County Schools CTE Projects Get Finishing
Touches, Groundbreaking Held For Track Facility
BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER
Greene County Schools are getting two new much-anticipated building additions for Career & Technical Education (CTE) after construction projects continued throughout 2025.
The school district also broke ground for a state-of-the-art track facility to be built near Doak Elementary School and saw the extension of Dr. Chris Malone’s contract as director of schools.
Malone’s four-year contract was approved by the Greene County Board of Education in June, following his five-month appointment to the top job.
In January 2025, Malone was appointed interim director by the board, effective Feb. 1 to July 1, to succeed David McLain, who retired Jan. 31.
Malone was the sole applicant for the job, and in February 2025, the board voted to appoint him as director until June 30.
Malone is a Greene County native and graduate of ChuckeyDoak High School.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Education degree with emphasis in Pre-K through 12 principalship from Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky.
In August 2023, he earned his Education Specialist degree in educational leadership, and in May 2024, he earned his Doctor of
Education degree in educational leadership, both from CarsonNewman University in Jefferson City.
Malone was a classroom teacher at Doak Elementary School and Chuckey-Doak Middle School and principal of DeBusk and Nolachuckey elementary schools.
He also served in central office as supervisor of Pre-K and federal programs for Greene County Schools.
Malone and his wife, Melanie, have two sons, Cade and Camden.
His new contract includes an annual salary of $135,000 and
SUN FILE PHOTO
This image shows the planned track facility near Doak Elementary School.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Greene County Board of Education Chairman Rick Tipton, standing, speaks at a board meeting at Chuckey-Doak High School.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Construction of the CTE addition at Chuckey-Doak High School is shown in this file photo.
DR. CHRIS MALONE
Architect Dave Wright speaks at a school board meeting about the CTE
at West Greene High School. SUN FILE PHOTO
a monthly vehicle allowance of $833. It begins July 1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2029.
CTE ADDITIONS
The CTE additions at Chuckey-Doak and West Greene high schools were delayed, primarily due to weather, but both facilities are getting finishing touches, including installation of instructional equipment.
The Chuckey-Doak CTE addition of approximately 28,000 square feet will house instructional space for auto body, welding, masonry, industrial mechanics, carpentry, heating/venting/air conditioning, certified nursing assistant, and cosmetology.
The West Greene CTE addition of approximately 23,000 square feet will house instructional space for welding, auto body, cosmetology, certified nursing assistant, and industrial mechanics.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the two new additions are expected to be scheduled soon.
TRACK FACILITY
In February 2026, the school district held a groundbreaking ceremony for the track facility near Doak School.
The $5.6 million state-of-the-art collegiate level track facility will be used by county track and lacrosse athletes and student athletes of nearby Tusculum University.
The track facility will be located on property behind Doak Elementary School adjacent to the Tusculum Linear Trail and near Tusculum City Park.
In December, the board approved a $5,640,000 bid from BurWil Construction Co. of Bristol. Bid documents state the project is expected to take 330 days to complete.
The school board reelected Rick Tipton as its chairman in 2025.
The board also started meeting at each of the four county high schools, beginning with Chuckey-Doak in May, West Greene in August, South Greene in October, and North Greene in January 2026.
EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, GROWTH
Greene County Schools showed improvement on the annual Report Card released in December by the Tennessee Department of
Education.
Most of Greene County’s 15 schools scored B’s, with A’s for exceptional achievement and growth given to four schools: Baileyton and Mosheim elementary schools and ChuckeyDoak and West Greene middle schools.
Both Mosheim and WGMS improved their grades from C’s in 2023-24.
The school district earned Level 5 in the Tennessee ValueAdded Assessment System (TVAAS), the highest possible level for exceptional academic growth across grade levels and subjects during the 2024–25 school year.
County schools scoring school-wide composite scores of Level 5 included: Baileyton, Chuckey, and Mosheim elementary schools, and Chuckey-Doak, South Greene and West Greene middle schools.
In late August, Malone reported enrollment of 5,651 students.
This number is down by approximately 100 students, but the district typically sees moderate growth throughout the school year, Malone told the board of education.
In September, Malone told the board Greene County Schools was boosting arts in the classroom.
He said additional funding had been allocated for music and art classes at all grade levels.
Music classes are receiving $3 per student in elementary schools, $4 per student in middle schools, and $5 per student in high schools, Malone said in his monthly report to the board.
