Jackson Madison County School System gives special recognition to Superintendent King, declares September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in JMCSS

Jackson Madison County School System Superintendent Dr. Marlon King, left, receives a plaque from Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents Executive Director Gary Lilly after being named the 2025 Southwest Tennessee Regional Superintendent of the Year (Photo from JMCSS) 

The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) honored Jackson Madison County School System Superintendent Dr. Marlon King at Thursday’s regular school board meeting for receiving the organization’s 2025 Southwest Tennessee Regional Superintendent of the Year award.

According to TOSS Executive Director Dr. Gary Lilly, who presented King with an honorary plaque at the meeting, the organization selected King for his leadership skills, professionalism and community involvement.

“When Dr. King talks people listen. They value his experience and his advice. They know that he is an innovator and just appreciate that he has a heart for others and a heart for children,” Lilly said. “Dr. King, we thank you for your service.”

King, who is entering his fifth year as superintendent of the district, was one of eight Regional Superintendents of the Year, which included Kelly Johnson of Clinton City Schools (East), Matt Hixson of Hawkins County Schools (First), Jason Golden of Williamson County Schools (Mid-Cumberland) Eddie Pruett of Gibson County Special School District (Northwest), Michael Adkins of Lawrence County Schools (South Central), Dr. Linda Cash of Bradley County Schools, and Patrick Cripps of DeKalb County Schools (Upper Cumberland Tennessee).  

In other business, the board issued a proclamation recognizing September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and encouraged local residents to take time to check on the wellbeing of their family and friends. The proclamation noted that the Tennessee legislature has made teen suicide prevention a state priority, and that public awareness of the issue is “key to preventing further suffering and loss of life.”  

Lynn Julian, southwest regional chair of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, commended the board for making the proclamation at Thursday’s meeting.

Julian, who lost her son to suicide in 2018, said the proclamation is a clear indicator that the board is “dedicated to building strong schools,” and added that “strong schools create strong communities.”

“Suicide can be a very difficult subject for us to talk about, but it's imperative that we're able to talk about it because it's the second leading cause of death right now for 10 to 14-year-olds, and it is the fourth leading cause of death for 15 to 19-year-olds. It’s heartbreaking,” she said.  “From 2017 to 2021, youth suicide rates have gone up a shocking, appalling 62 percent.”