Mrs. Debbie Rich, NMS librarian 

    My name is Mrs. Debbie Bush Rich. I am a GHS 1976 graduate. I started teaching in January 1980 and have never regretted my gift of teaching. 

   My love of children is so rewarding, especially my two grandkids, Janie Mai Rogers and Colin McCoy. We love the water and riding in my side-by-side for adventures.  Another love of my life, my husband, Arnold Rich, died in May 2024 due to cancer.  We were married for 46 wonderful years. We have two daughters: Dr. Amy Leigh Rogers, a GES librarian, and Dr. JoBeth McCoy, a nephrologist at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. My sons-in-law are Bro. Ryan Rogers, GHS Ag teacher and FBCG associate pastor, and Dustin McCoy, Field Quality Engineer for Nissan North America. Both of them bless me with their love for God and family.

   For over 40 years of teaching, I still consider all of my students a part of my family. I have taught at Pleasant Shade Elementary, Smith County High School, Smith County Middle School, Defeated Elementary, Carthage Elementary, Gordonsville Elementary, and now New Middleton School. I wanted to be able to teach all over the county. Each journey has been joy unspeakable and full of glory. Everywhere I go, I am still blessed to see my students.  

To me, teaching isn't a job; it is a lifelong passion for making America great again, and I just so happen to be working in the best county in Tennessee.