KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools has announced its full slate of school administrative appointments for the 2017-2018 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 this administrative team to lead our pursuit to be a world-class school system.”

Palmer Early Learning Center – Dr. Amy Doran, Administrator

Dr. Doran is the Coordinator of Early Childhood and Grant Writer for KCS, and begins her second full year as Administrator of Palmer Early Learning Center. Previously, Doran was associate principal at George Washington Elementary School.  With 25 years of educational experience in KCS, she has also served as a District Literacy Coach, and teacher at Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln Elementary Schools. Doran holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University, a Master’s degree in PK-12 Education from Tusculum College, as well as an Ed.D. in Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University. 

John Adams Elementary School – Mrs. Christy Free, Principal; Mr. Brett Herron, Associate Principal

Mrs. Free begins her second year as principal of John Adams Elementary School.  Free 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.  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 third full year as principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary School.  Previously, Turner was Associate Principal at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.  With 16 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. 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 third year as principal of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. A 29-year employee of KCS, 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. 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). 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. 

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

Mr. Edwards begins his sixth year as principal of Andrew Johnson Elementary School.  Edwards previously served as principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School for three years.  He has 19 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.  Edwards 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; Ms. Heather Hobbs, Associate Principal

Dr. Irvin begins her second year as principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School.  Irvin 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 11 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, and both a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis and a Doctorate in School Leadership from East Tennessee State University.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School – Mrs. Suzanne Zahner, Principal; Mrs. Leigh Anne Sheppard, Associate Principal

Mrs. Zahner begins her first year as new principal of Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.  Prior to being named principal at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Zahner most recently served as principal of the Spencer School in the Middletown School District (Connecticut) and principal of a K-8 school in Salem, CT. She began her career in Baltimore County Public Schools (Maryland), where she taught 5th – 8th grade focused on reading and reading instruction. Additionally, she has served as an assistant principal at Deer Park Middle Magnet School (Maryland) and Chatsworth School, an elementary school in northern Baltimore County. Zahner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Elon College (North Carolina) and a Masters of Education in Education with an emphasis on reading from Johns Hopkins University.

Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School – Dr. Kelli Seymour, Principal; Dr. Philip Wright, Associate Principal

Dr. Seymour begins her first year as new principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.  Prior to coming to Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, Seymour was named interim assistant principal for Robinson Middle School where she had most recently served as associate principal. Prior to Seymour’s assignment, she was a teacher with Hamblen County Schools and Johnson City Schools, and also served as a Reward School Ambassador for the Tennessee Department of Education. Seymour holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Carson-Newman College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Carson-Newman College, an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University, and a Doctor of Education in Assessment, Learning, and School Improvement from Middle Tennessee State University.

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

Mrs. Wolf begins her fourth year as principal at George Washington Elementary School.  A 23-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 – Dr. Jim Wernke, Interim Principal; Dr. Kyle Loudermilk, Interim Assistant Principal; Mrs. Vicky Treadway, Associate Principal

Dr. Wernke begins his first year as interim principal of Ross N. Robinson Middle School, having previously served as assistant principal of Robinson Middle School.  Prior to that appointment, Wernke served as an associate principal at John Sevier Middle School, taught at QSI Quality Schools International (Shekou, China), Roosevelt Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Adams Elementary.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art from Lincoln Memorial University, a Master’s degree in grades K-6 education from Milligan College, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University.  In addition, Dr. Wernke is a fellow in the 2017 cohort of the Governor’s Academy of School Leadership (GASL).

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

Dr. Flora begins her third 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 19 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 seventh year as principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School.  Prior to accepting his position as principal, Dr. Hampton 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 19 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 fourth full year as principal of D-B EXCEL.  With a total of 14 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.

Cora Cox Academy – Mrs. Julie Malone, Director

Mrs. Malone begins her second year as Director of Alternative Learning at Cora Cox Academy.  Malone previously served as assistant principal of Ross N. Robinson Middle School and Dobyns-Bennett High School and has been a Spanish teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School.  Her experience also includes pre-k-8 instruction of Spanish in Williamson County Schools.  Malone holds a B. A. in Spanish from East Tennessee State University, and both a Master’s Degree and Ed.S.in Educational Administration from Lincoln Memorial University.

Other district administrative appointments named for the 2017-18 school year include:

• Dwain Arnold – Interim Superintendent

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, a high school program of choice and an alternative learning program; with total enrollment over 7,700 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 (TNCPE).

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, download our mobile app for Apple / Android devices or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District), LinkedIn (Kingsport City Schools) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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