Art classes are receiving $5 per student in elementary schools, $6 per student in middle schools, and $7 per student in high schools, he said. In a brief interview
after the meeting, Malone said the art allocations are higher because classroom supplies for art cost more than classroom supplies for music.
He added that each band program is receiving $5,000 in new funding.
Prior to his report, the board heard from Sue
Wilson, a persistent grandmother who has been on a mission for more than a year to convince the board additional funds are needed to add fulltime music and art classes at outlying county elementary schools. For more information on Greene County Schools, www. greenek12.org .
Pharmacy Guide
PHOTO COURTESY OF GREENE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Kaszuba
Morris
End Of An Era: Joint School Board Has Final Meeting As CTE Facility Becomes City School
BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER
The Joint Board of Education held its final meeting in 2025 as the Greene Technology Center transformed from a joint venture to city school.
The facility on Hal Henard Road had for decades operated as what many local residents might remember as a vocational/ technical school, or “vo-tech” for students from all five local high schools.
The joint school board, which included the full membership of the Greeneville and Greene County boards of education, had governed the school for more than 50 years.
The end of an era came in June after Greeneville City Schools took sole ownership of the facility on Hal Henard Road while Greene County Schools moved career and technical education (CTE) programs to the individual county high schools.
“Education has evolved significantly over time, and as we now move forward with separate CTE programs, I want to express my sincere best wishes to our colleagues in the Greene County School System. May your continued efforts be met with success and fulfillment,” said Cindy Luttrell, then-chairman of the city school board, who
presided over the meeting. “It has truly been an honor to serve alongside you.”
Members of the outgoing joint school board are Luttrell, Craig Shepherd, Crystal Hirschy, Josh Quillen and Pam Botta from the city, and from the county: Chairman Rick Tipton, Mark Rothe, Gary Compton, Larry Bible, Stacey Franklin, Minnie Banks and George Frye.
Chairmanship of each meeting, held quarterly, was rotated between the city and county school board chairmen.
“As we conclude our final meeting, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of both boards and the directors (of schools) for the long-standing partnership we’ve shared,” Luttrell said. “Over the years, this collaboration has fostered countless opportunities and successes in the name of education. Many bright beginnings took root here, made possible by the dedication and teamwork that have defined our joint efforts.”
In the early 1970s the vocational school started under the name Greeneville-Greene County Vocational High School.
In 1982, with the addition of computers, the name was changed to the Greeneville-Greene County Vocational Technical Center. During this time, it was commonly referred to as “VoTech.”
In 1989, the name changed to the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology.
The name changed in 2012 to Greene Technology Center.
A new agreement in 2025
resulted in the city paying approximately $1 million for the facility.
NEW NAME
In May, the city school board voted to rename the center the Greeneville Career & Technical Academy.
Much work went into creating a new name for the center.
The school district hired the Donovan Group, a national leader in public school communication and community engagement.
A Naming & Branding Workgroup with nine members was formed and worked five months with facilitator Dr. Lori Mueller.
The nine members were: Director of Schools Steve Starnes; Teresa Clarkson, GCS career counselor; Suzanne Cox, president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Christopher Edmonds, industry, CTE and grants coordinator for TCAT; Jason Horne and Richard Tipton, assistant directors of schools; Rob Robbins, the center’s instructor of automotive maintenance and light repair; Daisy Shepard, Greeneville High School’s new principal; and Jeff Taylor, president and CEO of Greene County Partnership.
The workgroup formed five focus groups and held three meetings on May 8, May 15, and May 22.
More than 30 potential names were identified, ranging from Devil Technical Academy to Greeneville Career & Innovation Lab.
Local businessman Lenny Lawson joined the workgroup for branding. The group met three times in June and July.
The school board approved
a recommendation for the academy’s primary brand to be a round green and white seal featuring the image of a trident, or three-pronged spear, presented in a four-page report from the Naming & Branding Workgroup. Also approved was a wordmark design with the trident’s three prongs representing School, Student, Community.
NEW PRINCIPAL
Dr. Joshua Davis was named principal of the Greeneville Career & Technical Academy and district CTE director, effective July 1. Davis has over 22 years of experience in education, including six years as a teacher, two years as an academic coach, and 14 years as an administrator, a press release from the school district said.
He has been honored as both Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year at the district level, reflecting his dedication to excellence in education, the press release said.
