Best Buddies

Best Buddies is a program that offers One-to-One Friendship, Integrated Employment, Leadership Development, and Family Support programs for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies gives people with special abilities a chance to make friends, speak up, be heard and advocate for themselves and others within their community.
Best Buddies Tennessee is excited to celebrate and recognize the 2023-2024 Outstanding Chapters of the Year. Rhea Elementary, under the guidance of Mrs. Shayna Miles, is a leader of inclusion in our community and continues to exceed expectations. Our chapter is truly creating change and driving the mission forward through member engagement, creative chapter activities, and strong cultures of inclusion.

Our Best Buddies program meets the fourth Tuesday of every month, except for November, December, and March, due to holiday breaks. All chapter events are from 3:00-4:00 PM. Pick-up is at the front office where each child will be need to be signed out unless they are getting checked into Kids Club. Parents will need to be reminded to write a note in their child’s planner that they are staying after school for Best Buddies on chapter event days. The leadership team consists of Sherry Wimberly, Kim Denman, Becky Coffield, and Shayna Miles.
2026-27 Event Schedule:
- September 22, 2026
- October 27, 2026
- November 17, 2026*
- December 15, 2026*
- January 26, 2027
- February 23, 2027
- March 16, 2027*
- April 27, 2027
- May’s event will be our Buddy Walk! More information will be provided closer to the date.
If you would like your child to enjoy our Best Buddies events, please contact Shayna Miles. Children with AND without disabilities are encouraged to join!
