The faces that greeted Ann Scott as sixth-graders when she began her first day as principal of Tharptown Elementary School seven years ago will now greet her as seniors as she begins her first year as principal of Tharptown High School.

“They’ve grown up, and it’s so exciting to see them again,” Scott said. “Some of the guys, I look at them, and I just can’t believe how big they’ve gotten.”

This will be Scott’s seventh year in the Franklin County school system – with four years as principal at Tharptown Elementary School and two years as principal of Belgreen – and her 35th year in education.

When Franklin County Superintendent Greg Hamilton asked Scott to step in as principal at Tharptown High School, she said it was bittersweet to leave Belgreen, but she was excited to be back at Tharptown.

“She’s done an outstanding job everywhere she’s been,” Hamilton said. “She really cares about the kids and wants to make sure they stay on task and are taken care of and really get the best education possible.”

Scott said there are already a lot of great things going on at Tharptown because of how close the faculty is and how supportive the community is.

“As an administrator, I would just like to see improved what has already been started,” Scott said.

Scott said she loves getting to come to work every day and work with students to make sure they can succeed. She said school is her happy place.

“Every day is different, and I love my job,” Scott said. “When I get to where I don’t enjoy coming to school any more, I’m just going to go home.”

She said the biggest difference between elementary and high school is that working in the elementary is about laying an educational foundation, but she works with high school students to make sure they are on track to graduate and are college- and career-ready.

Scott said she hopes to continue to grow the school and eventually add ACCESS classes and dual-enrollment options for students.

Scott said in her first few weeks as principal, she is already working with newly-hired Tharptown Elementary Principal Karen Thorn to collaborate on how to continue to improve Tharptown.

“We want this school to flourish, and we want to see the kids succeed,” Scott said. “That is something we both want.”