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Brad Carr Appointed Executive Director of Special EducationBrad Carr has been appointed Executive Director of Special Education effective July 2025.
Dr. Carr joined Knox County Schools in 2008 as a teacher at Fulton High School. He went on to work as a TAP mentor teacher at Austin-East Magnet High School and a TAP master teacher at South-Doyle High School. He began his career in administration in 2013 as an assistant principal at Powell High School.
He has also been an assistant principal at high schools in West Virginia and Virginia. In 2018, he became the principal of Graham High School in Bluefield, Va., and in 2021, he was named director of human resources for Tazewell County Public Schools. He returned to KCS in 2022 as principal of South-Doyle High School, where he currently serves.
Dr. Carr received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from King College, a master’s degree in Modified and Comprehensive Special Education from the University of Tennessee, an education specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership, from University of the Cumberlands.
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Leigh Anna McCann Appointed Principal of Corryton Elementary SchoolLeigh Anna McCann has been appointed principal of Corryton Elementary School effective July 2025.
Ms. McCann joined Knox County Schools in 2008 as teacher at Vine Middle Magnet School, where she later became a TAP master teacher. She has worked as a KCS secondary numeracy coach, a math teacher and math coach at Carter Middle School, a district lead teacher, and a math coach and lead instructional coach at Vine Middle.
She began her career in administration in 2018 as an administrative assistant at Cedar Bluff Middle School, and in 2020, became assistant principal of Lonsdale Elementary School, where she currently serves.
Ms. McCann holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Tennessee Technological University, and an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of Tennessee.
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Kendedrick Jones Appointed Principal of Fulton High SchoolKendedrick Jones has been appointed principal of Fulton High School effective July 2025.
Mr. Jones joined Knox County Schools in 2024 as an assistant principal at Fulton High School. He began his career in education in 2013 as a teacher at Oxford High School in Mississippi. From 2017-2022, he served as assistant principal of Bramlett Elementary and Oxford Intermediate School. He became director of residence life and upper school principal of The King’s Academy in Seymour in 2022. He is currently the interim principal of Fulton High School.
Mr. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Secondary Science Education from the University of Mississippi, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University.
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Rolen Blaine Appointed Principal of New Hopewell Elementary SchoolRolen Blaine has been appointed principal of New Hopewell Elementary School effective July 2025.
Dr. Blaine joined Knox County Schools in 2013 as a teacher at Adrian Burnett Elementary School. He began his career in administration in 2020 when he was named an assistant administrator at Beaumont Magnet Academy. He is currently the assistant principal at Fountain City Elementary School, a position he has held since 2022.
Dr. Blaine holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership, both from Lincoln Memorial University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Tennessee.
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Kathryn “Katie” Lutton Appointed Region 5 SupervisorKathryn “Katie” Lutton has been appointed Supervisor of Region 5 effective July 2025.
Ms. Lutton joined Knox County Schools in 2004 as a teacher at Fulton High School. She was selected to be part of the Leadership Academy in 2012 and placed at Bearden High School as an assistant principal, and later served as an assistant principal at Central High School. In 2016, she was named principal of Holston Middle School, where she currently serves.
Ms. Lutton holds a bachelor's degree in English Education and Philosophy from Ball State University, and a master's degree in Education Administration from the University of Tennessee.
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John "J.D." Faulconer Appointed Director of Military EnlistmentJohn “J.D.” Faulconer has been appointed Director of Military Enlistment effective July 2025.
Dr. Faulconer joined Knox County Schools in 2013 as the founding principal of Career Magnet Academy. He previously worked five years as a teacher and 12 years in administration for Anderson County Schools and the Corbin Independent School System. In 2016, he was named Career and Technical Education Specialist of Curriculum and Instruction for KCS, and in 2023, he became principal of Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy. He is currently the principal of Fulton High School.
Dr. Faulconer holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Tennessee Technological University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University. He was recently commissioned as a Captain into the United States Army Reserves.
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David Claxton Appointed Principal of Hardin Valley Elementary SchoolDavid Claxton has been appointed principal of Hardin Valley Elementary School effective July 2025.
Mr. Claxton joined Knox County Schools in 1998 as a teacher at Vine Middle School. He also taught at Powell High School and South-Doyle High School, and worked as a TAP mentor teacher. He began his career in administration in 2012 when he was named an assistant principal at West Valley Middle School.
He served as interim principal at West Valley Middle in 2015 before being named principal of the school, where he served until 2023. He is currently principal of Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School in Maryville.
Mr. Claxton holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and a master’s degree in Education, both from the University of Tennessee, as well as an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
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Beki Jones Appointed Principal of Norwood Elementary SchoolBeki Jones has been appointed principal of Norwood Elementary School effective July 2025.
Ms. Jones joined Knox County Schools in 2010 as a teacher at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School. In 2014, she became a Math Coach at Pond Gap Elementary School, and later became an iZone Math Facilitator serving Green Magnet Academy, Lonsdale Elementary, Sarah Moore Greene Academy, and Vine Middle School.
She began her career in administration in 2017 when she was named assistant principal at Lonsdale Elementary. She is currently the assistant principal at Ball Camp Elementary School, a position she has held since 2019.
Ms. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Growth and Learning from Tusculum University and a master’s degree in Administration and Leadership from Carson Newman University.
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Sarah Mercer Appointed Principal of Pond Gap Elementary SchoolSarah Mercer has been appointed principal of Pond Gap Elementary School effective July 2025.
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. She is currently the principal of New Hopewell Elementary School, a position she has held since 2023.
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.
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Taiesha Young Appointed Principal of Carter Elementary SchoolTaiesha Young has been appointed principal of Carter Elementary School effective July 2025.
Ms. Young joined Knox County Schools in 2017 as a teacher at Holston Middle School. She previously worked as a teacher in Mississippi. She began her career in administration in 2019 serving as an assistant administrator at Gibbs Elementary School and in 2020 was appointed assistant principal at Pond Gap Elementary. She has been the principal of Pond Gap Elementary since 2022.
Ms. Young holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Alcorn State, a master’s degree in Education from the University of West Alabama, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration from Arkansas State University.
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Sarah Fish Appointed Principal of Dogwood Elementary SchoolSarah Fish has been appointed principal of Dogwood Elementary School effective July 2025.
Ms. Fish joined Knox County Schools in 2024 as principal of Hardin Valley Elementary School, where she currently serves. She began her career as a preschool special education teacher and later as an instructional consultation team facilitator for Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia. She has also worked as a reading and writing resource teacher, peer evaluator, and elementary school assistant principal for Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida.
She later joined Portland Public Schools in Oregon as assistant director of professional learning and leadership and later as an elementary school principal.
Ms. Fish holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from George Mason University, and an Educational Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.
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Amanda Hurd Appointed Principal of Sunnyview Primary SchoolAmanda Hurd has been appointed principal of Sunnyview Primary School effective July 2025.
Ms. Hurd joined Knox County Schools in 1996 as a teacher at Carter Elementary School. She was a teacher at Carter Elementary for 26 years, working in different grade levels and serving in various leadership positions. She began her career in administration in 2022 as an assistant administrator at Gibbs Elementary and later became assistant principal of Gibbs Elementary. She is currently serving as interim principal of Sunnyview Primary.
Ms. Hurd holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Learning, Growth, Behavior and Development and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Tennessee, as well as a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Austin Peay State University.
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