Permanent Cookeville High Principal To Be Selected In Spring

A new principal for Cookeville High School will be selected this spring.

Max Petett resigned last month citing health and family issues. The system named Karen Trentham as interim principal for the remainder of the school year. Putnam County Director of Schools Corby King said Trentham has expressed interest in taking the job permanently.

“Where we’ve left it is, she and I will have further conversations in the spring,” King said. “I’ll have some conversations with some faculty members, at Cookeville High School, kind of see where things are going. When we get to April or May if she wants to continue in the role and she continues to do an outstanding job, and she is right now, then I could see a scenario where we could remove that ‘interim’ tag.”

King said the system is looking for someone with good energy, communication skills, and who cares about the community and school. King said the school system would consider posting the job should Trentham’s interest or other circumstances change.

Trentham made sense as the interim principal, King said.

“She was the right person,” King said. “She was there, there’s a comfort level with Mrs. Trentham, the faculty knows her well, she knows them, her heart in CHS.”

King said he works with the school community and leadership to decide whom to hire for a principal’s post. King said there has not been a set protocol for how he chooses a principal, instead, he uses his best judgment given the timing and situation.

“We want someone who cares about the faculty members and can support and work with the faculty members,” King said. “And help them grow and learn professionally and just be an example and a leader for the school in general.”

Trentham served as Cookeville High School’s Dean of Students for nearly a decade. Petett joined the system in 2019.