Forest Hill’s RISE Nominee: Meagan McMinn

Forest Hill Elementary is proud to recognize Meagan McMinn, Attendance Secretary, as its nominee for the Tennessee Department of Education’s RISE Award (Recognizing Inspiring School Employees). The RISE Award honors classified school employees, those who aren’t classroom teachers but play a vital role in student success.

McMinn’s path to Forest Hill began with her love for children and schools. Before joining GMSD, she worked at a preschool and later served as a keyboarding and computer skills assistant at Farmington Elementary. When the opportunity came to move to Forest Hill alongside administrators she admired, she jumped at the chance. She began at the front desk and soon transitioned into attendance, where her experience and people-first approach made her a natural fit. Today, she is often the first person new families meet when enrolling their children, helping them feel at ease from the moment they step through the door.

While “attendance secretary” may sound simple, the role is anything but. McMinn manages student records, tracks absences and tardies, oversees enrollment, and ensures compliance with state coding and safety alerts. Her work directly impacts school funding and supports both teachers and parents by streamlining processes and keeping communication clear. She often places herself in the role of the parent, making attendance as easy as possible for busy families juggling multiple schools and schedules.

Principal Kendra Pickens said McMinn’s careful attention to detail has been essential, noting that her ability to anticipate problems and quickly resolve them made the transition to PowerSchool as smooth as possible. “Our teachers will tell you that she’s full of grace. Our parents will tell you that she’s full of patience. And other attendance secretaries will tell you that she’s full of servant leadership.”

Her work during the district’s shift to PowerSchool also stood out to former Forest Hill principal Zac Percoski, who explained that McMinn spent significant time learning the system in advance and planning for potential challenges. He described her as forward-thinking and committed to making the transition easier for both staff and families.

McMinn is quick to point out that what she loves most about her job has little to do with computer systems. For many families, she is the first person they meet when joining the Forest Hill community, and she takes pride in welcoming them. “Sometimes they’ve just moved in, the house is still full of boxes, and I get to help make their first experience with GMSD a smooth and happy one. I always want families to feel comfortable and confident about becoming part of our school.” Each year she enrolls more than 130 new students, calling it one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

Her impact goes beyond attendance records. McMinn has handled state coding, safety alerts, and compliance with an eye toward easing the load on teachers while ensuring families feel supported. She recalls a family that struggled with tardies year after year until she encouraged them to try the bus. “They gave it a chance, and suddenly, the tardies stopped. It changed their whole experience,” she said.

Her calm presence is noticed at the district level as well. Rob Taylor, GMSD’s truancy officer, praised her ability to stay ahead of problems. He described her as organized, thorough, and always willing to share tools and resources with other secretaries. “Before I even get a chance to fix something, she’s already fixed it,” he said, adding with a laugh that “she’s got everything in those binders of hers behind her.”

For McMinn, the RISE nomination is both exciting and humbling. “It was so overwhelmingly exciting, and I was incredibly honored,” she said. “Honestly, I look forward to coming to work every single day. Not everybody can say that. Even with challenges, I never get the Sunday scaries; I truly love being here.”