Student Scene


County Schools Announce New Principal Placements

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

County School Supt. Dr. Jim Scales on Wednesday announced new principals at a variety of schools for next year.

The following placements will take effect July 1:

Brainerd High School – Charles Joynes (currently principal at East Lake Academy)
Bess T. Shepherd – Valerie Brown (currently principal at Calvin Donaldson)
CSLA – Krystal Scarbrough (currently principal at Clifton Hills Elementary)
Clifton Hills Elementary – Ray Evans (currently principal at Bess T. Shepherd)
Dalewood Middle School – Rodney Johnson (currently assistant principal at Tyner Middle Academy)
East Lake Academy – Le Andrea Ware (currently assistant principal at Hardy Elementary)
Falling Water Elementary – Angelia Askins (currently assistant principal at East Side Elementary)
McBrien Elementary – Will Fain (currently associate principal at CSAS)
Ooltewah High School – Steve Holmes (currently principal at Sequoyah High School)
Soddy Daisy Middle School – Tobin Davidson (currently assistant principal at Sale Creek)
Tyner Middle Academy – Wendy Jung (currently principal at 21st Century Academy)
Washington Alternative – Rodney Knox (currently assistant principal at McBrien Elementary)
CSAS – Associate Principal K-5 – Judy Solovey (currently principal at Lookout Valley Elementary)

“These candidates rose to the top in terms of their experience and talents in leading our schools,” Dr. Scales said of his choices. “I know they have the skill to take our schools to the next level and improve student achievement while working with their communities and parents.”

Charles Joynes - Mr. Joynes replaces Frank Jones, who is retiring at the end of the school year, as Principal of Brainerd High School. Mr. Joynes began his career in education as a fifth-grade teacher at Calvin Donaldson in 1991. He moved to Lakeside Elementary in 1994 and then Alton Park Middle School in 1995 where he was promoted to assistant principal. Mr. Joynes then became principal of Clifton Hills Elementary School in 1998. He moved to Howard School of Academics and Technology as an associate principal in 2004 before taking the helm of Tyner Middle School in 2005. In 2006 he transferred to East Lake Academy where he has been the principal for the last three years. Mr. Joynes graduated from Central High School and joined the United States Navy. After a four-year tour he was honorably discharged and enrolled at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 1980. He graduated with a bachelors of science degree in 1986 and obtained his masters in education from Trevecca Nazarene University in 1996.

Ms. Valerie Brown – Ms. Brown will replace Ray Evans (who is moving to Clifton Hills) as principal of Bess T. Shepherd Elementary. Ms. Brown began her career in Hamilton County as an elementary guidance counselor at the Early Childhood Center in 1993. She moved to Dupont Elementary and Bess T. Shepherd as a counselor in 1997 before becoming assistant principal of East Side Elementary in 2003. She was promoted to principal of Calvin Donaldson in 2005. Ms. Brown holds bachelor of science in education, masters of education and education specialist degrees from UTC.

Krystal Scarbrough – Ms. Scarbrough replaces retiring principal Pam Womack as principal of CSLA. Ms. Scarbrough began her career in education in 1983 as a reading teacher at Daisy Elementary. She became a first grade teacher at Alpine Crest Elementary in 1986. She later took time off to raise her children. She came back to Hamilton County as a teacher at Big Ridge Elementary in 1996. In 2002 she was promoted to assistant principal at Clifton Hills Elementary and served as interim principal at Normal Park Museum Magnet in 2003. In 2004 she was promoted to principal at Clifton Hills Elementary. Ms. Scarbrough holds a bachelor of science in education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Masters of Education from UTC.

Ray Evans – Mr. Evans will replace Krystal Scarbrough (who is moving to CSLA) as principal of Clifton Hills Elementary School. Mr. Evans hails from Ohio where he was principal of three elementary schools nine years. Prior to that, he was a central office administrator and an elementary principal in Austin, Tex., where he began his career in education as an elementary school teacher in 1973. He moved to Hamilton County in 2008 and was hired as Principal at Bess T. Shepherd Elementary.

