Bonny Kate Elementary welcomes students for Knox County first day of school
Knox County Schools kicked of the new school year on August 7, welcoming students back with high fives and smiles to celebrate the first day.
Knox County Schools has named 15 new principals 2025-26 school year to oversee elementary, middle and high schools across the district.
District leaders recently approved a plan with new five-year goals, changed how it will honor top-performing students at graduations and broke ground on a new Farragut primary school.
Meet the 15 principals who will lead schools across Knox County and guide students of all ages on their paths to earning a diploma.
Bonny Kate Elementary School
Bill Baldwin will be the new principal of Bonny Kate Elementary School. Baldwin joined KCS in 2008 as a special education teacher at Fulton High School, and then moved into administration before being named an assistant principal at South-Doyle High School. He became the Northwest Middle School principal in 2017, and currently works as assistant principal at Central High School.
He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Arkansas State University, a master’s degree in special education from the University of Tennessee and an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
School enrollment: 349
- Black or African American: 6%
- Hispanic: Less than 5%
- White: 87%
- Economically disadvantaged: 17%
- Students with disabilities: 23%
School board representative: Kristi Kristy
Knox County Schools region: 3
Carter Elementary School
Taiesha Young will be the new principal of Carter Elementary School. She joined KCS in 2017, starting as a teacher at Holston Middle School. In 2019, she began working in administration as an assistant administrator at Gibbs Elementary School. She was appointed assistant principal at Pond Gap Elementary in 2020 and has served as the school’s principal since 2022.
She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Alcorn State, a master’s degree in education from the University of West Alabama and an educational specialist degree in educational administration from Arkansas State University.
School enrollment: 496
- Black or African American: 7%
- Hispanic: 7%
- White: 82%
- Economically disadvantaged: 16%
- Students with disabilities: 22%
School board representative: Travis Wright
Knox County Schools region: 3
Corryton Elementary School
Leigh Anna McCann will be the new principal of Corryton Elementary School. She joined KCS in 2008 as a teacher at Vine Middle Magnet School, later becoming a TAP master teacher. She’s worked as a KCS secondary numeracy coach, math teacher and math coach at Carter Middle School, as well as a district lead teacher, math coach and lead instructional coach at Vine Middle.
She started working in administration in 2018, first as an administrative assistant at Cedar Bluff Middle School before becoming assistant principal of Lonsdale Elementary School in 2020.
She has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee Technological University, along with an educational specialist degree in instructional leadership from UT.
School enrollment: 195
- Black or African American: Less than 10 students
- Hispanic: Less than 10 students
- White: Over 95%
- Economically disadvantaged: 18%
- Students with disabilities: 19%
School board representative: Travis Wright
Knox County Schools region: 4
Dogwood Elementary School
Sarah Fish will be the new principal of Dogwood Elementary School. She’ll be moving over from Hardin Valley Elementary School, where she started as principal in 2024. Prior to joining KCS, she worked as a preschool special education teacher and as an instructional consultation team facilitator in Virginia and as a teacher and assistant principal in Florida. She later worked in Oregon as an assistant director of professional learning and leadership and then as an elementary school principal.
She has a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in early childhood and special education from George Mason University and an educational specialist degree in administration and supervision from the University of Virginia.
School enrollment: 512
- Black or African American: 38%
- Hispanic: 14%
- White: 47%
- Economically disadvantaged: 53%
- Students with disabilities: 22%
School board representative: Kristi Kristy
Knox County Schools region: 3
Fulton High School
Kendedrick Jones will become the principal of Fulton High School after serving as interim principal. He joined KCS in 2024 as an assistant principal at Fulton High School. Prior to joining the district, he worked as a teacher and assistant principal in Mississippi. In 2022, he served as director of residence life and upper school principal of The King’s Academy in Seymour.
He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and a secondary science education from the University of Mississippi, as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership from Louisiana State University.