Before joining GCS, Davis served as assistant principal at
SUN PHOTO
Welding students are shown at the Greeneville Career & Technical Academy.
DR. JOSHUA DAVIS
Sullivan Central High School, principal at Rock Springs Elementary School, principal at Sullivan North Middle and High School, and founding principal at West Ridge High School in Sullivan County.
Most recently, he had served as deputy chief academic officer for Washington County Schools.
Since 2015, Davis has also contributed to the development of future educational leaders as an adjunct professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at East Tennessee State University, the press release noted.
Davis earned his Doctor of Education in educational leadership and policy analysis, as well as a Master of Education in elementary education, from East Tennessee State University.
The city school district also moved its bus garage and other operations to the facility on Hal Henard Road from the George Clem Operations Center.
A steering committee has been formed to study the best use of the George Clem building, a former school on Floral Street.
City Schools See Changes In Leadership
BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER
Greeneville City Schools is getting a new director of schools as Steve Starnes has announced his retirement at the end of this school year.
On Feb. 24, the Greeneville Board of Education approved two candidates to be interviewed for the school district’s top position.
They are Dr. Jason Horne, Greeneville’s assistant director of schools for administration, and Dr. Matthew Drinnon, who holds the same position in Hamblen County.
NEW CHAIRMAN, PRINCIPAL
Interviews with Horne and Drinnon were set for the week of March 9.
A contract for the new director of schools is scheduled to be considered at the school board’s March 24 meeting, according to a timeline previously approved by the board.
The new director of schools will begin work on May 1, while Starnes’ contract is scheduled to end June 29.
Starnes, a Hawkins County native, has been director of Greeneville City Schools since 2018. He came to Greeneville after serving as a teacher and director of schools in Hawkins County.
Congratulationsto thefollowing Greene Count ySchools
ChuckeyDoakMiddle School
Mosheim Elementar ySchool Nort
ChuckeyElementar ySchool
Chuckey-DoakMiddle School Mosheim Elementar ySchool
Sout hGreeneMiddle School West GreeneMiddle School
AonSchool Repor tCard2025
Baileyton Elementar ySchool
Mosheim Elementar ySchool
Chuckey-DoakMiddle School West GreeneMiddle School
Greene Count ySchools Vision
StudentsinGreene Count ySchools willdevelop ajoy forlearning; graduatesfromGreene Count ySchools willbeprepared to enter thework forcewithanindustry certificate, to enrollin acommunity college with dualcreditsearned,ortoenrollin afour-yearcollege oruniversit ywithACTscores that forecast success .Fur thermore, graduates willbe contributingcitizensdemonstrating responsible, ethicalbehavior.
InGreene Count ySchools ,webelieve Educationis themostimpor tantser vice acommunity provides foritself.
All children canlearn,andmost canlearnat very highlevels. Skilled teachersandsuppor tstaffmakethedifference. Strong leadersset thetone. Usefuldata providedirection. Safe, clean, appropriatefacilitiesand 21st centur yresourcesare anecessit y. School,family, and communit ypar tnershipsstrengthenlearning.
SchoolBoardMembers
Dr.ChrisMalone,Directorof Schools
RickTipton, Chairman
MarkRothe, Vice Chairman
MinnieBanks
The school district also saw turnover in the chairmanship of its school board.
For the first time in six years, the board elected a new chairman in its September meeting.
Longtime board member Cindy Luttrell passed the gavel to Josh Quillen. He also was reelected treasurer.
“I appreciate my cohorts putting their faith in me and believing in me enough to take on these roles,” Quillen said in a brief interview after the meeting. “I’ll do my best to honor their wishes and hopefully continue to do as good a job as Mrs. Luttrell did.
Quillen has served on the school board since 2019.
Luttrell has been a board member for 22 years, serving as chairman since 2019.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be in that role,” Luttrell told the board after the annual election conducted by Starnes.
This year’s election for chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, and legislative representative had an unusually large amount of competition.
Both Quillen and Pam Botta were nominated for chairman with Luttrell nominating Botta and Crystal Hirschy nominating Quillen. A roll-call vote resulted in Quillen winning 3-2.
Another area of turnover in 2025 was at Greeneville High School,
SUN FILE PHOTO
Steve Starnes, standing, points to a budget item reviewed by Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty. Seated at left is Dr. Jason Horne, assistant director for administration. Shown between Doty and Starnes is then-school board chairman Cindy Luttrell.
