District Administrative Leadership

Dr. Chris Hampton

Superintendent of Schools

Kingsport City Schools

Dr. Chris Hampton was named permanent Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools (KCS) in March 2023. Prior to that, Hampton served as Interim Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools (KCS) from November 2022 - March 2023. In his 27 years as an educator in KCS, he has served as a special education teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, curriculum coordinator, and has spent the last 11+ years as the principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

In addition to numerous accolades earned by Dobyns-Bennett High School and numerous presentations over the years, Dr. Hampton has been named the 2021-2022 State of Tennessee Principal of the Year, received the 2019 University of Tennessee Field Award for Secondary Principal of the Year, named the 2019 Distinguished TRIO Alumni by East Tennessee State University (ETSU), proclaimed by the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman that April 15, 2002 was Chris Hampton Day, and named the 2000 TARGET Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Hampton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from ETSU, a Master’s degree in Counseling from ETSU, and a Doctorate degree in Educational Policy and Leadership Analysis from ETSU.

Dr. Andy True

Assistant Superintendent - Administration

Kingsport City Schools

Dr. Andy True has served as Assistant Superintendent – Administration since March 2016. He is responsible for leadership and support of the district’s administrative functions and departments. Dr. True has previously served as the KCS Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing all district communications and community relations, managing district administrative duties, and completing special and capital projects for the district.

In his 26 years with KCS, Dr. True has also served as a 4th and 5th grade classroom teacher and elementary school associate principal. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and a Master’s degree in Education from Milligan University, and an Educational Specialist degree and a Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University.

Dr. True has held leadership positions on several community-related governing boards, including serving as the Chair of the United Way of Greater Kingsport Children and Youth Vision Council and Chair of the “United We Read” Early Grades Literacy Initiative. He has served on the Eastman Community Advisory Panel, the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA Board of Directors and Impact Committee, the Leadership Council of the STRONG Accountable Care Community, the Sullivan County Health Council, and the Board of Examiners for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence.

He has been married for 29 years to his wife, Annette (a teacher at John Sevier Middle School) and has two children who attended Kingsport City Schools and graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School.

David Frye

Chief Finance Officer

Kingsport City Schools

David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, has spent most of his professional career with Kingsport City Schools. In 1991, he was hired as the Manager of Fiscal Affairs. The main responsibility of this position is budget preparation and oversight. Additional duties include payroll and procurement supervision. In 2013, he was named Chief Finance Officer.

Previous to Kingsport City Schools, Mr. Frye was employed with the City of Kingsport as an accountant and was in the position of accounting supervisor.

Mr. Frye is a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting from East Tennessee State University.

Jennifer Guthrie

Chief Human Resources Officer

Kingsport City Schools

Jennifer Guthrie has been employed by Kingsport City Schools since July 2015. Prior to joining KCS, she served as human resources manager and corporate council for United Coal Company in Blountville, Tennessee, a leading metallurgical coal producer employing a 1,300 person non-union workforce.

Mrs. Guthrie has more than a decade of legal and human resources experience working with legal firms and companies in Miami, FL and Knoxville, TN. Early in her career, she also spent time as a high school teacher and volleyball coach/sponsor in Miami.

Mrs. Guthrie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Tennessee State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Tennessee.

She and her family reside in Kingsport.

Jim Nash

Chief Student Services Officer

Kingsport City Schools

Jim Nash is the Chief Student Services Officer for Kingsport City Schools, directing all student services operations for the district.

Mr. Nash is in his 32nd year of employment with Kingsport City Schools. Prior to his current role, he has served as school counselor and associate principal at John Sevier Middle School, assistant principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School, and principal at Ross N. Robinson Middle School.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and Master’s of Arts in Educational Psychology from Tennessee Tech University and an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee.

Mr. Nash was named the 2019 KCS Supervisor of the Year, an award nominated by his peers. Additionally Mr. Nash has served on several community boards including the Eastman Community Advisory Panel and the United Way's AveNew Drug Education and Prevention Committee.

