- Knox County Schools
- Homepage
Return to Headlines
2023-2024 Administrative Appointments
![]() |
Tye Sutton is appointed Principal of Vine Middle SchoolTye Sutton has been appointed principal of Vine Middle School effective July 2023.
Mr. Sutton joined Knox County Schools in 2014 as an assistant principal at Fulton High School. He previously worked as teacher in Alabama and Ohio and served 13 years as an administrator in Ohio. He has also been a principal at South-Doyle Middle School and an assistant principal at Northwest Middle School. In 2017, he was named an assistant principal at Karns High School, where he currently serves.
Mr. Sutton holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Alabama State University and a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Wright State University.
|
![]() |
William Smith Appointed Principal of Lonsdale Elementary SchoolWilliam Smith has been appointed principal of Lonsdale Elementary School effective July 2023.
Mr. Smith joined Knox County Schools in 2010 upon graduation from the University of Tennessee and worked seven years as an elementary school teacher at Inskip and Lonsdale Elementary schools schools serving as both a TAP Mentor teacher and a TEAM lead teacher. He was selected to be part of the Leadership Academy in 2017 and placed at Hardin Valley Elementary School as an assistant principal. In 2018, he was named an assistant principal at Green Magnet Academy, where he currently serves.
Mr. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in Human Ecology, a master's degree in Child and Family Studies and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, all from the University of Tennessee.
|
![]() |
Dr. Elizabeth Ingram Appointed Principal of West Valley Middle SchoolDr. Elizabeth Ingram has been appointed principal of West Valley Middle School effective July 2023.
Dr. Ingram joined Knox County Schools in 2008 as assistant principal of Hardin Valley Academy. Before joining Knox County Schools, she worked as a math teacher in Florida and Kentucky for more than eight years. She has also been an assistant principal at West Valley Middle School and at Farragut High School. In 2018, she was named principal of Powell Middle School, where she currently serves.
Dr. Ingram holds an associate's degree in Education from Southeast Community College and a bachelor's degree in Education from Union College, as well as a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision and a doctorate in Organizational Managment, both from Nova Southeastern University.
|
![]() |
Sarah Mercer Appointed Principal of New Hopewell Elementary SchoolSarah Mercer has been appointed principal of New Hopewell Elementary School effective July 2023.
Ms. Mercer joined Knox County Schools in 2008 as a teacher at Beaumont Magnet Academy. She also worked as a magnet facilitator and numeracy coach while at Beaumont. In 2016, she became a TPaCK Coach at East Knox County Elementary School. She began her career in administration in 2020, when she was named assistant principal of A.L. Lotts Elementary School, where she currently serves.
Ms. Mercer holds a bachelor's degree in Education from Freed-Hardeman University, a master's degree in Instruction and Curriculum from the University of Phoenix, and an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
|
![]() |
Rocky Riley Appointed Principal of Bonny Kate Elementary SchoolRocky Riley has been appointed principal of Bonny Kate Elementary School effective July 2023.
Mr. Riley joined Knox County Schools in 2001 as a teacher and worked at South-Doyle High and West High schools. In 2007, he became a Career and Technical Education Curriculum Supervisor for Knox County Schools. He began his career in administration in 2016 when he was named assistant principal of West High. He has been an assistant principal at Career Magnet Academy and at South-Doyle Middle School, where he currently serves.
Mr. Riley holds a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Development with a concentration in Technology Education from the University of Tennessee, and a master's degree in Education from Lincoln Memorial University.
|
![]() |
Shelli Eberle Appointed Special Education Supervisor for Knox County SchoolsShelli Eberle has been appointed Special Education Supervisor for Knox County Schools.
Ms. Eberle joined Knox County Schools in 2005 as a teacher at Green Magnet Academy. She also worked for six years at New Hopewell Elementary School. She began her career in administration in 2012 when she was appointed assistant principal of West Hills Elementary. In 2015, she was named principal of Fort Sanders Educational Development Center, and in 2016, she also took on the role of Child Find and Preschool Special Education Supervisor. She currently holds both positions.
