Dr. Gary D. Hughes enters the 2009-2010 school year as the assistant principal of J.T. Moore Middle School.  For the past six years, he has taught special education in the Moderate Intervention Services behavioral classroom at Two Rivers Middle School. At Two Rivers Middle School, Dr. Hughes served on the Faculty Advisory Committee and was principal designee.  He also served as the 7th grade team leader and MNEA building representative.  Dr. Hughes coached wrestling at Two Rivers Middle from 2007-2009, and his teams won the Eastern Division Wrestling Championship both of these years.  He also coached girl’s volleyball during the 2007-2008 school year and he led his team to a 3rd place finish in the MNPS city tournament.  Dr. Hughes was named “Teacher of the Year” by his colleagues at Two Rivers Middle for the 2008-2009 school year and he was one of three finalists for MNPS district wide Middle School Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009.

Dr. Hughes earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin with High Honors, a Master’s degree from Murray State University in clinical psychology, a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in special education, and his Doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University in educational leadership and policy.  He is a licensed Senior Psychological Examiner, K-12 special education teacher, and K-12 administrator in the state of Tennessee. Dr. Hughes practiced child, adolescent, and adult clinical psychology before integrating his clinical skills into his role as an educator.  He is an associate member of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Hughes is proud to be part of the J.T. Moore family and he looks forward to a wonderful year working along side of J.T. Moore faculty, staff, and families as we strive together to educate the students of J.T. Moore.