School enrollment: 927
- Black or African American: 38%
- Hispanic: 38%
- White: 23%
- Economically disadvantaged: 39%
- Students with disabilities: 17%
School board representative: Anne Templeton
Knox County Schools region: 5
Hardin Valley Elementary School
David Claxton will be the new principal of Hardin Valley Elementary School. He joined KCS in 1998 as a teacher at Vine Middle School, later teaching at Powell High School and South-Doyle High School. In 2012, he started working in administration as an assistant principal at West Valley Middle School, later serving as the interim principal before taking on the full title in 2023. He then moved to Montgomery Ridge Intermediate School in Maryville to serve as principal.
He has a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in education from UT, as well as an educational specialist degree in leadership from LMU.
School enrollment: 1,206
- Black or African American: 5%
- Hispanic: 6%
- White: 80%
- Economically disadvantaged: 6%
- Students with disabilities: 14%
School board representative: Betsy Henderson
Knox County Schools region: 2
Holston Middle School
Amber Roberts will be the new principal of Holston Middle School. She joined KCS in 2022 as an assistant principal at Hardin Valley Academy. Prior to joining KCS, she started as a middle school teacher in Georgia in 1998. She became the assistant principal of Oak Ridge High School in 2009 until joining KCS.
She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Agnes Scott College, a master’s degree in middle grades education from the University of West Georgia, an educational specialist degree in educational administration and supervision from LMU and a doctorate in learning organizations and strategic change from Lipscomb University.
School enrollment: 476
- Black or African American: 37%
- Hispanic: 11%
- White: 50%
- Economically disadvantaged: 28%
- Students with disabilities: 18%
School board representative: Travis Wright
Knox County Schools region: 5
Mount Olive Elementary School
Jennifer Atkins will be the new principal of Mount Olive Elementary School. She joined KCS in 2000 as a teacher at Fountain City Elementary School, later teaching at Brickey-McCloud Elementary. In 2011, she started working in administration as an assistant principal at Halls Elementary. She became the Copper Ridge Elementary principal in 2015. She now works as an instructional coach at Mount Olive Elementary.
She has an associate of arts degree from Pellissippi State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in elementary teaching from UT. She also has an educational specialist degree in educational administration and supervision, as well as a doctorate in executive leadership from LMU.
School enrollment: 227
- Black or African American: 9%
- Hispanic: 7%
- White: 79%
- Economically disadvantaged: 29%
- Students with disabilities: 22%
School board representative: Kristi Kristy
Knox County Schools region: 3
New Hopewell Elementary School
Rolen Blaine will be the new principal of New Hopewell Elementary School. He joined KCS in 2013 as a teacher at Adrian Burnett Elementary School. He started in administration as the assistant administrator at Beaumont Magnet Academy in 2020 and has served as the assistant principal at Fountain City Elementary School since 2022.
He has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in instructional leadership from LMU, as well as a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from UT.
School enrollment: 257
- Black or African American: 12%
- Hispanic: 10%
- White: 77%
- Economically disadvantaged: 26%
- Students with disabilities: 17%
School board representative: Kristi Kristy
Knox County Schools region: 3
Norwood Elementary School
Beki Jones will be the new principal of Norwood Elementary School. She joined KCS in 2010 as a teacher at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, became a math coach at Pond Gap Elementary School and later an iZone Math Facilitator serving several schools. In 2017, she joined administration as assistant principal at Lonsdale Elementary, and has served as assistant principal at Ball Camp Elementary School since 2019.
She has bachelor’s degree in human growth and learning from Tusculum University and a master’s degree in administration and leadership from Carson Newman University.
