Chairman Harold Garrett has served on the Haywood County Board of Education since 1989. He is a graduate of Haywood High School and holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Memphis. He also holds a master’s degree in personnel management and supervision from Central Michigan University. He served seven years in the United States Air Force. He has been farming since 1979 and also worked at the Haywood Farmers Coop five years. Currently, in addition to the school board, he serves on the Farm Service Agency County Committee and has served on other boards and commissions in the past. He is married to Barbara Way Garrett, a teacher, and they have three sons and 2 grandchildren. They are members of Brownsville Baptist Church.

Vice-Chairman Robbie Jarrett King was elected to serve on the Board of Education in 2006. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Lane College and a master’s degree in education plus 45 hours from the University of Memphis. She was a classroom teacher in the Haywood County School system for 38 years. She is a member of the National, Tennessee and Haywood County Education associations. She served two terms as president of the HCEA. Mrs. Jarrett-King serves on the Head Start Counsel Board. She is a member of Woodlawn Missionary Baptist Church where she has served as pianist for about 50 years. She is also a past member of the Brownsville-Haywood County Arts Council and Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Housing Authority for 15 years. She is a member of the NAACP, was named to Who’s Who Among Teachers and Teacher of the Year in 1975. She is married to James King Sr. and has four children and six grandchildren.

Pearlie Hess
Districts 3 & 7
Elected to service in 2006
hessp@k12tn.net

Mrs. Pearlie M. Hess attended elementary and high school in Haywood County public schools then graduated cum laud from Lane College majoring in social science with an minor in elementary education. She has been a School Board member since 2006. Mrs. Hess taught in the Memphis City and Haywood County School systems for a total of 43 years. She served as a Girl Scout leader for 20 years, was a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club, the Foster Care Board, Early Childhood Education Board and Minority Affairs for the Tennessee Education Association. She was also a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Sigma Rho Sigma Professional Fraternity of Social Science, served as President of the Haywood County Teachers Association, served as the Head Start Director for Haywood County, served on the Election Committee for the Tennessee School Board Association, and serves as a Volunteer Bible Class Teacher at Crestview Care unit. Mrs. Hess was celebrated as a Woman of Distinction by the Reelfoot Girl Scout Council, voted Educator of the year by the Chamber of Commerce, Citizen of the Year by the Fair Lilly Chapter of the Eastern Stars and Who’s Who of National Teachers of America.

Allen Currie
Districts 4 & 10
Elected to service in 2008
curriea@k12tn.net 

Board member Allen Currie was elected to serve in August, 2008. He is a graduate of Haywood High School and of the University of Tennessee at Martin. He holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing. Mr. Currie works for Sysco of Memphis in sales. He and his wife Cindy, who is a teacher, have three children in the Haywood County School System. Mr. Currie is active in coaching baseball and football. He is also a member of the West Tennessee Field Trial Association and is a member of the First State Bank Community Board. He and his family attend First United Methodist Church.

Daniel Thornton
Districts 2 & 6
Elected to service in 2008
thorntond@k12tn.net 

Daniel Thornton, who was elected to the Haywood County School Board in 2008, is a graduate of Haywood High School and attended Jackson State Community College. He is employed as a dispatcher at Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Coop. He also holds an Affiliate Real Estate License and is affiliated with Richards-Cummins Real Estate, LLC. Mr. Thornton is a member of the Tennessee National Guard and is a specialist satellite communicator/operator with the 230th Signal Unit in Alamo. He is chairperson of the Hatchie Fall Festival, is a volunteer fireman with District 7, a Sergeant for the Brownsville-Haywood County Rescue Squad, a member of the Brownsville Business Association, a graduate of both Youth Leadership and Adult Leadership, worked with Habitat for Humanity, served on the Relay for Life Board and worked with youth and adults sports at YMCA for five years. He is a member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church.