Rodney Johnson – Mr. Johnson replaces Linda Darden, who is retiring at the end of the year, as principal of Dalewood Middle School. Mr. Johnson began teaching at North Hamilton County Elementary as a fourth grade teacher in 1998. He moved to Tyner Middle School as a sixth grade teacher in 1999 until being promoted to assistant principal at Orchard Knob Middle School in 2005. In 2006, he moved to Ooltewah Middle School as assistant principal before becoming assistant principal at Tyner Middle Academy last year. Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in multidisciplinary education from UTC and a masters of education in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Le Andrea Ware – Ms. Ware will replace Charles Joynes (who is moving to Brainerd High School) as Principal of East Lake Academy. Ms. Ware began teaching at Barger Academy in 1995. She moved to Knox County in 1999 and returned to Hamilton County as a seventh grade language arts teacher at Franklin Middle School in 2001. In 2003 she was a consulting teacher before being promoted to Assistant Principal at East Lake Academy in 2004. In 2006 she transferred to Hardy Elementary as assistant principal. She holds a bachelors of science in multidisciplinary education from UTC, a Masters in School Leadership from UTC and an educational specialist degree in instructional leadership from Tennessee Technological University.

Angelia Askins – Ms. Askins will replace Bill Shadwick as principal of Falling Water Elementary. Mr. Shadwick is retiring at the end of the school year. Ms. Askins began her career in Hamilton County as a teacher at East Brainerd Elementary in 1996. She was promoted to assistant principal at East Side Elementary in 2007. She holds a bachelor of science in human ecology from UTC and a masters of arts in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University.

William Fain – Mr. Fain will replace Madeline Bell as principal of McBrien Elementary. Ms. Bell is retiring. Mr. Fain began his career at East Lake Elementary in 1995, moving into the consulting teacher position at Barger Academy and East Brainerd Elementary in 2002. He moved to McBrien Elementary in 2005 as assistant principal and was acting principal at Woodmore Elementary from September to December 2007. He transferred to CSAS as associate principal in 2008. Mr. Fain has a bachelors of science in elementary education from UTC and a masters of arts in administration and supervision K-12 from Tennessee Technological University. He also holds an Educational Specialist degree from Tennessee Technological University in instructional leadership.

Steve Holmes – Mr. Holmes will replace Ed Foster as principal of Ooltewah High School. Mr. Foster is retiring. Mr. Holmes began teaching in Hamilton County in 1977 as a coach and social studies teacher at Ooltewah High School. He became an assistant principal at East Ridge Junior High in 1990 before moving to Red Bank High School as Assistant Principal in 1991. In 1993 he transferred to East Ridge Middle School and became principal of Brown Middle School in 1996. He transferred to Lookout Valley Middle High School as principal in 1997 before taking over Loftis Middle School as Principal in 2000. He moved to Sequoyah High School as principal in 2005. Mr. Holmes holds a bachelors of science in elementary education and a masters in administration from UTC.

Tobin Davidson – Mr. Davidson will replace Dr. Bob Jenkins as principal of Soddy Daisy Middle School. Mr. Jenkins is retiring. Mr. Davidson began teaching in 1984 as a science and physical education teacher at Soddy Daisy High School. He moved to Sale Creek Middle/High in 1999 as a middle school science teacher and basketball and baseball coach. He was promoted to Assistant Principal at Sale Creek last year. Mr. Davidson holds a bachelors of science from Shorter College and a masters of education from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Wendy Jung – Ms. Jung will replace retiring Tyner Middle Principal Dr. Delia Price. Ms. Jung began her career in Hamilton County in 1990 as a teacher at Rivermont Elementary School. She moved to Big Ridge as a fifth grade teacher and then to Hixson Middle School as a math, science and reading teacher. She became a consulting teacher in 2000 before being promoted to assistant principal at Franklin Middle School in 2001. In 2002 she was promoted to principal of East Lake Academy of Fine Arts and was moved to Chattanooga Middle School in 2006. She moved to Howard School of Academics and Technology as associate principal in 2007 before taking charge of 21st Century Academy as principal in 2008. Ms. Jung holds a bachelor of science degree in special education from the University of Maryland and a masters in administration and supervision from UTC.

