School board can approve, veto or defer vote on Powell rezoning

The school board will vote tomorrow (03/05/26) on whether to rezone students currently attending Powell Elementary School to Amherst, Brickey-McCloud or Karns elementary schools.

Here is Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk’s recommendation with maps big enough to read: North_Central_NW_Sector_Zoning_Proposal

The report says the three adjacent schools are undercapacity by 1,300 students while Powell Elementary is overcapacity by nearly 200.

Steve Triplett, who represents District 7, said he will vote no. Triplett attended the February 19 meeting at Powell High School where he heard community members ask for a delay on Thursday’s vote to give time to explore more options. Parents are concerned about old portable classrooms, traffic congestion and plumbing problems at the school.

The school board will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Summer Place Boardroom, 500 W. Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville. Space is limited; arrive early. If you want to speak, call the BOE office at 865-594-1623 no later than 4 p.m. the day prior to the meeting. That’s today, folks.

Gibbs set for softball/ baseball upgrades

Also on Thursday, the school board will vote on a memorandum of understanding with Morgan Wallen Foundation for $1.2 million grant to upgrade the Gibbs High School baseball field into a “versatile, state-of-the-art, multi-use athletic field” and to construct a softball hitting and pitching facility on the school’s campus.

Spring Hill Elementary celebrates Black History Month

Teresa Greer with a love poster

  Educators Kendra Young and Qua Yarbrough

The teachers and staff at Spring Hill Elementary School went all-out to celebrate Black History Month by learning about Black heroes in sports, business, entertainment, education and politics. Students had fun with these wall posters.

Principal Tiffany Watkins shared the photos. “Our mission at Spring Hill is to create self-motivated students who take responsibility for their own learning.”

KCS Honors Teachers and Principals of the Year

Nearly 200 teachers and principals from across Knox County Schools were honored February 24, 2026, at the annual KCS Teacher of the Year banquet, held at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Recipients were nominated by their peers and selected using the Tennessee Department of Education’s guidelines. Teachers from every school and principals from every region were represented.

The following principal and three educators were recognized as district-wide winners:

Principal: Dr. Trina Spista, Amherst Elementary. video

PreK-4th Grade: Jake Albright, third grade teacher, Green Magnet Academy. video

Grades 5-8: Kathy Parnell, 6-8 grade comprehensive development, Gibbs Middle. video

Grades 9-12: Hannah Berkley, choir and technical theater, musical theater, South-Doyle High. video

School winners are listed by region.

Preschool

  • April Partin, Principal – Cedar Bluff Preschool
  • Trina Thompson – Cedar Bluff Preschool
  • Christina Chapman – Fair Garden Family Center
  • Connie Mitchell – Ft. Sanders Educational Development Center
  • Jena Webb – Karns Preschool

Region 1

  • Tracy Marsh, Principal – A.L. Lotts Elementary
  • Amy Jo Evers – A.L. Lotts Elementary
  • Megan Noe – A.L. Lotts Elementary
  • Amanda Phipps – A.L. Lotts Elementary
  • Valerie Sharp – Bearden Elementary
  • Shannon Fussaro – Bearden High
  • Tonya Leigh Henke – Bearden High
  • Stephanie Panczer Garza – Bearden High
  • Kristen Skates – Bearden High
  • S.P. Webb – Bearden High
  • Susan Crawford Hatcher – Bearden Middle
  • Luz Martinez – Bearden Middle
  • Janine Poole – Bearden Middle
  • Hannah Smith – Bearden Middle
  • Holly Wells – Blue Grass Elementary
  • Julie Dorsey – Farragut High
  • Al Fontenot – Farragut High
  • Jake Gulledge – Farragut High
  • Lizzi Kersey – Farragut High
  • Whitney Parson – Farragut High
  • Lacey Bullard – Farragut Intermediate
  • Kristin Hobbs – Farragut Intermediate
  • Hannah Reddick – Farragut Intermediate
  • Ashley Collins – Farragut Middle
  • Brian Fogarty – Farragut Middle
  • Katie Rickard – Farragut Middle
  • Lauren Rutherford – Farragut Middle
  • Genie Borrego – Farragut Primary
  • Amber Roberts – Farragut Primary
  • Danielle Sanchez – Farragut Primary
  • Aleigh Diegel – Northshore Elementary
  • Emily Morsch – Northshore Elementary
  • Maria Stephanie Turpin – Northshore Elementary
  • Hannah Rosas – Pond Gap Elementary
  • Ali Edwards – Rocky Hill Elementary
  • Shelley Hill – Rocky Hill Elementary
  • Lauren Kimzey – Sequoyah Elementary
  • Michelle Casini – West High
  • Brooke Gasper – West High
  • Gina Hodges – West High
  • Kate Hoppenrath – West High
  • Emily Kenner – West High
  • Leigh Beisner – West Hills Elementary
  • Brittany Lyon – West Hills Elementary
  • Elizabeth Abee – West Valley Middle
  • Emily Abeles – West Valley Middle
  • Mary Josephine Bienko – West Valley Middle
  • Madeline Michelsen – West Valley Middle
  • Rachel Ruth – West Valley Middle
  • Wendy Markwood – West View Elementary

