WINNFIELD, LA — The Winnfield Kiwanis Club held its weekly lunch meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, featuring newly appointed Winnfield Middle School Principal Brent Carpenter alongside key members of the WMS Tiger football coaching staff: Head Coach Chance Williams, Defensive Coordinator Jeff Rachal, and Offensive Line Coach Justin Durbin.
Principal Carpenter, a Winn Parish native who grew up attending local public schools before graduating from Calvin High School, returns to lead Winnfield Middle School bringing 26 years of educational experience—over half of which has been spent in school administration. Having previously served 11 years as principal at WMS before spending four years as principal at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, Carpenter expressed his deep appreciation for returning home for what he envisions as his “last hoorah” in education.
“Winn Parish is home, and middle school has always been my heart,” Carpenter shared with Kiwanians. “We are walking into this school year with incredible momentum.”
School Growth and Campus Updates
Carpenter highlighted several encouraging developments for the upcoming 2026–2027 academic year:
Enrollment Surge: WMS currently has approximately 340 students enrolled—a 27-student increase compared to this time last summer. This growth is driven largely by a strong incoming 5th-grade class of over 100 students coming up from Winnfield Primary School.
Full Staffing: Despite widespread regional teacher shortages, all teaching vacancies at WMS have been successfully filled ahead of the school year.
Academic & Extracurricular Offerings:
Students will have access to top-tier programs, including one of the premier 4-H organizations in Louisiana, Beta Club, Science Club, and a newly established Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) chapter. Athletics and spirit teams include cheer, dance line, pep squad, cross country, football, basketball, and softball, with preliminary discussions underway regarding a future baseball program.
Campus Facilities: Carpenter noted that 95% of classroom spaces are currently utilized and shared long-term goals to secure funding and resources to refinish or replace the campus gym floor.
The upcoming school year also marks WMS’s transition to a four-day school week, a schedule shift Carpenter and staff expect will increase student focus and teacher retention based on successful models in neighboring parishes.
WMS Football Season Outlook.
Head Football Coach Chance Williams, now entering his fifth year leading the program while teaching 8th-grade mathematics, briefed the club on summer workouts and the transition into full pads. Williams emphasized maintaining high program standards, running the middle school team with the structure and discipline of a high school program. Joining Williams on the sidelines this season are Defensive Coordinator Jeff Rachal (PE teacher), Offensive Line Coach Justin Durbin (Social Studies/PE), and volunteer assistant coaches Peyton Glenn and Ryan Davis—both former WMS players under Williams.
The Kiwanis Club was also commended for its ongoing community support through the middle school Booster Club, which ensures student-athletes receive post-game meals following every contest.
Important Dates for Parents & Students:
WMS Open House: Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM (Parents and students can tour campus and meet teachers).
First Football Scrimmage: Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Grant High School.
First Home Football Game: Thursday, August 27, 2026 (vs. Montgomery).
The Kiwanis Club thanked the WMS Staff for taking this time out of their busy schedule to update the community on their commitment to the students of Winn Parish.