Woodland Middle School earned the Governor's Civics Seal for the 2025-26 school year, a state designation recognizing schools that incorporate civic learning across grades and subjects.
The Williamson County Schools campus, which serves 957 students in grades 6 through 8, met criteria set by the Tennessee Department of Education. Those criteria include embedding civic learning across multiple grades and subjects, teaching democratic principles and offering real-world engagement opportunities such as mock elections or civics contests, according to the district.
Principal Marisa Block credited the school's social studies department.
"We are incredibly proud to receive the Governor's Civics Seal," Block said. She added that the recognition reflects the school's commitment to helping students connect lessons about history and democracy to their civic responsibilities.
Nine social studies teachers led the effort: Jessica Jackson, Jason Jordan, Catherine Keith, Benjamin Leeper, Elizabeth Loecher, Mike Morelli, Luke Paiva, Kristin Shortal and Sarah Therrien.
To qualify, schools must submit at least five lesson plans or activities aligned with Tennessee academic standards and provide professional development opportunities or student resources that support civics education. Schools must also offer at least one real-world learning opportunity. Eligible activities include mock elections, the secretary of state's civics essay contest with at least 15% of students participating, voter registration drives and programs like Model United Nations, according to the state education department.
Gov. Bill Lee announced the Governor's Civics Seal during his first State of the State address on March 4, 2019. The Tennessee General Assembly later codified the program in state law, and the State Board of Education set detailed eligibility rules in 2020.
The program has grown steadily. Fifty-nine schools earned the seal in 2022-23, 77 in 2023-24 and 93 in 2024-25. A full list of 2025-26 recipients has not yet been published by the state.
Woodland Middle is one of 52 schools in the Williamson County Schools district, which enrolls 41,593 students. The number of district schools earning the seal for 2025-26 will become clear once the state releases its full list.
