Jessica Schaefer-Ruiz has been appointed principal of Fort Sanders Educational Development Center effective July 2023. Schaefer-Ruiz joined Knox County Schools in 2003 as an intern at Beaumont Magnet Academy. She worked as a teacher at Green Magnet Academy and Beaumont Magnet for six years before becoming an instructional coach at Beaumont. She also was a TAP master teacher at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy. She was selected to be part of the Leadership Academy in 2012 and placed at Sterchi Elementary School as an assistant principal. She became an assistant principal of Green Magnet Academy in 2013, and in 2018, she was named an assistant principal of Dogwood Elementary School, where she currently serves. Schaefer-Ruiz holds a bachelor’s degree in human ecology, a master’s degree in early childhood education, and two educational specialist degrees in leadership and administration, all from the University of Tennessee.
Emily Jellicorse has been appointed as principal of Carter Elementary School effective July 2023. Jellicorse joined Knox County Schools in 2008 as a teacher at Carter Elementary School. She previously worked as a teacher at Jefferson County Schools and in Arkansas. She also taught at Holston Middle, where she was a TAP mentor and master teacher. She served as an instructional coach at Gresham Middle School until 2017 when she began her career in administration as an assistant principal at Gresham. She became an assistant principal at Gibbs Elementary School in 2017, and in 2019, she was named principal of Chilhowee Intermediate, where she currently serves. Jellicorse holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Carson-Newman College, a master’s degree in English education from the University of Tennessee and an education specialist degree in educational administration from Lincoln Memorial University
Weston Edmonds has been appointed supervisor of assessments effective July 2023. He joined Knox County Schools in 2004 as a teacher at Farragut High School upon graduating from the University of Tennessee. He began his career in administration in 2012 as an assistant principal at Central High School. He became an assistant principal at Farragut Middle School in 2013, and in 2015, he was named principal of Farragut Middle, where he currently serves. Edmonds holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in education, both from the University of Tennessee, and an education specialist degree in administration from Tennessee Tech University.
Two meetings for District 1
The Rev. Dr. John Butler, school board member from District 1 , will host two meetings to update the community on several topics, including Project GRAD, Community Schools, the 865 Academies and the Region 5 strategic plan. The meetings will be held on Tuesday, June 20, at New Friendship Baptist Church, 1933 Texas Ave., and Thursday, June 22, at Payne Avenue Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Both meetings will start at 6 p.m.