Webb School of Knoxville
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| Webb School of Knoxville | |
|---|---|
| File:Webb School of Knoxville logo.gif | |
| Location | |
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9800 Webb School Drive. Knoxville, TN 37923 , United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | Inspiring Learners, Developing Leaders |
| Established | 1955 |
| Principal | Head of school: Scott L. Hutchinson Upper school head: Steve Balak |
| Color(s) | Green and White |
| Mascot | Spartans |
| Website | http://www.webbschool.org |
Webb School of Knoxville is a private coeducational day school in Knoxville, Tennessee, enrolling students from kindergarten to grade 12.
It was founded in 1955 by Robert Webb (1919-2005), grandson of Webb School of Bell Buckle founder Sawney Webb.[1]
History
Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian
In 1955, Robert Webb, then 36, made his way from the Webb School in Claremont, California to Knoxville, Tennessee, with plans to found the third school in his family.[2] Webb's grandfather, Sawney Webb, had established the Webb School of Bell Buckle in middle Tennessee.[1][2] "Webb's attempt to start a school, with a campus, a faculty, a budget, and actual students, in one summer, in hindsight seems almost absurd." During the first school year, 4 students attended the new Webb School,[1] but by the end of the year, the total had risen to 11.[2] The first two school years were held in the basement of Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church.[1][2] The school was not intended to be a parochial school, but rather Mr. Webb was unable to find another location.
Staub School
After the second school year, Webb had found a new location for the school at the old Staub School, a brick building where The University of Tennessee's aquatic center now stands.[2] It was formerly a medical school that was poorly cleaned after its use. It was not uncommon for students of the Webb School to find remnants of the building's former inhabitants. At this time, Webb's first sports teams were still without their own practice places. During its time at the Staub School, Webb admitted its first female students, establishing the affiliate Webb Girls School, which operated from a church building.[2]
West Knoxville
In 1959, Webb relocated to the current campus location near I-140.[2] At the time, the Sequoyah Hills location was considered "West Knoxville," and the new campus was beyond the outskirts of the city.
Coeducation
In the 1968 school year, Webb became coeducational and was reorganized into the lower school and the upper school.[2]
Middle School
In 1974, the school added a fifth and sixth grade to meet the rising demand. With this addition, the school was now separated into the Middle School, which consisted of grades 6-8, and the Upper School, with grades 9-12.[2]
Lower School
In 1998, the new Lower School opened at Webb. The new building currently houses the Kindergarten and first through fifth grade students. The Webb School of Knoxville now consists of a Lower School (K-5), the Middle School (6-8), and the Upper School (9-12).[2]
Athletics
Webb is consistently regarded as an athletic powerhouse in the Knoxville area, competing in Division II (private schools) of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. The football team was state runner-up in 2005-2006[3] and state champion in 2006-2007.[4] The girls cross country team also took a state title in 2007.[5] The girls basketball team also won a state championship in 2007[6], becoming the first girls team from Knoxville to win state. The wrestling team won its first KIL title in 2007, and Dean Smith was an undefeated state champion at 160 pounds in 2006, with 41 wins in his senior season. The baseball team is led by one of the most successful high school coaches in the southeast. Other athletics at Webb include track and field, volleyball, field hockey, lacrosse, and softball.
Notable Alumni
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- Elizabeth Kostova - American novelist, author of The Historian.
- Chad Pennington - Quarterback for the New York Jets (NFL)
- Ned G. Andrews - Winner of the 1994 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
- Greg McMichael - relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves MLB Franchise
References
- ^ a b c d Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., Tribute to Robert Webb, February 15, 2006, U.S. House of Representatives
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j School History, Webb School of Knoxville website
- ^ http://www.tssaa.org/2005Champions/StateFootball/home.htm
- ^ http://www.tssaa.org/2006Champions/StateFootball/bluecross.htm
- ^ http://www.tssaa.org/2006Champions/StateCrossCountry/DIIGirlsResults.htm
- ^ http://www.tssaa.org/2006Champions/StateGBasketball/DivisionII/Bracket.htm