He and his wife, Joanna (a teacher in at Dobyns-Bennett High School), have three children that have attended Kingsport City Schools; a daughter who is at East Tennessee State University - Quillen College of Medicine, a daughter that graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga who now resides and works in the Kingsport area, and a son who is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Dr. Brian Cinnamon

Chief Program Officer - Curriculum and Instruction

Kingsport City Schools

Dr. Brian Cinnamon is the Chief Program Officer - Curriculum and Instruction for Kingsport City Schools. He provides district-level support and oversight to special education and early childhood programming, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), district and school planning and goal-setting, professional learning coordination and implementation, curriculum budgeting and decision-making, and implementation of curriculum and instructional programming.

Dr. Cinnamon has 26 years of experience in education and has been with Kingsport City Schools for 22 years. He has served in multiple educational roles including school psychologist, associate principal, principal, Early Childhood Supervisor, Special Education Supervisor, and Chief Academic Officer-Secondary. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University (ETSU), an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Tennessee, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU.

During his career he has served on several governing boards and councils, including Palmer Center Foundation, Appalachian Association for the Education of Young Children (AAEYC), Kingsport Chamber Workforce Council, ACT Work Ready Community Council, Tennessee STEM Innovation Network - Innovative Leaders Institute, STEM Council for the Tennessee Department of Education, Advisory Councils at ETSU (STEM and ELPA), Tennessee Science Education Leadership Association (TNSELA), and Reviewer for TSIN STEM School Designation process. While in Kingsport City Schools, Dr. Cinnamon has provided oversight, support, and leadership in several areas, including MTSS, Special Education, STEM, Instructional Technology, Career Readiness, and Curriculum/Instruction.

Dr. Cinnamon and his wife, Rachel (a teacher in Kingsport), have two children, Ruthie and Henry. Ruthie is a graduate of Kingsport City Schools and Henry is a current student.

Dr. Holly Flora

Chief Academic Officer - Elementary

Kingsport City Schools

Dr. Holly Flora serves as Chief Academic Officer – Elementary for Kingsport City Schools and is in her 30th year in education. Throughout her career, she has served as a classroom teacher, literacy coordinator, school administrator, and district leader. She began her career in Kingsport as a teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary and later at George Washington Elementary before serving as the district’s K–12 Literacy Coordinator. She then served as principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary and John Sevier Middle School, where she, along with her staff, strengthened instruction, built collaborative cultures, and improved student outcomes.

In addition to her district leadership role, Dr. Flora serves as an adjunct professor in Educational Leadership at East Tennessee State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Milligan University, a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU.

Dr. Flora was named the National Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal for Tennessee in 2017. She has been actively involved in the Tennessee Principals Association for many years, serving in multiple leadership roles including president, and continues to support leadership development across the state. She was also recognized as the 2025 Tennessee Supervisor of the Year for the East Grand Division.

Dr. Flora and her husband, Nathan, reside in Kingsport. They have two daughters who are graduates of Dobyns-Bennett High School. One daughter currently attends Middle Tennessee State University, and the other recently completed her graduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

Dr. Shanna Hensley

Chief Academic Officer - Secondary

Kingsport City Schools

Dr. Shanna Hensley serves as the Chief Academic Officer – Secondary for Kingsport City Schools, a role she began in July 2025. With more than two decades of experience in education, Dr. Hensley brings a deep commitment to student achievement, innovation, and leadership in public education.

Her career began in 2003 as a Pre-K instructional assistant with Kingsport City Schools, followed by time as a kindergarten teacher in Bristol (TN) City Schools. She returned to KCS in 2004 and has since served in a variety of leadership roles, including administrative positions at Johnson Elementary and Lincoln Elementary, and as principal of Kennedy Elementary and Cora Cox Academy. Since 2016, Dr. Hensley has led D-B EXCEL as principal, overseeing the visioning and creation of the blended learning school serving more than 200 students annually. Under her leadership, D-B EXCEL earned the Tennessee STEM School Designation in both 2018 and 2024.

