KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools has announced its 2023 Supervisor, Principal, district-level, and building-level Teachers of the Year. Michael Hubbard was named KCS Supervisor of the Year and Dr. Stacy Edwards was named KCS Principal of the Year. District-level Teachers of the Year include Marie Taylor (grades Pre-K–4), Kathleen Donnellan (grades 5–8), and Regina Davenport (grades 9–12).

Michael Hubbard, Kingsport City Schools Director of Performance Excellence, has been named district Supervisor of the Year. Hubbard has 30 years of experience in education and is currently the Director of Performance Excellence for Kingsport City Schools. In this role, 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. He 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. 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.     

“It is an honor to celebrate Michael Hubbard and the work he does to support learning in Kingsport,” said Kingsport City Schools Interim Superintendent, Dr. Chris Hampton. “He works tirelessly with educators to prioritize learning, support school and district accountability, and further the mission of our school district. I know he will represent our community and state incredibly well through the supervisor of the year process.”

 

Dr. Stacy Edwards, Principal of Johnson Elementary School, has been named district Principal of the Year. Dr. Edwards is in his 11th year as principal of Johnson Elementary School. He has 25 years of experience in education, including previously serving as principal of Kennedy Elementary for three years, spending four years as Assistant Principal at Johnson Elementary and Sevier Middle School, and seven years as an elementary teacher at Johnson Elementary. He was a recipient of the 2019 National Distinguished Principals award from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the 2019 Kingsport City Schools Principal of the Year, received the 2017 Meritorious Service Award from the Tennessee Principals Association, and the 2009 Margaret Ayers Humanitarian Award from Sevier Middle School. Edwards earned his Bachelor and Educational Specialist’s degrees from East Tennessee State University, a Master’s degree from Cumberland College of Tennessee, and a Doctorate from Lipscomb University in Educational Leadership.

“Dr. Edwards is one of the most outstanding principals I know,” said Dr. Hampton. “He is committed to his students, staff, and our community as a whole. He is a remarkable representative of Kingsport City Schools and a role-model for principals in our region and from around the state.”

Marie Taylor, 2nd Grade Teacher at Johnson Elementary School, has been named the district Teacher of the Year for grades Pre-K–4. Taylor has been teaching at Johnson Elementary for five years, teaching 1st grade and 2nd grades during that tenure. She has held several leadership roles throughout her time working at Johnson including Lego League Jr. coach, Yearbook representative, Girls on the Run coach, Kingsport Academy Teacher (KAT) mentor, Morning Message content creator, and is a member of the Lighthouse team for Leader in Me. Taylor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development from East Tennessee State University.

 

"We are proud to celebrate this recognition with Mrs. Taylor," said Johnson Elementary School Principal Dr. Stacy Edwards. "She creates a kind, loving classroom community that inspires her students to do their best. Her kindness and care are coupled with high expectations for student success. Our community is fortunate to have Mrs. Taylor developing and empowering our future leaders."  

Kathleen Donnellan, 8th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Sevier Middle School, has been named the district Teacher of the Year for grades 5–8. Donnellan has taught English Language Arts (ELA) for 24 years, 19 of those years at Sevier Middle School teaching the 7th grade. This school year, she began teaching 8th grade ELA. She has served as the Kingsport City Schools 7th grade ELA Teacher-Leader multiple times, served on several textbook adoption committees, sponsors the Sevier Spelling Bee, and has been a mainstay on Sevier leadership committees. In addition, Donnellan serves as a new teacher mentor. She has been selected the Sevier building-level Teacher of the Year in 2018, 2020, and 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Carson Newman University.

“Kathleen Donnellan has been consistently recognized over the years as a highly effective and respected teacher at Sevier Middle School by her colleagues,” said Sevier Middle School Principal, Dr. Kyle Loudermilk. “Her focus on building relationships with students, her dedication to professional growth, and commitment to excellence, has positively impacted our school and community. Mrs. Donnellan is an inspiration to both her students and co-workers and is well deserving of recognition as Kingsport City Schools Grades 5-8 Teacher of the Year.”

 

Regina Davenport, Health Science Teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School, has been named the district Teacher of the Year for grades 9–12. Davenport began her career working as a Registered Nurse in medical/surgical units, pain management, and psychiatric nursing in various locations within the Tri-Cities. She entered education in 2000 working in Sullivan County as a Health Science instructor through Career Technical Education for 14 years. Davenport began her career in Kingsport City Schools at Dobyns-Bennett in 2014, teaching various courses including Health Science Education, Medical Therapeutics, Rehabilitative Careers, Pharmacological Science, and Pharmacy Tech Clinical Internship. In addition to her courses at Dobyns-Bennett, she serves as an adjunct faculty instructor at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) where she teaches Introduction to Health Professions. Davenport earned an Associate's degree in Nursing from ETSU, a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from King University, and a Master’s in Education from Union College.

"Ms. Davenport is a true example of servant leadership at Dobyns-Bennett," said Dobyns-Bennett High School Interim Principal Dr. Brian Tate. "She is committed to ensuring her students get the best experiences possible whether in her class or another. To watch Ms. Davenport as a teacher is truly a rewarding experience. She has a great love for the school, students, and community. I feel privileged to get to work with her and the other staff members who each and every day change the lives of our students."

In addition to the three district winners, 2023 individual building-level winners are:

Grades Pre-K–4

• Sophy Doty, Palmer Center
• Whitney Gibson, Jefferson Elementary School
• Marie Taylor, Johnson Elementary School
• Sharon Grass, Lincoln Elementary School
• Alisha Arwood, Washington Elementary School

Grades 5–8

• Mackenzie Reeves, Adams Elementary School
• Robin Downes, Jackson Elementary School
• Taylor Widener, Kennedy Elementary School
• Megan Turner, Roosevelt Elementary School
• Julie Carrier, Robinson Middle School
• Angie Hensley, Robinson Middle School
• Kathleen Donnellan, Sevier Middle School
• Dianna Gardenhour, Sevier Middle School

Grades 9–12

• Sue McClellan, Cora Cox Academy
• Erica Gardner, D-B EXCEL 
• Amanda Cox, Dobyns-Bennett High School
• Regina Davenport, Dobyns-Bennett High School
• Aaron Gourley, Dobyns-Bennett High School
• Bryan Kerns, Dobyns-Bennett High School
• Stephanie Strickler, Dobyns-Bennett High School
• Beth Tate, Dobyns-Bennett High School
• Eric Vogt, Dobyns-Bennett High School