MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — More than a century of history was on display as Homer Pittard Campus School welcomed families, alumni and community members for a recent open house celebrating the school’s legacy and the people who helped shape it.
The event invited visitors to explore the school through guided tours, interactive exhibits and a walk through time, featuring decade-by-decade displays in the gym that traced the school’s growth since its founding in 1911.
As the Middle Tennessee State University College of Education’s laboratory school serving kindergarten through fifth graders, Campus School has long served as a unique partnership between the university and Rutherford County Schools, which operates the school while MTSU owns the building.
The special environment offers student teachers hands-on learning opportunities while fostering a close-knit academic community.
Rita King, former Campus School principal and president of the Friends of Campus School, said the open house was designed to give guests a fuller picture of that history while also highlighting the people behind it.
“This is a place with such a strong foundation,” King said. “We wanted people to be able to come in, experience that history for themselves, and really see what makes the school special.”
In addition to celebrating its past, the event also recognized longtime music teacher and choir director Nancy Boone, whose work brought national attention to the school’s music program during her two decades in the classroom.
King said Boone’s influence extended far beyond performances, shaping generations of students through both music and mentorship.
“She gave so much of herself to this school and to her students,” King said. “Her impact is something people still talk about, and it’s important for us to take the time to honor that.”
Guests later gathered in the library for a special program in which Boone was recognized for her contributions and shared reflections on her time at Campus School.
The open house also served as a reminder of the school’s continued role within the university community. Through its long-standing partnership with MTSU, Campus School provides a learning environment centered on academic excellence, creativity and personal growth.
— Karli Sutton (Karli.Sutton@mtsu.edu)
Members of the community gather inside the Homer Pittard Campus School library in celebration of retired music instructor Nancy Boone, who was honored for her over 20-year dedication to the school’s music program. Located on Lytle Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and operated by Rutherford County Schools, the K-5 school serves as a learning laboratory for student teachers at Middle Tennessee State University. (MTSU photo by James Cessna) 
Dressed in patterned blazers featuring school insignia, Homer Pittard Campus School student ambassadors answer questions from attendees to the school’s April 28 open house amid historical displays set up inside the school’s gymnasium off Lytle Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The students also offered guided tours of the school to family, alumni and community members. (MTSU photo by James Cessna) 
Artifacts from over 100 years of Homer Pittard Campus School history are displayed on dedicated tables throughout the school’s gym during an April 28 open house event at its campus on Lytle Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Operated by Rutherford County Schools, the K-5 school serves as a learning laboratory for student teachers at Middle Tennessee State University, which owns the building. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
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