Recognitions
Dr. Rhonda Stringham, Assistant Superintendent - Instruction, presented the names of the 2020 Kingsport City Schools building-level Teachers of the Year and announced the three teachers chosen as the 2020 Kingsport City Schools district-level Teacher of the Year at the PreK-4, 5-8, and 9-12 levels.
- District-level Teachers of the Year are:
- Christa Nidiffer (grades Pre-K–4)
- Bethany Paupeck (grades 5–8)
- Jimmy Burleson (grades 9–12).
- The 2020 KCS Principal of the Year is Heather Wolf, Washington Elementary School.
- The 2020 KCS Supervisor of the Year is Tommy Starnes, Supervisor of Transportation.
The 2020 KCS Building-Level Teachers of the Year are:
Grades Pre-K-4
- Sophie Doty, Palmer Center
- Amy Caldwell, Adams Elementary School
- Rebecca Mann, Jefferson Elementary School
- Patricia Seabolt, Lincoln Elementary School
- Kathryn Bennett, Roosevelt Elementary School
- Christa Nidiffer, Washington Elementary School
Grades 5-8
- Ashley Page, Jackson Elementary School
- Hilliary Laughlin, Johnson Elementary School
- Bethany Paupeck, Kennedy Elementary School
- Jennifer Margeson, Robinson Middle School
- Carrie Warner, Robinson Middle School
- Kathleen Donnellan, Sevier Middle School
- Hunter Hilton, Sevier Middle School
Grades 9-12
- Jimmy Burleson, Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Angela Conrad, Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Bryan Kerns, Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Evie Lafollette, Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Brandon Reed, Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Ben Robertson, Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Amanda Dunham, D-B EXCEL
All of these employees will be recognized at a later date, when they are able to honored in-person by the Board.
Bios:
2020 Teachers of the Year (District-Level):
Christa Nidiffer, a 4th grade Teacher at Washington Elementary School, has been named the district winner for grades Pre-K-4. Nidiffer has a total of 25 years of teaching experience, with 21 years at Washington Elementary. She has taught multi-age grades 2-3, multi-age grades 3-5, multi-age grades 4-5, and since 2013, 4th grade. In 2002, Nidiffer was awarded the Kingsport City Schools District-Level Teacher of the Year, and in 2017 received the KCS World Class Award. She holds an undergraduate from the University of West Florida and two Master's degrees from East Tennessee State University.
Bethany Paupeck, a 5th grade Math and Science Teacher at Kennedy Elementary School, has been named the district winner for grades 5-8. Paupeck has a total of 14 years teaching experience, with seven years in her present position. She previously worked for Saint Lucie County Schools in Florida where she received the Instructional Leader of the Month (2009) and the Excellence in Teaching Award for State Test Scores (2006-2013). While at KCS, Paupeck was the recipient of the Kennedy Elementary P.A.C.K. Award (2019). She holds a degree from Georgia Southern University.
Jimmy Burleson, a 9-12 Special Education Teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School, has been named the district winner for grades 9-12. In addition to teaching Functional Academics (Level 2) in a Specialized Learning Environment, Burleson is also the Dobyns-Bennett Assistant Athletic Director and Tribe Games Coordinator. Burleson has a total of nine years of teaching experience, with eight years at Dobyns-Bennett. Prior to Dobyns-Bennett, Burleson worked at Jackson Elementary School. In 2017, he was awarded the Kingsport City Schools School-Level Teacher of the Year and in the same year, received the KCS Student Focused Award. In 2019, he was named the ETSU - Clemmer College of Education - Outstanding Mentor Teacher. He holds a degree from East Tennessee State University where he graduated as Magna Cum Laude.
2020 Principal of the Year:
Heather Wolf, Principal of Washington Elementary School, has been named district Principal of the Year. Counting this school year, Wolf is in her 26th year as an educator with Kingsport City Schools, with six years in her present position. Wolf has previously taught at Lincoln Elementary School and Washington Elementary School where she was named the Washington Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009. Wolf also served as an associate principal at Adams Elementary School. Wolf serves as a board member for membership and state advocacy for the Tennessee Principals Association and in 2019, she was named the recipient of the Robert W. Frazier Meritorious Service Award for exemplary service and commitment to the Tennessee Principals Association. Wolf holds an undergraduate degree in early childhood education from Indiana University, a Master's degree in early childhood education from East Tennessee State University, and an Educational Specialist degree in administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.
2020 Supervisor of the Year:
Tommy Starnes, Transportation Supervisor for Kingsport City Schools, has been named district Supervisor of the Year. Starnes has been employed with Kingsport City Schools for 13 years, with five years in his present position. He has previously served as a substitute bus driver and a full-time bus driver. Starnes is a 2014 graduate of the Pal's Business Excellence Institute. Prior to his time with KCS, Starnes spent over 20 years as a professional musician touring the country. He currently plays bass for the Benny Wilson Band. Starnes has a background in logistics from working as a road manager and driving tour buses for various groups through the years which prepared him to coordinate the 40 bus routes that KCS runs daily.
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