What Makes Robertson County Schools Special? Ask These Alumni

Strong public education system helps power the region's economy and future workforce.

By Teree Caruthers on April 9, 2024

Jim Bellis/Robertson County Schools

A strong public education system is at the heart of Robertson County’s economic and workforce development success. Serving more than 14,000 students in grades pre-K through 12, Robertson County Schools offers a wide range of academic, athletic and arts programs – including dual enrollment programs and career and technical education courses – that meet the diverse interests and learning styles of its thriving students. 

This commitment to a well-rounded education is what graduates Dr. Jana Plant Socey and Dr. Emily Sutherland Hollingsworth say not only set them up for success in their careers but also inspired them to contribute to their vibrant communities here in Robertson County. 

Gaining a Wider World View 

“My public school experience allowed me to meet others from all walks of life, races and social backgrounds, and it allowed me to figure out who I was as a person without a particular mold I had to fit into,” says Socey, an optometrist with Drs. Wilkerson and Socey Optometrists in Springfield. “I was able to learn from different friend groups, participate in clubs and sports that taught me many important life lessons and had teachers of all types who helped to push me forward.” 

Socey, who attended Coopertown Middle School and Springfield High School, says courses such as Advanced Placement and dual enrollment not only challenged her academically but also helped her see educational and career opportunities beyond high school. 

“I think that public school helped to force me to find my personal drive to push myself to do well enough to enroll in harder classes, become a leader in different clubs and determine what I wanted for my life and future career,” Socey says. “Once I was able to figure out what direction I wanted to head in, I was able to come up with steps I needed to achieve to get there.” 

The stellar school system is just one reason Socey chose to return to Springfield to practice after graduating from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. 

“Our small town, with its more rural feel while being so convenient to Nashville and other areas of Middle Tennessee, is my favorite thing about living here. It is small enough where everyone feels like family, but big enough where you still meet new faces everywhere you go,” she says. 

Jim Bellis/Robertson County Schools

Teachers Inspiring Future Teachers 

“I had amazing teachers. I really did,” says Hollingsworth, supervisor of federal programs for Robertson County Schools. “It’s why I became a high school English teacher. When I think about some of the teachers who really made an impact on me, they were my English teachers, and I am sure that’s probably what led me to go into that career and teach high school English.” 

In fact, Hollingsworth began her career at her alma mater, Springfield High School. “While I was finishing up my master’s degree, I started substitute teaching at Springfield High School, which is where I graduated. That was my first teaching job. Then, I went to Jo Byrns High School and taught for a of couple years before I became the assistant principal at Springfield Middle School, which is also where I went to school. I was there for three years before moving into my current role. That’s fun when you’re working with your own teachers,” she says. 

Hollingsworth says in addition to great teachers, access to sports and arts and other programs at Robertson County Schools helped prepare her for career success. 

“I was in the National Honor Society and in the Junior Civitan Club, where we did community service projects and learned about the importance of citizenship and giving back to your community,” she says. “And I was in the show choir, which allowed me to travel and see so many places that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.”