Superintendent of Schools Bob Thomas has announced seven new principals or administration changes. More are expected as he fills slots for the start of school on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Deborah Adorante
Deborah Adornate – principal – Farragut Intermediate. She has been serving as interim principal since Dr. Chris Henderson left KCS last spring. Adorante joined Knox County Schools in 2000 and has taught at Hardin Valley Elementary, Karns Primary and Bluegrass Elementary. She has worked as a teacher in a variety of school settings in Tennessee and South Carolina including public, private and Department of Defense. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Tennessee State University.
Megan O’Dell
Megan O’Dell is moving from Shannondale to Brickey-McCloud, replacing Robbie Norman, who retired. O’Dell joined KCS in 2004 as a teacher at East Knox Elementary. She also taught at Sunnyview, Sarah Moore Greene and South Knox Elementary. Her first administrative post was at Brickey-McCloud in 2012. Her degrees are from Carson-Newman, Tusculum College and the University of Tennessee.
April Partin
April Partin will replace O’Dell as principal at Shannondale. Partin joined KCS in 2001 as a teacher at A.L. Lotts Elementary. She became assistant principal at Lotts in 2012 and also served as assistant principal at Green Magnet Academy. Her degrees are from UT and Lincoln Memorial University.
Christopher Deal
Christopher Deal is the new principal at Lonsdale Elementary, filling in for Wendy Hansard, who is on maternity leave. He joined KCS in 2012 as a teacher at Hardin Valley Elementary. He taught in North Carolina and Florida for 11 years. His degrees are from Florida Atlantic University, Nova Southeastern University and UT.
Dexter Murphy
Dexter Murphy – principal – Maynard Elementary after a short stint at Emerald Academy, a public charter school. He replaces Kim Wilburn-Cullom, who retired. Murphy joined Knox County Schools in 2009 as a teacher at Pond Gap Elementary. He’s been an assistant principal at Vine Middle and Sarah Moore Greene and was principal at Green Magnet Academy before leaving for Emerald. His degrees are from UT and LMU.
Brent Glenn
Brent Glenn – principal – Karns Middle. He joined KCS in 1997 as a teacher at Halls Middle School. He later taught at Carter High and has worked as assistant principal at Hardin Valley Academy, Career Magnet Academy and Austin-East High School. His degrees are from UT.
John Bartlett
Dr. John Bartlett will leave Bearden High School where he’s been principal for 10 years to be supervisor of secondary education for KCS. Previously, he was principal of Loudon County High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for 12 years. His undergrad degrees are from Tennessee Tech and his doctorate is from Liberty University.