~ from the North Knoxville Business and Professionals Association
Please attend our next meeting on Friday, August 14 at St. John’s Lutheran Church!
In advance of Back-to-School, we will be joined by administrators from several local schools. This will be a great opportunity to learn about our school system and find ways to give back/support our local teachers and students.
Agenda: Local Knox County Schools’ Administrators
Location: St. John’s Lutheran Church
544 N Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37917
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast Sponsor: Mike Hammond- Knox County Criminal Court Clerk
Kathleen Turnmire, Whittle Springs
Mrs. Turnmire is entering her third year as the Executive Principal of Whittle Springs Middle School. A dedicated educator with a diverse background in administration and instruction, she previously served as the Curriculum Principal at Austin-East Magnet High School and as an Assistant Administrator at Paul Kelley Volunteer Academy.
Mrs. Turnmire’s career in education also includes valuable classroom and leadership experience as an English teacher and Instructional Coach. She has served in these roles at Austin-East Magnet High School, as well as Pearl-Cohn Magnet School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet School in Metro Nashville.
Outside of school, she enjoys reading mysteries, heading outdoors for camping trips, and putting her conflict-resolution skills to the test mediating sibling squabbles between her two children, Finley and Miles.
Tiffany Watkins, Spring Hill
Ms. Watkins has been an educator in Knox County Schools for over thirty years. She began her career as a teacher at Ball Camp Elementary and later taught at Hardin Valley Elementary. After her classroom experience, Ms. Watkins served as an Asst. Principal at AL Lotts Elementary and Adrian Burnett Elementary. Later, she worked as an Executive Principal at Fair Garden Family Community Center, Gap Creek Elementary, and currently Spring Hill Elementary.
David Guyer, Belle Morris
David Guyer is an experienced educator and school leader with a strong background in both classroom instruction and school administration.
He began his career in education in 2007 as a middle school math teacher at KIPP LA Prep, in Los Angeles. In 2012, he transitioned into administration, serving as Assistant Principal at KIPP LA Prep. From 2013 to 2019, Mr. Guyer held various Assistant Principal roles in Burbank, California, at John Muir Middle School, John Burroughs High School, and Monterey High School. In 2019, he became Principal at Monterey High School and also served as the district’s Alternative Education Coordinator, supporting programs to meet the needs of all students.
In 2022, Mr. Guyer and his family moved to Knoxville, where he served as Assistant Principal at Hardin Valley Academy. Since 2023, he has been the Executive Principal of Belle Morris Elementary, where he leads with a focus on belonging, student success, and community engagement.
Mr. Guyer earned his bachelor’s degree from Milligan University in 2003 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2012.
Tonya Cash, Christenberry
Dr. Tonya Cash leads with a deep commitment to inclusive and restorative practices.
A proud graduate of Fulton High School, Dr. Cash grew up in the Christenberry community and lives by the school motto she embraced early in life: Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve.
Dr. Cash began her career in education as a fifth-grade teacher at Christenberry, serving in the classroom for eleven years before stepping into leadership as Assistant Principal—a role she held for a decade. In 2023, she became Principal of Christenberry Elementary, continuing her long-standing dedication to the school and its students.
She believes in the power of education to transform lives and encourages every student and staff member to RISE UP to become the person they were meant to be. Under her leadership and through a strong team culture, Christenberry maintains a record of high student growth and low teacher turnover. Dr. Cash is passionate about creating a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment for every student, every day.
Ara Rickman, Fulton
Ms. Rickman began her career in education after earning a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She later continued her education at Tennessee Tech University, receiving both a Master of Arts and a Specialist in Education degree.
Ms. Rickman’s teaching journey began in 1985 at Whittle Springs Middle School and later continued at South Doyle Middle School, where she developed a strong foundation in supporting students academically and personally. In 2004, she transitioned into administration as an Assistant Principal at Fulton High School, a role she held full-time until her retirement in 2015.
Following retirement, Ms. Rickman was honored to return to Fulton High School as a part-time Assistant Principal—a position that provides meaningful work and the flexibility to continue supporting the school she deeply loves.
Fulton holds a very special place in her heart. Ms. Rickman is incredibly proud to serve a school community filled with dedicated staff, remarkable students, and supportive families. It’s a privilege to contribute to the continued growth and success of the Fulton Falcons and to be part of a school that values relationships, resilience, and opportunity
Cindy Sanford, Beaumont
With over 25 years in education, Mrs. Cindy Sanford has served as a teacher, central office staff member, and administrator. Her deep love for children and respect for educators drive her commitment to creating learning environments where both students and teachers can thrive. Guided by these values, she continuously strives to support growth, excellence, and meaningful learning experiences for all.
Mrs. Sanford holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from South College and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Tennessee.
Breakfast (provided by Mike Hammond) will be served around 7:45 a.m., and our program will begin promptly at 8 a.m. We look forward to seeing you there
