A Letter from Superintendent Ledford

Board of Education seal

November 5, 2022

Knox County Community,

There are no right words to say in a tragedy like this or even knowing when the right time is to say it. As a father of four, I can’t even imagine the pain. Our hearts are heavy that Josh Henson is no longer with us. This tragic event has left all of us asking the question of why?

I want our community and school families to know that we have been looking for answers. I am asking that if you are a student that has information, please talk to your principal or guidance counselor. I promise we will fully investigate it as we have all week.

We have also brought in counselors to talk with students. We must ensure that our kids are okay and that they have someone to talk to if they are having an issue themselves. This is hard on everyone. Our school district and law enforcement are also looking at emails, tip lines, video footage, posts on social media, and going to homes to ask for information.

I want to say to our community to pray for Josh’s family, our kids, the Knox Central staff, and the administration, as this tragedy has deeply impacted all of us.

I ask our community to please stop spreading hate, rumors, and blame. If we work together, we can find the truth. Remember, we are all going through something nobody knows about.

Josh Henson will never be forgotten, as he will always be a Knox Central Panther.

This is our home. I love Knox County and the great people here. Please be kind to each other, and let’s work together to better each other, our schools, and our community.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Ledford, Superintendent