When Campbell County Schools in Jacksboro, Tennessee, set out to replace an outdated SIS platform in 2014, the district prioritized simplicity, reliability, and the ability to customize for local needs. Today, with 12 schools and just over 5,000 students, Campbell County has not only achieved that goal with Follett Aspen® Student Information System but has also shaped the future of the product – building custom workflows now used by other districts across the state.

This is the story of Sara Douglas, a district data leader and Aspen power user, who helped pioneer a more connected, efficient, and equitable student data experience across Campbell County.

Challenge

Campbell County previously used a platform called STAR Student, a system plagued with data silos and manual processes. Creating calendars for each school and managing student records meant starting over every year. Grade management was difficult and time-consuming. The district knew it needed a unified SIS that could scale with its needs and adapt to new state-level compliance requirements.

Solution 

In 2014, Campbell County adopted Aspen SIS based on its centralized database, intuitive design, and robust customization capabilities. The district now leverages nearly every available module, including Gradebook, Health, Portals, Online Registration, and Returning Student Registration.

Key Implementations & Custom Features

1. Unified Health Plans for Nurses

Sara created digital Individualized Health Plans (IHPs) within the Aspen Health module using XML-backed forms. Nurses now access and update student care plans digitally, with icon indicators on student records – ensuring timely intervention for conditions like diabetes or low blood pressure. The impact? This transitioned the district’s nursing workflow to a paperless system, saving time and improving visibility across campuses.

2. Attendance Intervention (AIM) Plan

In collaboration with state reporting lead business analyst Denise Blankenship, Sara developed a tiered attendance management tool within Aspen’s included Ed Plan module.

The AIM Plan clearly shows the student’s intervention tier and stores all related documents – contracts, communication, interventions – within a single student record. This enables quick decision-making by truancy officers and social workers, helping the district meet new state mandates.

3. TNReady Graduate Customization

Working with the Aspen Customization Team, Campbell County built an automated system to track students’ “TNReady Graduate” status based on assessment data and course completions. Custom tabs and color-coded dashboards help counselors monitor readiness at a glance. The system supports postsecondary readiness by enabling counselors to proactively identify and intervene with Grade 12 students who may need additional guidance to meet graduation requirements.

4. Student Mobility & Data Continuity

Because Aspen is built on a single, unified database, all plans, histories, and records follow students as they move between schools in the district. This has eliminated delays in care and intervention for transient student populations. No more mailing, faxing, or hunting for paper files.

Implementation Experience

As one of the first districts in Tennessee to implement Aspen, Campbell County’s onboarding came with a learning curve – but also close support.

“I remember Kevin Hinds being on-site with me on the first day of school. She was physically here to help us go live,” Sara recalled. “And now, any time I have a question, I just reach out to our CSM. She’s always there.”

The Follett Software hands-on approach makes a difference. Today, Sara hopes to integrate Microsoft tools into Aspen over the summer – another step in continuously evolving the platform to meet district needs.

– **5,088 students** served across 12 schools

– **Zero system downtime** reported during go-live

– **100% digital access** to individualized student care and compliance plans

A Model for Other Districts

Sara’s custom health and attendance plans are now being adopted by other districts. Some learned about the innovations through state RUG meetings and conferences, while others were directly referred by the Follett team.

“The nurses don’t even call me anymore,” she said. “They’ve run with it. And that tells you it works.”

Why Aspen?

For Campbell County, Aspen delivers more than a student information system. It provides:

Custom-built tools that align to state mandates

Unified access to critical student data

Scalability that grows with district needs

Trusted support from a dedicated Follett team

“We want the product to work – but when it doesn’t, we want to be taken care of. And with Aspen, we are.”

Looking Ahead

Campbell County continues to evolve with Aspen. Plans for Microsoft integration and expanded customization are already underway. And, as Sara puts it, the real success is in how seamlessly staff can work:

“Data drives decisions. And Aspen makes it easy to pull what we need, when we need it.”

About Follett Aspen SIS

Follett Aspen® Student Information System is a web-based student information system built on a single database – streamlining everything from attendance and scheduling to state reporting and parent communication. Trusted by K-12 districts across North America, Aspen is highly configurable to meet evolving education needs. Learn more today.