A graduate of East Tennessee State University, Dr. Hensley holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, a Master of Education, an Educational Specialist degree, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis—all from ETSU. She is actively involved in local and state education initiatives, having served with the TSIN Innovative Leaders Institute, the Tennessee STEM Council, and the Tennessee STEM School Designation Task Force.

Dr. Hensley was named Kingsport City Schools Principal of the Year in 2025 and is a regional semi-finalist for the 2025–2026 Tennessee Principal of the Year award. Her and her husband, Eric, reside in Kingsport. Their son graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School and the University of Tennessee and now lives in Washington, D.C.

Andy Arnold

Chief Technology Officer

Kingsport City Schools

Andy Arnold is the Chief Technology Officer for Kingsport City Schools since June 2021. He oversees all technology operations for the district, including all programs, services, policies, support, and programming.

He has most recently served as principal of Vance Middle School in Bristol (TN). Throughout his 31 year educational career, he has also served as a technology teacher, an athletics coach, and for 15 years, as a director of technology and chief technology officer with Bristol (TN) City Schools. Arnold’s statewide technology leadership experience includes serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Educational Technology Association for three years. He was awarded the ISTE Making IT Happen award in 2017 for his leadership within the organization.

Arnold holds two Master’s degrees: a Master of Arts in Education from Cumberland University, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration from Union College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Technology Education from Appalachian State University. He also holds the Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL) certification from the Consortium of School Networks (CoSN).

Arnold and his wife, Piper, reside in Bristol and have three daughters - Chloe is a civil engineer, Emma is a middle school teacher, and Sophie is an elementary school teacher.

Dr. Rhonda Stringham

Director of Federal Programs

Kingsport City Schools

Dr. Rhonda Stringham continues to serve as the Director of Federal Programs for Kingsport City Schools, a role she transitioned into during the 2023-2024 school year after six years as the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction. In her current capacity, Dr. Stringham oversees crucial initiatives including Title Grants and the English Language Learner Program.

With an impressive 40-year career in education, Dr. Stringham has held diverse leadership positions. Her experience spans roles as a secondary math teacher, assistant principal and building test coordinator, curriculum supervisor, assistant superintendent of curriculum, and superintendent of Geneva City Schools in south Alabama. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in leading professional development, integrating technology, developing project-based learning programs, establishing new teacher induction and mentoring programs, and spearheading curriculum development.

Dr. Stringham earned her Bachelor of Science degree, Master's of Education, and an Instructional Specialist degree in Secondary Mathematics from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. She furthered her education by obtaining a Doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Northcentral University in San Diego, CA. Dr. Stringham is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS), and the Tennessee Association of Federal Programs Administrators (TAFPA).

Dr. Stringham looks forward to continuing to enhance federal programs to best serve the students and families of Kingsport City Schools.

Michael Hubbard

Director of Performance Excellence

Kingsport City Schools

Michael Hubbard is the Kingsport City Schools Director of Performance Excellence and has been in the role since 2012. He serves as the district testing coordinator and oversees the Student Information Services department and building test coordinators across the district. In addition, Hubbard serves as a District Testing Coordinator Ambassador with the state of Tennessee and coordinates multiple areas of responsibility including state and district testing, accountability, strategic planning, research proposals, and TVAAS while jointly coordinating district processes including School Support Organizations and the math placement process.

Hubbard has over 30 years of experience in education and has previously served as a teacher, associate principal, principal, adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and Milligan College, and the Special Assistant of Accountability and Student Services. He currently serves on various committees including the Quality Committee with the United Way, the Assessment Logistics Advisory Council with the state of Tennessee, and as an Examiner, Master Examiner, and the Panel of Judges with the Tennessee Center of Performance Excellence (TNCPE). He has served on multiple state committees such as bias and content review committees, the Tennessee Department of Education Task Force, and the Tennessee Department of Education Balanced Assessment System Design Committee. He was a recipient of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) grant for educational leadership and awarded the Champion of Excellence Award from TNCPE in 2016 and most recently selected as the Kingsport City Schools 2023 Supervisor of the Year.

Hubbard received his Bachelor’s degree in Business from Berea College, his Master’s degree in Teaching, and his Educational Specialists degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU.