Tyler Abernathy

Assistant Principal Jackson Middle School #JR2 Proud

[Matt Van Swol @mattvanswol]

In 1988 Dolly Parton pulled every 7th and 8th grader in Sevier County into a room and told them to pick a buddy.

She made them sign a contract.. if BOTH graduate, she hands you both $500. One fails, nobody gets paid.

The county dropout rate went from 35% to 6%.

She handed out the checks herself.

In 1989 she offered $500 to every kid in the county who wanted to go to the local college.

When Gatlinburg burned in 2016, she sent 900 families $1,000 a month for six months.

You've probably heard that part.

Here's the part you haven't:

The fund raised more than expected, so she showed up in May and handed every one of those families another $5,000 on top.

Then she quietly put $3 million into the recovery group that handles the years after the news trucks leave.

She built her county an entire hospital.

She played a benefit concert in 2007, Dollywood and the Stampede matched it, and LeConte Medical Center opened in 2010 with a birthing unit and a women's center in it.

In 2022 she started covering 100% of tuition, books, and fees for Dollywood employees.

Full-time, part-time, AND seasonal.

In 1991 she paid for a bald eagle sanctuary because the birds couldn't be released back into the wild, no press release.

And when Hurricane Helene came through here in Western North Carolina, she wrote a personal check for $1 million and her companies matched it.

She didn't owe North Carolina anything, but she helped us anyway.

She started the Imagination Library because her daddy couldn't read or write. Before he passed, he told her it was the most important thing she ever did.

Rest in Peace, Dolly 🇺🇸

[Jon Gruden @BarstoolGruden]

This box has a very special place in my heart... it's where I got my first full time coaching job!

Southeast Missouri State is home to many great friends of mine and I had the time of my life back in 1988.

Thank you to Coach Matukewicz and @SEMOfootball for sending this box!

[Stefan Moore ★ @2StefanMoore]

A final piece of advice from Holly Butcher - written the day before she passed away from cancer at just 27:

“It’s a strange thing knowing you’re going to die young.

At 26, I thought I had time…
To fall in love.
Start a family.
Grow old.

But cancer doesn’t care about plans.

Now, I understand how fragile life really is. Every single day is a gift, not a guarantee.

I’m not writing this to scare you. I’m writing to remind you: really live.

Stop stressing over little things. Be kind to your body- move it, nourish it, stop criticizing it. One day you’ll wish you had appreciated it.

Go outside.
Look at the sky.
Feel the sun.
Just be.

Spend less time chasing “stuff” - more time making memories. Don’t skip moments with people you love.

Laugh more.
Write a note.
Tell someone you love them.

Complain less.
Give more.
Helping others brings more joy than anything you can buy.

Be present.
Put your phone down.
Show up - really show up.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need a perfect body, or a perfect life.

Just follow what makes your heart light up. Say no to what drains you. Make changes when you need to.

And please - donate blood. I wouldn’t have had that extra year without it. And that year gave me memories I’ll hold close… forever.

Thank you for reading this.
Live your life well.

And maybe… we’ll meet again someday.”

Holly 🩷

Repost & share Holly’s important advice. ❤️

[Jeremy Smith @jasmith1s]

Another Lefty Power Bat from our ‘27 class. Led our team in HR’s (6) this spring with a smooth and easy power swing. Can play multiple positions (including a phenomenal catcher) as well.

[Dan Hecht @dhecht72]

@BrianMendler I urge EXTREME caution with sarcasm, especially early in a school year. The response depends on your relationship with the student, mood and context. In other words, there are a lot of factors that could cause your intentions to backfire and cause harm

[Coach Zangriles @CoachZangriles]

Happy 9th Anniversary to my beautiful Wife! @Brittzangriles

Thank you to my wife for being my best friend, the mother to our children, and a greater blessing to me than I could have ever imagined.

[Jackson Baseball @JHS_Indians]

Earlier this season the Jackson Indians secured a State Record for MSHSAA for having the most triples in a single game.

#RollTribe #CDE

[Josh Roach @joshrro]

This kid is🔥

[JUCO_EDITZ @juco_editz]

No.7 Seed Trinity Valley Upsets No.2 Seed Cowley to head to the Final 4.
•@Tylersmith_0 14 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST
• @Easymoneycam35 14PTS, 7 REB
@THEVALLEYMBB @CoachGreGHeiar

[Kole Deck @KoleDeck]

COMMITTED! Thank you to my family, Coaches, and more importantly God for helping me get here. 4 More!!!!
@cougarmbb @IndiansMensBall

[Tyler Abernathy @TylerAbernathy3]

@SeifertESPN Run the ball!!!

[Tyler Abernathy @TylerAbernathy3]

@SeifertESPN Run the ball!!!!!

[Buzz Williams @TeamCoachBuzz]

Simplicity wins.

Your job as a leader is to take complex ideas and make them clear for those you lead.

Communicate what matters most to your team and staff. And then emphasize those priorities.

Build your foundation on truth, and give your organization the responsibility to own their progress.

[Buzz Williams @TeamCoachBuzz]

Effective decision-making as a leader becomes much simpler when you're clear about what your values are.

The first form of leadership is self-leadership, because it gives you the power to define those values for yourself.

And that enables you to lead others. #getBETTER

[Jon Gordon @JonGordon11]

Never wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty and the pig likes it.

[Cape Tiger Athletics @Cape_Tigers]

Congrats Coach!!! Tiger Nation is very thankful for commitment to both our Boys and Girls Swim & Dive Teams! You earned this!!!

[Rusty Hendricks @rusty_hendricks]

Amen

[Danny Slavich @DannySlavich]

Andy Stanley has the best take I’ve seen on the #OpeningCeremony

[Terri Green @TerriGreenUSA]

This is awesome!