School enrollment: 488
- Black or African American: 32%
- Hispanic: 39%
- White: 28%
- Economically disadvantaged: 42%
- Students with disabilities: 18%
School board representative: Betsy Henderson
Knox County Schools region: 2
Pond Gap Elementary School
Sarah Mercer will be the new principal of Pond Gap Elementary School. She joined KCS in 2008 as a teacher at Beaumont Magnet Academy and later worked as a magnet facilitator and numeracy coach at the school. She became a TPaCK Coach at East Knox County Elementary school in 2016. She joined administration in 2020 as assistant principal of A.L. Lotts Elementary School and has served as the principal of New Hopewell Elementary School since 2023.
She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Freed-Hardeman University, a master’s degree in instruction and curriculum from the University of Phoenix and an educational specialist degree in instructional leadership from LMU.
School enrollment: 363
- Black or African American: 47%
- Hispanic: 21%
- White: 29%
- Economically disadvantaged: 53%
- Students with disabilities: 20%
School board representative: John Butler
Knox County Schools region: 1
Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
Windy Clayton will be the new principal of Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy. She joined KCS in 2005 as a teacher at Farragut Middle School and began working in administration two years later as an assistant principal at South-Doyle Middle School. In 2012, she was selected for the Leadership Academy and placed at Karns Middle School as an assistant principal. Later, she worked as an assistant principal at Vine Middle School until 2016 when she was named principal of Beaumont Magnet Academy, where she served until 2023. Since then, she’s been the Partner Engagement Officer for the Knox Education Foundation.
She has a bachelor’s degree in child and family studies and a master’s degree in teaching from East Tennessee State University, as well as an educational specialist degree in administration and supervision from LMU.
School enrollment: 462
- Black or African American: 73%
- Hispanic: 13%
- White: 13%
- Economically disadvantaged: 58%
- Students with disabilities: 20%
School board representative: John Butler
Knox County Schools region: 5
South-Doyle High School
Rocky Riley will be the new principal of South-Doyle High School. He joined KCS as a teacher in 2001, working at both South-Doyle and West high schools. He became a Career and Technical Education Curriculum Supervisor for the district in 2007. He joined administration in 2016 as the assistant principal of West High School and later became an assistant principal at both Career Magnet Academy and South-Doyle Middle School. He’s served as the principal of Bonny Kate Elementary since 2023.
He has a bachelor’s degree in human resource development with a concentration in technology education from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree in education from Lincoln Memorial University.
School enrollment: 955
- Black or African American: 19%
- Hispanic: 10%
- White: 70%
- Economically disadvantaged: 29%
- Students with disabilities: 20%
School board representative: Kristi Kristy
Knox County Schools region: 3
South Knox Elementary School
Sherrie Fairchild-Keyes will be the new principal of South Knox Elementary School. She began teaching in 1997 in Clinton, Tennessee, and later worked at two schools in Florida. She was named the director of The Keys Center in 2008. She began in 2009 as an administrator at Secret City Academy in Oak Ridge and in 2014 was named principal of Willow Brook Elementary School. Now she works as a senior specialist at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.
She has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tennessee Technological University, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a doctorate in education from UT. She also completed a modified program in educational leadership and administration through Florida State University.
School enrollment: 172
- Black or African American: 26%
- Hispanic: Less than 10 students
- White: 69%
- Economically disadvantaged: 35%
- Students with disabilities: 18%
School board representative: Kristi Kristy
Knox County Schools region: 3
Sunnyview Primary School
Amanda Hurd will be named principal of Sunnyview Primary School after serving as interim principal for the school. She joined KCS in 1996, teaching at Carter Elementary School. She worked there for 26 years in various grade levels and leadership positions. In 2022, she joined administration as an assistant administrator at Gibbs Elementary before becoming assistant principal.
She has a bachelor’s degree in human learning, growth, behavior and development, along with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from UT. She also has a master’s degree in educational leadership from Austin Peay State University.
School enrollment: 242
- Black or African American: 27%
- Hispanic: 10%
- White: 62%
- Economically disadvantaged: 36%
- Students with disabilities: 26%
School board representative: Travis Wright
Knox County Schools region: 3
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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