Knox County Schools will have seven new faces in familiar places, effective July 2026. The administrative appointments were updated online on April 24, 2026, and found after an inquiry about one of the individuals. Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk made the choices.

Casey Cutter

Dr. Casey Cutter has been appointed principal of Gibbs Middle School. Cutter joined KCS in 2010 as a teacher from Colorado. He has taught at Adrian Burnett and Ball Camp elementary schools and was administrative assistant for one year at Copper Ridge Elementary. He has been an assistant principal at Norwood Elementary, principal of Mount Olive Elementary, and principal of Sam Houston Elementary in Maryville. In 2022, he was named principal of Blue Grass Elementary, where he currently serves. His doctorate is from the University of Tennessee.

Candace Greer

Dr. Candace Greer has been appointed principal of Blue Grass Elementary School, replacing Dr. Cutter. Greer joined KSC as an English teacher in 2004 at Fulton High School. She also taught at West High and Vine Middle schools, and has served as an assistant principal at Gresham Middle, Farragut High and Bearden High schools. In 2021, she was named to her current position as principal of Gibbs Middle School. Her doctorate is from the University of the Cumberlands.

Jessica Holman

Jessica Holman has been appointed principal of West Haven Elementary School. She joined KCS as a teacher at Dogwood Elementary School in 2003. She has served as an assistant principal at Christenberry Elementary School and principal at Inskip Elementary School. She was appointed to her current position as principal of Green Magnet Academy in 2017. Her degrees are from the University of Tennessee.

Spencer Long

Spencer Long has been appointed principal of West High School. He joined Knox County Schools as a science teacher in 2011 at Halls High School. He began his career in administration as an athletic director and assistant principal at Karns High School. He later served as an assistant principal for Bearden High School and is currently the principal of Halls High School, a position he has held since 2019. He holds degrees from Carson-Newman and the University of Tennessee.

Kristi Phillips

Kristi Phillips has been appointed principal of Fountain City Elementary School. She joined KCS in 2003 as a teacher at Northwest Middle School. She also served as a TAP mentor teacher at Northwest. She began her career in administration in 2010 when she was appointed assistant principal at Bearden Middle School. She has been an assistant principal at L&N STEM Academy and an assistant principal at Ridgedale. In 2019, she was named principal of Ridgedale, and in 2022, she was appointed special education supervisor for KCS. She holds two degrees from Carson-Newman.

Ashley Speas

Dr. Ashley Speas has been appointed director of academies for Regions 2 and 4. She joined KCS in 2002 as a teacher at Holston Middle School. She previously worked at Jefferson County Schools. She began her career in administration in 2010 as an assistant principal at Holston Middle and became principal of Holston in 2013. In 2016, she was named principal of West High School, where she currently serves. Her doctorate is from the University of the Cumberlands.

Keith Cottrell

Dr. Keith Cottrell has been appointed principal of the new Farragut area elementary school, now under construction. He joined KCS in 1998 as a teacher at Cedar Bluff Intermediate School. He also taught at A. L. Lotts, Blue Grass and Sterchi elementary schools. He has served as assistant principal at Farragut Primary and as principal of Cedar Bluff Elementary and Northshore Elementary. Additionally, he worked as the associate director of the Grow Your Own Center at the University of Tennessee. He currently serves as principal of Fountain City Elementary. His doctorate is from the University of Tennessee.