Published June 29, 2015 at 2:12 p.m.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools has announced its full slate of administrative appointments for the 2015-2016 school year.  Due to retirements and changes of responsibilities and placements, a total of five administrative appointments were named for the 2015-16 school year.  All placements are effective July 1, 2015.

“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 the team we have in place to lead our pursuit of being a world class school system.”

Mr. Brian Partin has been named principal of Ross N. Robinson Middle School.  Mr. Partin most recently 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), having been recently elected the organization’s national vice president, a term to begin on July 1, 2015.  He will then transition to the office of president-elect in July 2016 and 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.

Mr. Mike Fulkerson has been named principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. A 27-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).

Mrs. Nikki Skeen has been named principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, where she has served as associate principal since July, 2014.  Prior to coming to Roosevelt, Mrs. Skeen spent 14 years in KCS  serving as an associate principal at Andrew Jackson Elementary School, a district literacy coach for Kingsport City Schools, 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.

Mr. Jim Nash has been named Chief Student Services Officer, replacing the retiring Lenore Kilgore, who held the title of Supervisor of Special Education.  Mr. Nash will direct all special education and student services operations for the district.  He has been employed by KCS for 20 years, serving as counselor and associate principal at John Sevier Middle School, assistant principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School, and principal at Ross N. Robinson Middle School.  Mr. Nash holds a B.S. and Master of Arts in Educational Psychology from Tennessee Tech University and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee.

Mrs. Jennifer Guthrie has been named Chief Human Resources Officer, replacing the retiring Tammie Davis.  Mrs. Guthrie will oversee all human resources operations for the district’s 1,100+ employees.  Prior to joining KCS, she served as Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Council of United Coal Company in Blountville, TN.  Mrs. Guthrie brings more than a decade of legal and HR experience to the district, as well as time as a high school teacher and volleyball coach.  Mrs. Guthrie holds a B.A. from East Tennessee State University, a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in Florida and Tennessee.

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).

####