The Leadership Academy has announced its next cohort class for the 2015–2016 academic year. Now in its sixth year, the Leadership Academy is a collaborative venture between UT and Knox County Schools that prepares talented individuals to become outstanding new school principals through a full-time, intensive fifteen-month fellowship program. The class will begin work May 30.
The Leadership Academy is a part of the Center for Educational Leadership, housed in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in UT’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.
The 2015–2016 cohort class is composed of ten fellows:
Robin Curry serves as a sixth-grade English and language arts teacher at Cedar Bluff Middle School. She was previously a Common Core coach for the Tennessee Department of Education. Additionally, she has served as a parent educator for Knox County’s Birth to Kindergarten program and was a kindergarten teacher at Bearden Elementary. Curry holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a master’s degree in elementary education from UT.
Brent Glenn is a Teacher Advancement Program master teacher at Carter High School. He was previously a TAP mentor teacher and English teacher at Carter High School. He also taught language arts and reading at Halls Middle School. Glenn has a bachelor’s degree in English literature (cum laude) and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from UT.
Amber Good is a TAP master teacher at West Haven Elementary School. Previously, she was a second grade and lead teacher at Farragut Primary School, and a second grade teacher at Sunnyview Primary School. She also was a deaf education teacher, after-school teacher, and itinerant teacher at Richland County School District in Columbia, South Carolina. Good holds a Bachelor of Science in special education and a Master of Science in teacher education from UT.
Candace Greer is a technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge coach at Vine Middle Magnet School. Previously, Greer was a personalized learning environment innovation specialist for the Knox County Schools and an English teacher at West High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and a Master of Science in secondary education from UT.
Kamau Kenyatta works as a social studies teacher at Vine Middle Magnet School. He previously served as a seventh-grade social studies and eighth-grade honors teacher at Carter Middle School. When he is not teaching, Kenyatta is senior pastor at the Logan Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion church in Knoxville. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, and an Educational Specialist degree in administration and supervision from UT.
Denise Neal is a TAP master teacher at Austin-East Magnet High School. She previously served as a Title I instructional coach at Whittle Springs Middle School, and was a sixth-grade reading, language arts, and social studies teacher at Northwest Middle School. Neal holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, a Master of Science in education, and an Educational Specialist degree in reading education from UT.
Suzanne Parham is an instructional coach at West Hills Elementary and was previously an instructional coach at Beaumont Honors Magnet Academy. She has also served as a reading intervention teacher at Inskip Elementary and a response to intervention coordinator at the Lenoir City Schools. Parham holds a Bachelor of Science in communication (cum laude) from Florida State University, a Master of Science in elementary education from UT, and an Educational Specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Lincoln Memorial University.
Cindy Sanford is a numeracy coach for Knox County Schools and also serves on the district’s math textbook adoption committee. She was previously a Common Core coach for the Tennessee Department of Education, as well as a fourth-grade teacher at Lonsdale Elementary. Sanford has a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from South College.
Jennie Scott is an assistant principal at Adrian Burnett Elementary School. She was previously an early literacy coach at Mount Olive Elementary School and served many roles at A. L. Lotts, including third-grade teacher and professional learning community facilitator, first grade teacher, grade level chair, and member of the leadership team. She also served as a mentor for all new first grade teachers in Knox County Schools. Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Tusculum College and a Master of Science in educational administration from UT.
Russ Wise is a technology coach and lead teacher at Central High School. He has previously served as an administration intern at Central and as a teacher and technology coordinator at Halls High School. Wise holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting and business law from UT, and a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.
Leadership Academy fellows will spend four days a week working in a school with an experienced mentor principal. The fifth day will be spent in coursework and seminars with professors and expert practitioner partners.
To complete the program, students participate in a project that integrates their learning across the many curricular areas of the academy. Projects include an electronic portfolio documenting the student’s proficiency in school leadership and a public presentation about the fifteen-month experience. Upon successful completion of the program, fellows are awarded a master’s or Educational Specialist degree.
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CONTACT:
Melissa Ogden, Knox County Schools (594-1905 melissa.ogden@knoxschools.org)
Lola Alapo (865-974-3993, lola.alapo@tennessee.edu)