Ms. Eberle received a bachelor's degree in Child and Family Students and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education, both from the University of Tennessee, as well as an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership and Administration from Lincoln Memorial University.
|
![]() |
Jason Harris Appointed Principal of Karns PrechoolJason Harris has been appointed Principal of Karns Prechool effective July 2023. Mr. Harris joined Knox County Schools in 2002 as a teacher at Belle Morris Elementary School.
He previously served as a teacher in Asheville, N.C. He also taught at Vine Middle School and was a lead teacher at Maynard Elementary. He has been an administrative assistant at Austin-East Magnet High School and at A.L. Lotts Elementary School. He was named assistant principal of A.L. Lotts in 2015 and assistant principal of Gibbs Elementary School in 2016. He is currently the assistant principal of Sterchi Elementary.
Mr. Harris holds a bachelor's degree in Pre-Teaching Multi-Cultural Studies, and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Tennessee. He also has an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University and an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee.
|
![]() |
April Partin Appointed Principal of Cedar Bluff PrechoolApril Partin has been appointed Principal of Cedar Bluff Prechool effective July 2023. Ms. Partin joined Knox County Schools in 2001 as a teacher at A.L. Lotts Elementary School, where she taught several years and served as a lead teacher.
She began her career in administration in 2012 when she was appointed assistant principal at A.L. Lotts. She also served as an assistant principal at Green Magnet Academy. She was selected to be part of the Leadership Academy in 2017 and placed at Karns Elementary School as an assistant principal. In 2018, she was named principal of Shannondale Elementary, and in 2019, she became principal of Lonsdale Elementary, where she currently serves.
Ms. Partin holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and a master's degree in Elementary Education, both from the University of Tennessee. She also holds an education specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University and an education specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Tennessee.
|
![]() |
Desiree Jones Appointed Principal of Cedar Bluff Middle SchoolDesiree Jones has been appointed Principal of Cedar Bluff Middle School effective July 2023. Ms. Jones joined Knox County Schools in 1996 upon graduation from the University of Tennessee and worked 15 years as a high school teacher.
She served as English Department Chair at Hardin Valley Academy from 2008-2011, and as a TAP Master Teacher at Austin-East High School. She was selected to be part of the Leadership Academy in 2012 and placed at Carter High School as an assistant principal. She also served as interim principal of Vine Middle School and as an assistant principal at Fulton High School. In 2017, she was named principal of Vine Middle, where she currently serves.
Ms. Jones holds a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and an educational specialist degree in Educational Administration, all from the University of Tennessee.
|
![]() |
Kimberly Harris Appointed Principal of Northshore Elementary SchoolKimberly Harris has been appointed principal of Northshore Elemenaty Schools effective July 2023.
Ms. Harris joined Knox County Schools in 2012 and worked as a teacher at A.L. Lotts and Hardin Valley Elementary. Previously, she was a teacher with Broward County Schools in Florida. In 2019, she was named assistant principal of Northshore Elementary, and in 2022, she was appointed principal of Bonny Kate Elementary, where she currently serves.
Ms. Harris holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University and a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Carson Newman University.
|
![]() |
Robert Angel Appointed Principal of Mount Olive Elementary SchoolRobert Angel has been appointed principal of Mount Olive Elementary Schools effective July 2023.
Mr. Angel joined Knox County Schools in 2019 as an assistant principal of Fountain City Elementary. He previously worked for 16 years as a teacher and administrator at several schools in Campbell County. He also worked as a project manager for the U.S. Department of Energy-ORAU. He is currently serving as an assistant principal at Belle Morris and Corryton Elementary schools.
Mr. Angel holds a bachelor's degree in History/Middle Grades Education from the University of Pikeville, a master's degree in Elementary Education from the University of the Cumberlands, an educational specialist degree in Leadership and Administration from Lincoln Memorial University, and a master's degree in Theology from Regent University.
|
![]() |
Keith Cottrell Appointed Principal of Fountain City Elementary SchoolDr. Keith Cottrell has been appointed principal of Fountain City Elementary School effective July 2023.
Dr. Cottrell joined Knox County Schools in 1998 as a teacher at Cedar Bluff Intermediate School. He has also served as a teacher at A. L. Lotts Elementary, Blue Grass Elementary, and Sterchi Elementary schools. He was selected to be part of the Leadership Academy in 2011 and placed at Cedar Bluff Elementary School as an assistant principal. He has also served as assistant principal at Farragut Primary, principal of Cedar Bluff Elementary, and principal of Northshore Elementary.
He is currently the Associate Director of the Grow Your Own Center at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Cottrell holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, a master's degree in Teaching from Carson Newman University, an Education Specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Tennessee.
|
![]() |
David Guyer Appointed Principal of Belle Morrris Elementary SchoolDavid Guyer has been appointed principal of Belle Morris Elementary School effective July 2023.
Mr. Guyer joined Knox County Schools in 2022 as assistant principal of Hardin Valley Academy, where he currently serves. He previously worked 14 years as a teacher and administrator at various schools in California, including KIPP SOCAL Schools, John Muir Middle, John Burroughs High, and Monterey High schools.
Mr. Guyer holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Milligan College, and a master's degree in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles.
|
![]() |
Porscha Harris Appointed Principal of Bearden Elementary SchoolPorscha Harris has been appointed principal of Bearden Elementary School effective July 2023.
Ms. Harris joined Knox County Schools in 2013 as a teacher at West Haven Elementary. She previously worked as a teacher in Hamilton County Schools. In 2015, she joined the teaching staff at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy and became a lead teacher in 2017. She was a TAP Mentor from 2014-2016. She began her career in administration in 2020 as an assistant principal at Gibbs Elementary, where she currently serves.
Ms. Harris holds a bachelor's degree in Business Marketing from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, a master's degree in Teacher as Instructional Leaders from South College, and an educational specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
|
![]() |
Brandon Pratt Appointed Ombudsman for Knox County SchoolsBrandon Pratt has been appointed Ombudsman for Knox County Schools effective July 2023.
Mr. Pratt joined Knox County Schools in 2001 as a teacher at Cedar Bluff Intermediate School. Before joining Knox County Schools, he worked as a teacher in Mississippi. He began his career in administration in 2005 as an assistant principal at A.L. Lotts Elementary School. He has served as principal at Corryton Elementary, Sunnyview Primary, Ball Camp Elementary, and Northshore Elementary schools. He is currently the principal of New Hopewell Elementary.
Mr. Pratt holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Education Leadership, both from the University of Mississippi.
|
![]() |
Shawn Smith Appointed Principal of Copper Ridge Elementary SchoolShawn Smith has been appointed principal of Copper Ridge Elementary School effective July 2023.
Ms. Smith joined Knox County Schools in 1985 as teacher at Ridgedale Elementary School, where she worked for 15 years. In 2000, she joined the teaching staff at Copper Ridge Elementary and became a lead teacher in 2012. She began her career in administration in 2017 as an assistant principal at Copper Ridge Elementary, where she currently serves.
Ms. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Louisiana College and a master's degree in Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee.
|
![]() |
Tonya Cash Appointed Principal of Christenberry Elementary SchoolTonya Cash has been appointed principal of Christenberry Elementary School effective July 2023.
Ms. Cash joined Knox County Schools in 2002 as a teacher at Christenberry Elementary School, where she worked for 11 years. She previously held various supervisor positions at Child and Family Tennessee. At Christenberry Elementary, she served in various leadership and professional positions. She began her career in administration in 2013 as an assistant principal at Christenberry Elementary, where she currently serves.
Ms. Cash holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Carson-Newman College, a master's degree in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University, and an Education Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
|
![]() |
Kori Lautner Appointed Interim Assistant Superintendent of StrategyKori Lautner has been appointed Interim Assistant Superintendent of Strategy effective April 2023. Ms. Lautner worked as a site director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley for three years before joining Great Schools Partnership as the Community School Coordinator for Lonsdale Elementary School in 2015.
In 2020, she became the Community Engagement Manager for Knox Education Foundation, where she developed and managed strategic partnerships between County Schools and the greater Knox County community. She joined Knox County Schools in 2021 and currently serves as Senior Executive to the Superintendent.
Ms. Lautner received a bachelor's degree in English Literature and a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
|