these types of situations attract attention from news outlets. However, we ask that members of the media please respect the privacy of the family and allow space to the many who loved her as they mourn.
The family will announce funeral arrangements soon.