Tusculum University Reinforces Faith-Based Approach To Education
BY TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY
As Tusculum University prepares students through active and experiential learning to be careerready professionals, it focuses on transforming their lives in a caring Christian environment.
For the last year, Tusculum has taken major steps to reinforce its faith-based approach to education with the launching of a couple of initiatives designed to help students grow in their relationship with the Lord. The most visible of those on campus is the creation of the Discipleship Living-Learning Center.
When the 2025-26 academic year began in August, Tusculum had created the opportunity for first- and second-year students to live in two university-owned houses, one for men and the other for women.
Through Bible studies, mentorship and ministry engagement, the center provides a Christ-centered environment, where these students become stronger in their faith and develop for lives of service and leadership. One example was their participation in filling 50 shoeboxes with needed daily items as well as
some toys for children in need as part of Operation Christmas Child.
These students are not alone in the process. Supporting them are peer mentors, who are older students who lives in the house with them, and the Rev. E.J. Swatsell, the director of spiritual life and special projects. They also receive assistance from Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, and Dr. Kathleen Krist, assistant professor of chemistry.
So far, the center has attracted 15 students, and more are expected in the fall. A grant from the Tweed Family Foundation will help Tusculum open a third house.
One of the students who lives in the center is Danielle Dugger, a freshman from Johnson County. She has found it to be beneficial.
“This is truly one of the better things I’ve done in my life,” Dugger said. “It’s so much nicer to live a house that’s full of people who are like-minded. They’re here to get a degree and grow in their faith. That definitely eased a lot of the worries of being away from home for the
first time and being the first person in your family to go to college. It makes you feel so much better when you have people rooting for you and wanting to grow in a godly way.”
Swatsell had similar feelings.
“This is the pinnacle of my career in ministry because I’m on the ground level of developing something that will have a positive impact on our university and the community,” he said. “I think we’re going to establish community leaders who are focused on developing relationships – first with
Luke Smith shows one of the shoeboxes he filled for Operation Christmas Child.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY
Female members of the Discipleship Living-Learning Center stand in their house. Left to right are Danielle Dugger, Analise Kotynski, Abby Counter, Jasmine Johnson and Kieley Smith.
Students collaborate in a biology lab class.
Christ but then with each other in that atmosphere. If you can enter the workforce with the base of working well with others in a biblical mindset, there is potential that could have a positive effect on our community.”
The center falls under the umbrella of Tusculum’s Christian Leadership Institute, a three-phase program that has already implemented the annual Christians in Business Dinner to support the center. During the first dinner in 2025, Tusculum honored the late Chuck Bowlin, a highly respected Christian businessman and president and CEO of the Greeneville Energy Authority, when he passed away. A fundraiser resulted in the male house in the center being named after Bowlin.
The Christian Leadership Institute also plans to add discipleship assistants in Tusculum’s residence hall, hold The Calling Conference, provide more resources for chapel services and a Christian leadership academic major.
Tusculum is achieving success on other fronts as well in keeping with its mission. The Center for Free Enterprise and New Venture Creation is providing students with the framework and mentorship they need to create their own businesses. This inaugural year of the program will culminate in April when participating students have an opportunity to talk about their proposed businesses during Pitch Day.
The university is also on the cutting edge with artificial intelligence. Tusculum began offering the applied AI in business minor during this academic year, and local entrepreneur Joe McKenna provided free training for students, faculty and staff in 2025. On March 11, the university hosted
the Appalachian AI Summit, which provided keynote remarks, breakout sessions, Attendees also saw demonstrations and learned about the minor and workforce-focused AI certificate programs.
Studying as an undergraduate at Tusculum provides an opportunity for students to receive what rivals a graduate-level education with the opportunity to conduct research in a host of subjects. When students enter graduate school, they are well prepared for that program because they have engaged in research so extensively at Tusculum.
“We have been excited to watch our students present their research on campus and at local, regional and national conferences,” said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s
president. “Our professors not only provide students with the technical knowledge to succeed but also engage them in their research and enable them to share their presentation skills in professional settings. It has been thrilling to see our students published in professional journals.”
Once Tusculum’s students graduate, they are ready to make a difference in their professions and their communities. Tusculum has been fortunate to have high achievers, such as Kyle Cavanaugh, the president of administration for the National Basketball Association; Justin Phillip Reed, winner of the 2018 National Book Award for poetry; Leslie England, the first female president of TNBANK.
