Jackson, TENNESSEE – The University School of Jackson announces the appointment of Mrs. Courtney Burnette to the position of Lower School Director and Mrs. Hayley Wilkerson to the position of Early Childhood Director and Assistant Lower School Director beginning in July 2023.
According to a press release from Pam Stanfield – USJ’s Director of Marketing & Communications – Mrs. Burnette will fill the Director position upon Mrs. Cindy Kirsch’s retirement and Mrs. Wilkerson will
fill the position that opened up in January when Mrs. Holly Stroup moved to Gallatin.
Mrs. Courtney Burnette served as the USJ Middle School Director from 2009-2016.
Since that time, she has been serving as the Head of School at Fayette Academy, where she is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of all three divisions of the school.
Head of School Don Roe shared, “Courtney has been a trusted colleague for years, and she will bring positive energy and proven leadership skills to this very important division as we move forward with our new strategic plan. I could not be more pleased to have her back on campus and to lead alongside her at USJ.”
Under Mrs. Burnette’s direction, Fayette Academy has seen the largest enrollment growth it had experienced in over a decade.
Her career in education spans over 28 years, during which she has maintained a drive for high academic standards for faculty, students, and parents in each of the schools which she served.
Mrs. Burnette said, “I am thrilled to be returning to USJ as the Director of Lower School. Both of our girls completed Lower School at USJ. The education they received was both challenging and rewarding, the opportunities and experiences they had were incredible, and they were surrounded by teachers who loved to teach, who loved them, and who made learning a joyful experience. I’m excited I get to be part of that!”
Mrs. Hayley Wilkerson currently serves on the USJ Middle School administrative team as the Assistant to the Middle School Director. She is a USJ Class of ‘94 alumnus and current parent with over 12 years of Early Childhood experience.
Mr. Roe says, “Hayley brings with her a caring, can-do attitude to our early childhood program.
A lifelong Bruin, she knows our school and families well, and I am confident her professionalism
and experience will continue to elevate our excellent program.”
Mrs. Wilkerson has previously held the position of Director at both Christ Community Day School in Bells, TN, and Bright Ideas Enrichment Center in Jackson, TN, as well as serving as an Early Childhood Specialist with Southwest Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral.
“I am so excited to join the outstanding early childhood program at USJ. I know first-hand how unique and beneficial a high-quality early childhood program is for children. Over the past 16 years with my own children, I have come to thoroughly appreciate the community created here and look forward to enhancing the already exceptional early childhood program to ensure the optimal growth of our youngest students at USJ. I am thankful for the opportunity to be the Director of the Early Childhood Division and Assistant Director of the Lower School, and I look forward to growing the next generations of Bruins!,” shared Mrs. Wilkerson.
Hayley and her husband Chris reside in Jackson with their son Jack who is a Junior at USJ, and their daughter Caroline (USJ Class of 2022), who is a freshman at Belmont University majoring in Music Business.
Courtney and her husband Tim will be relocating to the Jackson area this summer with their two
daughters, Chloe and Camille.
To learn more about the University School of Jackson, go online to usjbruins.
(PHOTO: Mrs. Courtney Burnette, left, and Mrs. Hayley Wilkerson)