Region 2

  • Dr. Trina Spista, Principal – Amherst Elementary
  • Melissa Dishner – Amherst Elementary
  • Lindsey Newman – Amherst Elementary
  • Jennifer Cromwell – Ball Camp Elementary
  • Tim Bennett – Cedar Bluff Elementary
  • Laura O’Brien – Cedar Bluff Elementary
  • Jessica Wagner – Cedar Bluff Elementary
  • Sarah Brown Goldman – Cedar Bluff Middle
  • Carla McLeod – Cedar Bluff Middle
  • Jennifer Galloway – Hardin Valley Academy
  • Kaitlyn Gaskins – Hardin Valley Academy
  • Malcolm Gibbs – Hardin Valley Academy
  • Lisa Jacobs – Hardin Valley Academy
  • Holly Wilgus – Hardin Valley Academy
  • Barbara Hughes – Hardin Valley Elementary
  • Andrea Johnson – Hardin Valley Elementary
  • Claire Johnson – Hardin Valley Elementary
  • Kimberly Mink – Hardin Valley Middle
  • Nicole Pendleton – Hardin Valley Middle
  • Chris Schaefer – Hardin Valley Middle
  • Brittany Barrow – Karns Elementary
  • Kate Castano – Karns Elementary
  • Amanda Jones – Karns Elementary
  • Phillip Beeler – Karns High
  • Seth Connor – Karns High
  • Jimbo Crawford – Karns High
  • Emma Horstmann – Karns High
  • Cynthia Rhoden – Karns High
  • Tyler Hill – Karns Middle
  • Noelle Kim – Karns Middle
  • Heather Plemons – Karns Middle
  • Misty Brown – Knox County Virtual
  • Jenny Driskill – Knox County Virtual
  • Megan Goebel – Mill Creek Elementary
  • Olivia Williams – Mill Creek Elementary
  • Constance Cox – Northwest Middle
  • Emily Griffin – Northwest Middle
  • Aly Pointer – Northwest Middle
  • Leila Myers – Norwood Elementary
  • Kim Ledington – Pleasant Ridge Elementary
  • Lori Harrell – Powell Elementary
  • Patience Votta – Powell Elementary
  • Julie Holt – Powell Elementary
  • Robin Jarman – Powell High
  • Kenny Johnston – Powell High
  • James Lee – Powell High
  • Kristen Farley – Powell Middle
  • Crystal Moore – Powell Middle
  • Amy Galeano – West Haven Elementary

Region 3

  • Anthony Norris, Principal – South-Doyle Middle
  • Jennifer Arnold – Bonny Kate Elementary
  • Ashley Davis – Bonny Kate Elementary
  • Natalie Ford – Bonny Kate Elementary
  • Cindy Brown – Career Magnet Academy
  • Teresa Johnson – Carter Elementary
  • Lauren Mynatt – Carter Elementary
  • Cynthia Cupp – Carter High
  • Jess Sherrod – Carter High
  • Lauren Henderson – Carter Middle
  • Jessica Neal – Carter Middle
  • Bryon Folk – Chilhowee Intermediate
  • Courtney Edwards – Dogwood Elementary
  • Lisa Walker – Dogwood Elementary
  • Sarah Gore – East Knox County Elementary
  • Serena Winegardner – East Knox County Elementary
  • Rebecca Sellers – Gap Creek Elementary
  • Veronica Cordell – L&N STEM Academy
  • Robert Morris – Mooreland Heights Elementary
  • Amy Brantley – Mount Olive Elementary
  • Sherrie Young – New Hopewell Elementary
  • Mark Smith – Paul Kelly Volunteer Academy
  • Sarah Alvarez – South-Doyle High
  • Hannah Berkley – South-Doyle High
  • Tim Huettel – South-Doyle High
  • Kimberly Nixon – South-Doyle High
  • Lauren Mumford – South-Doyle Middle
  • David Pearson – South-Doyle Middle
  • Allex Semersky – South-Doyle Middle
  • Kaylee Anderson – South Knoxville Elementary
  • Randi Helton – Sunnyview Primary

