Director of Schools Dr. Christie Southerland Teases Anonymous Donor, “Big Plans” for 2026–27 School Year

Dickson, TN — Dickson County Schools Director Dr. Christie Southerland offered a brief but intriguing preview of what may be coming next for the school district, telling board members and attendees that an anonymous donor has stepped forward and that “big plans” are in the works for the 2026–27 school year.

Southerland shared the update during her director’s report at the Jan. 22, 2026 Board of Education meeting, emphasizing that while details are not yet public, district leadership is actively working behind the scenes on initiatives tied to the donation.

“We’ve had an anonymous donor donate some money, and so we’ve got big plans,” Southerland said, adding simply, “stay tuned.”

A preview without details

Southerland did not disclose the amount of the donation, its intended use, or which schools or programs may ultimately benefit. However, she indicated that additional information will be shared publicly once plans are finalized.

She also noted that members of the district leadership team are preparing to meet with media to discuss the upcoming initiatives.

“We’re going to be sitting together quite a bit with some things that we’re soon to roll out for the district,” she said.

Why it matters

While the comments were intentionally brief, the reference to an anonymous donor and district wide “big plans” signals something big. Anonymous donations often allow districts to pilot ideas or pursue projects that would otherwise require years of planning or public funding approvals. The fact that Southerland highlighted the donation publicly—without yet sharing details—suggests the district views the coming announcement as significant.

What to watch for

Southerland indicated that more information will be shared soon. For now, the message to parents, staff, and the community was simple: something new is coming.

As Southerland put it, “Stay tuned.”