School Administration
Dr. Lauren Balentine
Principal
Currently holds the position as the new Principal of Hardin County Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year. Dr. Balentine has spent most of her professional career in the Collierville Schools system holding various roles at the district level such as: Math and Science Curriculum Supervisor for grades 3-12 and RTI Specialist. She has also served as an Assistant Principal and Math Teacher at Collierville High School.
Dr. Balentine attained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Memphis. She has earned both an Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) and an Educational Doctorate Degree (Ed.D.) in Leadership from Union University.
She and her husband, Joshua, who are both alumni of the Hardin County School system, are excited to return to their roots to raise their family. Dr. Balentine has four children: Whitten, Reese, McKenzie, and Sloan, who will all attend Parris South Elementary School.
Clint Arendall
Assistant Principal
Coach Clint Arendall will be the new Assistant Principal at Hardin Co. Middle School this year. He served as the History Department Chair for HCHS over the last 6 years and taught World History and ACT Prep Classes since 2010. He also served as the Defensive Coordinator for Tiger Football. He was also the Head Baseball Coach from 2014-2018.
Coach Arendall graduated from HCHS in 2004 with honors and attended Bethel College on a baseball and academic scholarship. He graduated from Lambuth University with a degree in History and a minor in Secondary Education. He received his Masters from Tennessee State University.
Coach has been married to his wife Shari since 2017 and they have two children JC who will start Kindergarten this fall and Aubrey who is 18 months old.
“There’s no substitute for work. You can talk about all kinds of stuff, but at the end of the day, it’s about the work.” Mike Tomlin.
Brad Kilburn
Assistant Principal
Mr. Brad Kilburn will be returning this year as Assistant Principal at Hardin County Middle School. Mr. Kilburn has spent his entire career as an educator in Hardin County. He has taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades, coached at every level from HCHS Volleyball to Pickwick Southside Volleyball to Northside Girl’s Basketball, and his current position is in administration.
Mr. Kilburn attained a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Mississippi as well as a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene College. He is also currently serving at the student pastor at Hopewell Baptist Church.
Brad and his wife, Brooke, have two children: Rylee and Cooper. Rylee is currently a student at HCMS and Cooper is attending West Hardin. In his spare time, Mr. Kilburn enjoys hunting and fishing, camping, and being involved in anything and everything that is competitive.