Region 4

  • Dr. Danielle Rutig, Principal – Central High School
  • Karla Banks – Adrian Burnett Elementary
  • Amy Webb – Adrian Burnett Elementary
  • Lauren Desrosiers – Brickey-McCloud Elementary
  • Laurie Smith – Brickey-McCloud Elementary
  • Kaylee Snider – Brickey-McCloud Elementary
  • Mark Alexander – Central High School
  • Ashley Cutshall – Central High School
  • Adam Kennedy Jollo – Central High School
  • Alex Mink – Central High School
  • Tammy Clark – Copper Ridge Elementary
  • Theresa Marie Kindrick – Copper Ridge Elementary
  • Kristin Pratt – Corryton Elementary
  • Logan Tucker – Fountain City Elementary
  • Missy Jones – Gibbs Elementary
  • Cindy Kroeger – Gibbs Elementary
  • Holly Walker – Gibbs Elementary
  • Jacki Atkins – Gibbs High
  • Robin Davis – Gibbs High
  • Mandy Gilbert – Gibbs High
  • Laruen Downs – Gibbs Middle
  • Kathy Parnell – Gibbs Middle
  • Gracie Alward – Gresham Middle
  • Macy Burchfield – Gresham Middle
  • Lindsey Fields – Gresham Middle
  • Christie Evans – Halls Elementary
  • Robin Elizabeth Wallace – Halls Elementary
  • Victoria VanMaaren – Halls High
  • Tammy Wissing – Halls High
  • Alex Yaniello – Halls High
  • Emily Dennison – Halls Middle
  • Brittany Dunsmore – Halls Middle
  • Cricket Prentiss – Halls Middle
  • Angela Hazen – Inskip Elementary
  • Lacey Kington – Inskip Elementary
  • Dough Reynolds – KAEC
  • John Wynd – Richard Yoakley School
  • Kristopher Cope – Ridgedale School
  • Charlie Longmire – Ridgedale School
  • Rachel Cummings – Ritta Elementary
  • Shonna Howell – Ritta Elementary
  • Lauryn Garvey – Shannondale Elementary
  • Amber Swaggerty – Sterchi Elementary

Region 5

  • William Smith, Principal – Lonsdale Elementary
  • Erica Burse – Austin-East Magnet High
  • Hadley O’Hara – Austin-East Magnet High
  • Sky Smith – Austin-East Magnet High
  • Belinda Holdernesse – Beaumont Magnet Academy
  • Leslie Lane – Beaumont Magnet Academy
  • Olivia Cates – Belle Morris Elementary
  • Andrea Hetman – Belle Morris Elementary
  • Nikki Sanders – Christenberry Elementary
  • Patti Tipton – Christenberry Elementary
  • Parker Casler – Fulton High
  • Paris Hoover – Fulton High
  • David Miller – Fulton High
  • David Wright – Fulton High
  • Jake Albright – Green Magnet Academy
  • Kristiana Stratis – Green Magnet Academy
  • Melody Jones – Holston Middle
  • Katarina Boles – Lonsdale Elementary
  • Maritza Sierra Rosado – Lonsdale Elementary
  • Adrianna Quintana – Maynard Elementary
  • Miller Foutch – Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
  • Zackea Harris – Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
  • Stephanie Huss – Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
  • Megan Kidder – Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
  • Carlton Batista – Spring Hill Elementary
  • Jasmine Riggins – Spring Hill Elementary
  • Taylor Martin – Vine Middle Magnet
  • Mary Ellen Pautler – Vine Middle Magnet
  • Kaitlin Boling Johnson – Whittle Springs Middle
  • Kayla Carey – Whittle Springs Middle
In Memoriam

Ronnie Young

Ronnie Claud Young, 77, of LaFollette, taught seventh grade science for many years in the Campbell County school system. He loved teaching, farming and gardening, but most of all he loved spending time with his wife, Juanita, and grandson, Skylar. Obituary is here.

 

 

Jimmy Finley

Jimmy A. Finley, 85, of Jacksboro, was a proud U.S. Army veteran and career educator who taught at Carson-Newman University and held several positions with the Campbell County Board of Education. Obituary is here.

 

 

Maureen Beckham Moyers, 99, of Rutledge, taught school in Grainger County for 40 years. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and loved those luncheons with her fellow teachers. Obituary is here.

Notes & Quotes
  • Bobcat Bash, Central High School, Thursday, April 2, 5-7 p.m. Car show, vendors, food trucks and more. Info: Cassidy Taylor at 865-689-1400 ext. 71915 or email cassidy.taylor@knoxschools.org.
  • Oak Ridge Schools will host a districtwide Job Fair on Wednesday, April 1, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the School Administration Building, 304 New York Avenue, Oak Ridge. Info: www.ortn.edu/.
  • Knox County Retired Teachers Association will meet at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Rothchild Catering on Kingston Pike to hear “Showdown at the Old Knoxville Courthouse: How Knoxville may have changed history.” The topic is Women’s History Month; the cost is $25 and the deadline for reservations is Monday, March 23. Text Karen Peterman at 865-363-6854 or email petermank1@gmail.com.

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