“Our affordable degree programs, including those for working adults seeking bachelor’s and master’s degree, make Tusculum an outstanding choice for one’s education,” Dr. Hummel said. “Our professors and staff know students’ names and work hand in hand with these Pioneers to mentor them during their studies and as graduates. I frequently connect with alumni, and they always tell me they not only had a wonderful experience at Tusculum but completed their coursework well prepared for their lives. The impact of a Tusculum education has been profound for them.”
More information about the university is available at www. tusculum.edu.
Students, faculty and staff participate in a workshop on artificial intelligence.
teacher at Greeneville Middle School, succeeded Shepherd.
where DeAnna Martin retired as principal.
“After 30 years of unwavering dedication, she is retiring, leaving behind a legacy that has touched every corner of our district. From the very first day as a classroom teacher to serving as an academic coach, an elementary principal, an interim middle school principal, an assistant principal and finally, as the high school principal, DeAnna has worn many hats and worn them all with grace, wisdom, and heart.”
Starnes spoke about the effect Martin’s guidance has had on schools, students, teachers, and communities, describing her as “a leader who never sought the spotlight, but whose impact shines brightly in every classroom, every hallway, and every heart.
“Today, we don’t just say goodbye to a principal, we celebrate a legacy. One built on decades of service, thousands of lives touched, and a future forever shaped by her dedication.”
Succeeding
Martin was Dr. Daisy Shepherd, who was promoted from GHS assistant principal.
Donita Huff, a
EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, GROWTH
Greeneville City Schools showed improvement on the annual Report Card released in December by the Tennessee Department of Education.
Greeneville’s six letter grades included four A’s: Hal Henard and Tusculum View elementary schools, Greeneville Middle School and Greeneville High School; and two B’s, for EastView and Highland elementary schools.
The school district earned Level 5 in the Tennessee ValueAdded Assessment
System (TVAAS), the highest possible level for exceptional academic growth across grade levels and subjects during the 2024–25 school year.
Several city schools earned the highest possible growth composite scores of Level 5: Hal Henard and Tusculum View elementary schools, Greeneville Middle School, and Greeneville High School.
Tusculum View Elementary earned a Level 5 in every measured category, representing exceptional growth across the board.
ENROLLMENT
‘ON PAR’
In late August, Starnes reported enrollment for the
beginning of the 202526 school year totaled 2,856 for grades K-12, which is “on par with last year.”
He reported K-5 enrollment totaling 1,355, including: 358 at EastView, 389 at Hal Henard, 138 at Highland, and 394 at Tusculum View elementary schools.
Greeneville Middle School enrollment was 647, and Greeneville High School enrollment was 801, he reported.
Tennessee Online Public School at Greeneville enrollment
totaled 129 for K-12, up approximately 29 students, Starnes noted.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Cindy Luttrell passes the gavel to Josh Quillen, new chairman of the Greeneville Board of Education.
DeAnna Martin gives a
High School.
Various Agencies Going Up On Former Greene Valley Site In Tusculum
BY KEN LITTLE
(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM SPENCER MORRELL)
Anyone driving by the former Greene Valley Developmental Center property on Highway 11E in Tusculum in recent months has seen major construction projects taking place.
State projects are continuing on state-owned land, while two other local projects got underway last fall on locally controlled land.
Sites for the Department of Disabilities and Aging (DDA) regional complex and the nearby Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) satellite campus were prepared in June.
The DDA complex and TCAT campus are scheduled to be complete later this year.
TCAT President Suzanne Cox said in February that the TCAT satellite campus construction is scheduled to be completed by the middle of August.
The 53,000-square foot building will be located near the former Greene Valley entrance on East Andrew Johnson Highway (Highway 11E). It will be located on about 14 acres.
The new satellite campus will offer graduating high school students from Greene County the opportunity to pursue their studies locally. The main campus is located in Morristown.
The building design includes areas dedicated to specific areas of study, including practical nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, cosmetology, computer integration technologies, welding, machine tools, HVA, industrial maintenance and industrial electricity.
The new TCAT satellite campus
will also include an administrative wing and multi-purpose rooms that can be used by the public for lectures and other meetings.
Cox said the campus will strengthen the local workforce “pipeline” for area businesses and industries.
