Published July 20, 2016 at 12:54 p.m.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools has announced its full slate of school administrative appointments for the 2016-2017 school year.  

“As we look toward the upcoming school year, I am extremely excited about the administrative team in place to lead our district and our schools,” said KCS Superintendent Dr. Lyle Ailshie.  “Research is clear that effective leadership is critical to school and student success.  I have great confidence in our administrative team to lead our pursuit of being a world-class school system.”

John Adams Elementary School – Mrs. Christy Free, Principal; Mr. Philip Wright, Associate Principal

Mrs. Free begins her first year as principal of John Adams Elementary School.  Mrs. Free has previously served as principal at John F. Kennedy Elementary School and has been a math teacher and Tennessee Common Core Coach at Ross N. Robinson Middle School.  Her experience also includes secondary math instruction at Volunteer High School in Hawkins County.  Mrs. Free holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Tennessee, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from Milligan College, and an Ed.S. in Administration from Lincoln Memorial University.

Andrew Jackson Elementary School – Dr. Krissy Turner, Principal; Mr. Matt Case, Associate Principal

Dr. Turner begins her second full year as principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary School. Previously, Dr. Turner was Associate Principal at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.  With 15 years of educational experience in KCS, she has also served as Associate Principal at Ross N. Robinson Middle School, District Lead Literacy Coach, and teacher at Andrew Johnson Elementary School.  Dr. Turner holds a B.S. and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee, as well as an Ed.D. in Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University. 

Thomas Jefferson Elementary School – Mr. Mike Fulkerson, Principal; Dr. Kelli Cate, Associate Principal

Mr. Fulkerson begins his second year as principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. A 28-year employee of KCS, Mr. Fulkerson previously served as principal and associate principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, assistant principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School, and as an assistant to the principal, teacher, coach, and athletic director at John Sevier Middle School.  Mr. Fulkerson holds a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Tusculum College, a Master’s degree in Special Education from East Tennessee State University, and an Administrative Endorsement from Lincoln Memorial University.  He chaired the initial KCS Coordinated School Health Advisory Council, has served as an examiner for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, and was awarded the KCS 5th-8th Grade Teacher of the Year (1997).

Andrew Johnson Elementary School – Mr. Stacy Edwards, Principal; Dr. Suzi Redman, Associate Principal

Mr. Edwards begins his fifth year as principal of Andrew Johnson Elementary School.  Mr. Edwards had previously served as principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School for three years.  He has 18 years of experience in education, including four years as Assistant to the Principal at Andrew Johnson Elementary School and John Sevier Middle School and seven years as an elementary teacher at Andrew Johnson Elementary School.  He earned his Bachelor’s and Educational Specialist’s degrees from East Tennessee State University and a Master’s degree from Cumberland College of Tennessee.

John F. Kennedy Elementary School – Dr. Janice Irvin, Principal; Dr. Kyle Loudermilk, Associate Principal

Dr. Irvin begins her first year as principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School.  Dr. Irvin had previously served as an associate principal at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School for three years and taught at George Washington and Andrew Jackson Elementary Schools, and at V.O. Dobbins.  During her ten years with Kingsport City Schools, Irvin has also served as a building test coordinator, Response to Intervention school coordinator, and teacher-leader. She has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Milligan College, a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis and a Doctorate in School Leadership both from East Tennessee State University.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School – Mrs. Shelia Newland, Principal; Mrs. Vicki Treadway, Associate Principal

Mrs. Newland begins her fourth year as principal at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.  Prior to being named principal at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Mrs. Newland served as Associate Principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.  Her experience includes seven years teaching at John Sevier Middle School, serving as an elementary instructor in Virginia, and 11 years as a teacher in international schools in Kuwait, Lesotho, and Eritrea, Africa.  Mrs. Newland holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from East Tennessee State University, a Master’s degree in English as a Second Language from the College of New Jersey, and an Educational Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School – Mrs. Nikki Skeen, Principal; Mrs. Val Love, Associate Principal

Mrs. Skeen begins her second year as principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, where she has served as associate principal since July 2014.  Prior to coming to Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, Mrs. Skeen spent 14 years in KCS serving as an associate principal at Andrew Jackson Elementary School, a district literacy coach, and a teacher at Andrew Johnson Elementary School.  Mrs. Skeen holds a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology from Carson-Newman University, a Master’s degree in Education from Milligan College, and an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

George Washington Elementary School – Mrs. Heather Wolf, Principal; Mrs. Sue Trent, Associate Principal

Mrs. Wolf begins her third year as principal at George Washington Elementary School.  A 22-year employee of KCS, Mrs. Wolf has held teaching positions at Abraham Lincoln and Washington Elementary Schools and has served as the Washington Early Childhood Learning Center Director and the district’s 504 Coordinator.  From 2012-2014, she held the position of Associate Principal at John Adams Elementary School.  Mrs. Wolf holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University, a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University, and an Ed.S. in Educational Administration and Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.

Ross N. Robinson Middle School – Mr. Brian Partin, Principal; Mr. Jim Wernke, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Kelli Seymour, Associate Principal

Mr. Partin begins his second year as principal of Ross N. Robinson Middle School, having previously served as principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School for 10 years.  Prior to that appointment, Mr. Partin was principal of Crieve Hall Elementary School and assistant principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary School, both located in Nashville.  Mr. Partin currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) as the organization’s president-elect and will become NAESP president in 2017. Mr. Partin holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Anderson University (IN), a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University, and an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

John Sevier Middle School – Dr. Holly Flora, Principal; Mr. Nick Roebke, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Leila Hubbard, Associate Principal

Dr. Flora begins her second full year as principal of John Sevier Middle School.  Previously, Dr. Flora was principal at Andrew Jackson Elementary School, where under her leadership, the school was named a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education.  She has worked for Kingsport City Schools for 18 years, having served as the KCS K-12 Literacy Coordinator and a teacher at Abraham Lincoln and Washington Elementary Schools.  Dr. Flora has a B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Milligan College, as well as a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University.  She was named a 2016 Tennessee National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and has served as the President of the Tennessee Principals Association.

Dobyns-Bennett High School – Dr. Chris Hampton, Principal; Mr. Richard Brown, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Beth Cohen, Assistant Principal; Mr. Eric Lyons, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Dee Olterman, CTE Director; Mr. Larry Shively, KCS Athletic Director; Dr. Brian Tate, Assistant Principal; Dr. Randy Watts, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Amanda Arnold, Associate Principal

Dr. Hampton begins his sixth year as principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School.  Prior to accepting his position as principal, Dr. Hampton had most recently served as the Kingsport City Schools Secondary Curriculum Coordinator and spent seven years as an Assistant Principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School. He has worked a total of 18 years in Kingsport City Schools, also having previously served as a special education teacher and guidance counselor at Dobyns-Bennett High School. Dr. Hampton has a B.S. in Special Education, a Master's Degree in Counseling, and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University.

D-B EXCEL – Mrs. Shanna Hensley, Principal

Mrs. Hensley begins her third full year as principal of D-B EXCEL.  With a total of 13 years of experience in Kingsport City Schools, Hensley previously served as principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School, assistant to the principal at Andrew Johnson and Abraham Lincoln Elementary Schools, as well as a classroom teacher at Andrew Johnson Elementary School.  She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, both from East Tennessee State University.

Other district administrative appointments named for the 2016-17 school year include:

• Julie Malone – Director of Alternative Learning
• Jacki Wolfe – Director of Special Education
• Stephanie Potter – Director of Professional Learning
• Amy Doran – Coordinator of Early Childhood/Grant Writer

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and a non-traditional school; with total enrollment over 7,100 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNPCE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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