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Supporters urge renaming Salem Avenue Elementary for late principal Tom Garner
Summary
Dozens of community members, school staff and former colleagues told the Washington County Board of Education that Tom Garner’s 20‑plus years of leadership, outreach programs and national recognition of Salem Avenue warrant renaming the school in his honor; the board said it will revisit the matter at its July meeting.
Many speakers during public comment asked the Washington County Board of Education to rename Salem Avenue Elementary for Thomas (Tom) Garner, a longtime Salem Avenue principal who supporters said transformed the school’s culture and outreach.
David Smith opened the public comment period with a research‑based account of Garner’s tenure, saying Garner and his staff started a community outreach program known as the Salem Blitz and that the school later earned “model school” recognition. “A man who cared deeply for the youth in his school, in this county, and in scouting,” Smith said.
Marcy Burleson, who identified herself as the school’s achievement coordinator, told the board that Garner’s impact extended beyond the neighborhood and that the school presented its model at national conferences. “His legacy is found in the lives that he changed, the educators and leaders he grew, the children he championed, and the culture of hope and belonging that he built,” Burleson said.
Several other speakers — including a principal who worked with Garner, a Salem Avenue lunch aide who said Garner personally recruited him, and residents who described Garner’s community engagement and scouting work — gave similar testimony. Mark Bergeron, a resident and scouting official, urged the board to approve the change as a way to preserve Garner’s legacy countywide.
Roger Stenerson, speaking for Rising to Learn, praised community engagement but urged the board to follow its naming policy and ensure transparency. Board members acknowledged the breadth of public support and discussed a compromise name that would preserve the school’s location name while honoring Garner.
The Chair told the public the board will continue the conversation at the July meeting and that the July meeting will include a further discussion of the naming question. No final action was taken on renaming at the June 16 meeting.
