Back-To-School Calendar of Events and Important Family Resources

Knox County Schools is excited to begin the 2026-27 school year. Below is a list of events available for media coverage leading up to the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. Please note two or more Board members may be present. 

Also below are details about some key resources available to families and the community. 

KCS Safety Training Academy Graduation
KCS Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk and leaders from the KCS School Safety Department will host a graduation ceremony for new School Safety Officers to recognize recruits who are joining the School Safety Department after a rigorous 9-week training course.

Date: Thursday, July 23

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: South-Doyle Middle School, 3900 Decatur Drive

SchoolMania
KCS Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk will join Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, local leaders, and volunteers to distribute more than 6,500 school supply bags at the mayor’s eighth annual SchoolMania event. Thanks to the incredible generosity of local businesses, churches, charities, and community partners, 6,500 backpacks will also be distributed. 

Date: Friday, July 24

Time: 3 p.m.

Location: Jacob Building, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave.

Stuff the Bus School Supplies Drive
Partners in Education is hosting a Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive, presented by First Horizon. Organizers are encouraging residents to donate new school supplies to help students and educators prepare for the upcoming school year. The event will feature a variety of special guests and activities, including participation by University of Tennessee football and basketball student-athletes. 

Date: Saturday, July 25

Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m

Location: Sam’s Club, 8435 Walbrook Drive
 

New Teacher Welcome Breakfast
One of the district’s key priorities is having great educators in every school. With support from sponsors Knoxville Teachers Federal Credit Union, American Fidelity, Knox County Education Association, and South College, KCS is hosting a Welcome Celebration to kick off the start of a yearlong New Teacher Experience. Interviews with teachers and our Business and Talent team will be available.

Date: Tuesday, July 28

Time: 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Location: Bridgewater Place, 205 Bridgewater Road
 

Region 5 Educator Summit
Hundreds of educators from schools across Region 5 will gather for professional development opportunities designed for teachers by teachers. Region 5 leadership and educators will be available for interviews.

Date: Thursday, July 30

Time: 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. 

Location: Fulton High, 2509 N Broadway

Back-to-School Supply Giveaway
Sevier Heights Church and Teacher Supply Depot are partnering to provide free school supplies for Knox County’s teachers at four pop-up locations around the county.

Date: Saturday, August 1

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Locations:

• North Knox - Halls Middle School, 4317 E. Emory Road
• East Knox - Austin-East High School, 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
• West Knox - Teacher Supply Depot, 709 N. Cedar Bluff Road
• South Knox - Sevier Heights Church, 3140 Maloney Road

Safe Schools Safe Students Press Conference
Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk will be joined by KCS leaders and representatives of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knoxville Police Department to discuss school safety in the upcoming school year.

Date: Friday, August 7

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Gibbs Elementary, 7715 Tazewell Pike
 

6th and 9th Grade Orientation
A media availability will highlight orientation activities at KCS middle and high schools. Gibbs High School principal Jason Webster, an educator, and a student can be available for interviews. Limited B-roll opportunities will also be available. Advance notice of attendance is requested.

Date: Friday, August 7

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Location: Gibbs High School, 7628 Tazewell Pike
 

First Day of School
KCS is excited to welcome students back to school on our first day, August 10 (half day). Principal Sarah Mercer, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk, and a Pond Gap educator will be available for interviews. Parent or guardian permission is required before interviewing students or using them in videos or photos.

Date: Monday, August 10

Time: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Location: Pond Gap Elementary, 4530 Papermill Drive
 

Text-A-Tip
Text-A-Tip is a secure, anonymous reporting tool that allows students, staff, families, and community members to share safety or mental health concerns—anytime, anywhere. Designed with students in mind, Text-A-Tip lets users attach photos or videos to their reports and ensures 24/7 monitoring so that time-sensitive issues are addressed quickly and appropriately.
 

Bus Tracker App
The Edulog Parent Portal is a free mobile app that helps families stay connected to their student’s school bus. With real-time GPS tracking, the app shows the planned stop location, current bus position, and sends alerts as the bus approaches. It's a convenient way to stay informed and ensure peace of mind during daily transportation.
 

Givebacks
The Givebacks App is a free mobile tool that makes it easy for families to manage payments and support their school community - all in one place! With an easy-to-use interface, the app enables parents to effortlessly pay school fees, contribute to fundraising campaigns, purchase event tickets, and turn everyday shopping and dining into donations for your school.
 

Qustodio
Qustodio is a free service that gives families additional tools to supervise school-issued Chromebooks outside of school hours. When schools are in session, student activity is monitored by school staff. Outside of school hours—including evenings, weekends, and holidays—Qustodio allows families to set custom web filters, manage screen time, pause internet access, monitor browsing activity, and receive usage summaries by email. Families can get started by creating an account using the parent email on file in Aspen.