KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Kingsport City Schools has announced that Dr. Shanna Hensley has been named KCS Chief Academic Officer - Secondary, effective July 1, 2025. 

With 22 years of experience in education, Dr. Hensley has served in multiple educational roles including instructional assistant, classroom teacher, and school administrator.  She began her career in 2003 in KCS as a Pre-K instructional assistant, followed by serving as a kindergarten teacher in Bristol (TN) City Schools.  Returning to KCS in 2004, Dr. Hensley then served in administrative roles at Johnson Elementary and Lincoln Elementary, and as principal at Kennedy Elementary and Cora Cox Academy.  Since 2016, she has held the position of principal at Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL. 

“After serving several years as principal, I am honored to transition into the role of Chief Academic Officer of Secondary Education for Kingsport City Schools,” said Dr. Hensley. “Having worked across Pre-K through 12th grade in the district, it has been a true privilege to support our students, teachers, and families. I am humbled by the opportunity to work alongside all secondary schools and look forward to serving an even broader community of students and educators across our district.”

Dr. Hensley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University (ETSU), a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU, an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU.  She has also served in a variety of roles in local and state organizations, including the TSIN Innovative Leaders Institute, the STEM Council for the State of Tennessee, and the Tennessee STEM School Designation Task Force.  

Dr. Hensley led the visioning and creation of Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL, a blended learning school serving over 200 KCS students each year, which was awarded the STEM School Designation by the Tennessee Department of Education in 2018 and 2024.  She was named KCS Principal of the Year in 2025 and is a region level semi-finalist for 2025-26 Tennessee Principal of the Year.  She replaces Dr. Brian Cinnamon in the role of Chief Academic Officer - Secondary, with Dr. Cinnamon assuming the role of Chief Program Officer - Curriculum and Instruction.

Kingsport City Schools Names Cinnamon Chief Program Officer - Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Brian Cinnamon will move into the role of Chief Program Officer - Curriculum and Instruction, a position that is the result of the restructuring of an existing curriculum leadership position.  He will provide 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 25 years of experience in education and has been with Kingsport City Schools for 21 years.  He has served in multiple educational roles including school psychologist, associate principal, principal, Early Childhood Supervisor, Special Education Supervisor, and Chief Academic Officer.  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. 

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a student-focused, world-class public school district located in Kingsport, Tennessee, proudly serving students across Sullivan and Hawkins counties. The district comprises 13 schools, including a Pre-K facility, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program. With a total enrollment exceeding 7,600 students, KCS is dedicated to fostering educational excellence, empowering student success, and ensuring all students are college and career ready. To learn more, visit www.k12k.com, tune in to WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or contact the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. Stay connected by following us on Facebook (@kcsdistrict), Instagram (@kcs__district), and YouTube (@kcs__district). 

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