Rodney Knox – Mr. Knox replaces Marvin Smith who is retiring at the end of the year. He began his career in education as a middle school language arts teacher and special education teacher in Metro Nashville Public Schools in 1991. He moved to Chattanooga as an assistant principal at Hardy Elementary in 2001. He transferred to Dalewood Middle School as assistant principal in 2003 before moving to McBrien Elementary as assistant principal in 2008. Mr. Knox holds a doctorate of education in administration and supervision from Tennessee State University.

Judy Solovey – Ms. Solovey began her teaching career at Thrasher Elementary in 1979. She moved to Ganns Middle Valley in 1987 and back to Thrasher Elementary in 1990. She became a third grade teacher at Nolan Elementary in 1999 before becoming the curriculum facilitator at Normal Park Museum Magnet in 2001. In 2004 she was promoted to Assistant principal of Barger Academy of Fine Arts and became principal of Lookout Valley Elementary in 2006. She holds a Bachelors of Education and Masters of Education from the University of Georgia and an Educational Specialist degree from Tennessee Technological University.



Alexander: “President Should Turn Around His Higher Ed ‘Race to the Top’ And Head It Toward Washington”

In a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tn.) said President Obama’s higher-education Race to the Top was headed “in the wrong direction” and urged the President to “turn [it] around…and head it in the direction of Washington, D.C., to help the federal government compete for ways to stop adding mandates and costs on States that are soaking up dollars ... (click for more)

Center For Creative Arts Prepares For Upcoming Auditions

The Center for Creative Arts, Hamilton County School’s Performing and Visual Arts Magnet School, are holding their annual auditions for hopeful young artist writers and performers.  The school, recently named one of the four top Performing and Visual Arts schools in America by the International Network of Arts Schools, admits students in five arts areas. The areas ... (click for more)

Prosecutors Asking Maximum Sentence For "Evil" Mother Of Jesse Mathews

Prosecutors are asking that the mother of the man charged with killing Chattanooga Police Sgt. Tim Chapin be given the maximum possible sentence, calling Kathleen Mathews an evil manipulator who encouraged Jesse Mathews' criminal endeavors. Sentences within the guideline range are asked for his father, Ray Vance Mathews; sister, Rachel Mathews, and her boyfriend, ... (click for more)

Mark Phillips Was Victim In Fatal Hixson Pike Wreck

Mark Phillips, 54, was the victim in a fatal Hixson Pike wreck on Saturday afternoon. Police said the driver of the Ford F150 that went out of control and struck the Phillips vehicle was 68-year-old Warren Elliott. He is still listed in serious condition.  Mr. Phillips was driving a Chevrolet Impala when a pickup truck driven by Mr. Elliott went across Hixson Pike into ... (click for more)

We Are Blessed To Have Ron Littlefield As Our Mayor - And Response (2)

Chattanooga is blessed beyond measure to have Ron Littlefield as our mayor.  It is a total travesty our city has had to endure the long frivolous battle with absolutely  no foundation other than disagreement with policy issues.  It has always been a vendetta directed personally at Mayor Littlefield which, if the "interveners" decide to appeal, will be a proven fact.   ... (click for more)

Roy Exum: The Westminster Dogs Bark!

The brightly-lit tower on top of New York City’s Empire State Building is now purple and gold, the traditional colors of the much-beloved 136th Annual Westminster Dog Show that is currently being staged at Madison Square Garden. For a dog lover like me, the televised finals are always a fun-filled delight as the USA and CNBC networks show the spectacular animals on Monday and Tuesday ... (click for more)