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Catoosa County Public Schools: Superintendent's Message

The book The Courage to Be Disliked recounts the ancient legend of the Gordian Knot. King Gordias had tethered an ox-cart to a pillar in the citadel of Gordium with an impossibly intricate knot. Over centuries, many skilled leaders had attempted to untie it, but all had failed. A local prophecy declared: “Whoever unravels this knot shall be master of Asia.”

When Alexander the Great arrived in Phrygia, he went to see the cart. Rather than struggling to untie the knot like others before him, he did something different, something no one expected. He drew his sword and cut the knot in a single stroke, reportedly declaring: “Destiny is not something brought about by legend, but by clearing away with one's sword.” 

He faced the same challenge as his predecessors, but he chose to redefine how the problem could be solved. Today, we call this “Thinking outside the box.”

Our theme this year is Excellence Takes Action, and that is precisely what Alexander demonstrated. He saw the challenge clearly, but he also saw something others had missed. Not only did he think outside the box, he acted as if there were no box at all!

Every day, educators and school staff face immense challenges evolving curricula, classroom distractions, diverse developmental needs, budget constraints, large class sizes, state mandates, funding cuts, and finite hours in the day.

Can you imagine if Alexander had stood before the knot, thrown up his hands, and said, “Well, I guess this is as far as we go?” He certainly never would have conquered Asia.

Every morning across our district, our educators and support staff do not simply accept limitations and succumb to defeat. Educators are the most resilient problem solvers in America. They solve more problems before breakfast than the average professional solves all week! If you don’t agree, just try one morning of bus duty or breakfast duty in an elementary school. 

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of our 1,700 CCPS team members. Thank you for your tireless dedication and your spirit of adapting, improvising, and overcoming every obstacle. You may not be severing ancient ropes, but you are conquering something far more meaningful: the barriers that stand between our students and their full potential.

Thank you for your resolve, your creativity, and for changing the world for every child, every day, without exception. 

Did you know? CCPS ranks as the #1 Best School District in the Chattanooga Area according to Niche rankings, serving over 10,000 students across 18 primary, middle, and high schools!