Morrison Elementary Principal Kim Cantrell will retire from education this week, set to become the next director at McMinnville’s Magness Public Library.
Cantrell said she has spent over 30 years in education. Cantrell said the career change was unexpected, as when she applied for the job, she did not realize that the position needed to be filled so quickly.
“It was kind of a surprise,” Cantrell said. “I’m gonna miss it here but… I get emotional talking about my kids and my teachers, you know. It’s gonna be hard to leave them, but I know I’m still gonna get to affect the community in some way.”
Cantrell said she believes her experience as an educator will help her serve in her new role. Cantrell said what she is most excited about in her new position is offering more community programs at the library.
“I’m not talking about programs just for kids,” Cantrell said. “I think lots of times we associate libraries with children’s programs. But I am really looking to, I told somebody the other day, to be the sosa for the McMinnville community. People can come in and get help with resumes, you know, maybe some GED programs, just lots of things that I want to bring the community to be a part of the library again.”
Cantrell said the library is a non-profit, unlike most libraries in Tennessee that are funded by local governments. Cantrell said she wants to hammer away at acquiring grants to support the library.
“The county helps pay for our personnel, and the foundation helps to maintain the building,” Cantrell said. “Any extra funds coming in, it’s just like a school that has to fundraise. So being a non-profit, you know, it’s gonna be important to write grants and to get more funding for things that we need at the library. That’s gonna be a big push that I am gonna have.”
Cantrell said the library was built in 1931 by two brothers who really valued education. Cantrell said it is important to have a successful library in McMinnville.
“I think literacy for kids and being able to read is very important to bring that love of reading,” Cantrell said. “We also have programs that are available online, free to the public. So just because you don’t come into the library and check out a book does not mean that you can not check out a book online. But it is important that we keep that literacy and that joy of reading alive in not just kids but all people that we deal with.”
Cantrell will start her new position Monday. Cantrell said she is looking forward to starting her new position.