The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging’s East Tennessee Regional Office Complex will serve as the administrative office for DDA employees.
Tusculum Mayor Alan Corley said in February that he heard it will be completed by September or October.
The project will also include an Enabling Technology Home for
older adults and disabled people to learn about and try various enabling technology “that can help them live independently,” Cox said.
An Innovation Center where people can have their seating and positioning needs met is also planned to be included in the complex.
Training, research and development hubs are also going to be part of the building complex, according to Cox.
Greene County Partnership President and CO Jeff Taylor told Tusculum officials recently that having a TCAT campus and DDA complex in the county should create job opportunities for Greene
County residents who currently work outside the area.
The Tusculum mayor said it was likely the new campus and complex would attract other retail businesses to the area.
The State of Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development in early February announced a grant of over $306,000 for master planning and due diligence research to the Tusculum-Greeneville-Greene County Development Board. The board owns the undeveloped former Greene Valley property south of Edens Road.
An area of the property
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN LITTLE
A Department of Disabilities and Aging (DDA) regional complex is being built on the former Greene Valley Developmental Center site in Tusculum
SUN FILE PHOTO
site on Highway 11E in Tusculum is scheduled
PHOTO BY SPENCER MORRELL
A Department of Disabilities and Aging (DDA) regional complex, as seen last fall, is being built on the former Greene Valley Developmental Center site in Tusculum.
Adventist Academy Principal Retires; Russell Named New Leader
BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER
Greeneville Adventist Academy named Gary Russell the new principal of the K-12 Christian school in 2025.
He succeeded Randy Nomura, who retired in June after 36 years in education and 14 years as GAA principal.
Russell was born in Nebraska and lived in several states throughout the Midwest and West as a child. He moved to Calhoun, Georgia, after he married is his wife, Laurie. Russell was working there as a salesman when he felt called to follow his father’s footsteps in providing Christian education to students, a news release from the school stated.
The couple moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he attended Union College. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in secondary education with a math emphasis, he worked in Colorado, Nebraska, and Missouri. During this time, Russell completed his master’s in education leadership.
His teaching experience includes being a homeroom teacher, math teacher, and principal, spending the last 20 years of his career as the principal of a boarding academy in Missouri.
When asked what he loves most about teaching, Russell replied,
“Seeing the growth in students from year to year!”
Russell accepted the call to become the principal of Greeneville Adventist Academy because he felt it was “God opening doors,” the news release stated.
He also said, “Laurie and I love the small-town environment, along with the Smoky Mountains.” Having four seasons was also an attractive bonus, as well as the
Southern Gospel music festivals in Gatlinburg.
The Russells have two grown children, Georgia and Matthew. Russell loves being with his family and school family, going on mission trips, and riding 4-wheelers, according to the news release.
Russell “feels blessed to have the opportunity to join the Greeneville Adventist Academy family,” the news release stated. For more information about the school, visit www.mygaa.org .
Reyes Appointed President Of Walters State
BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER
Dr. Saul Reyes was appointed president of Walters State Community College in August by the Tennessee Board of Regents.
He assumed office as the college’s fifth president effective Sept. 8, according to a press release from the Board of Regents.
At the time of his appointment, Reyes was vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, where he had served in senior leadership roles since January 2015.
He has more than 35 years of professional experience in higher education, including service as an instructor, counselor, advisor, and in several leadership positions.
The board’s vote at the special called meeting was unanimous, following his recommendation for the presidency by Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings.
“Dr. Reyes is an accomplished leader with the experience and skills necessary to build upon Walters State’s strong foundation and to guide the college toward an even more successful future,” she said.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to the Tennessee Board of Regents and Chancellor Tydings for placing their trust in me. Walters State holds a special place in the heart of the community, and I’m excited to join its talented faculty and staff in the meaningful work of empowering students,” Reyes said. “Together, we’ll continue to transform lives through education and workforce training, creating opportunities that uplift individuals, families, and the region we serve.”
He told the board that he and his wife visited Morristown and the East Tennessee region served by the college just prior to campus interviews and forums for presidential finalists.
“We walked on each of the campuses and talked in the communities to people and asked them about their perspectives on the college,” and learned the special place the college holds in their hearts, he said.
Reyes earned a doctorate in higher education leadership at the University of South Florida, a master of arts in counseling at West Virginia University, and a bachelor of science in youth ministries and biblical studies at Gordon College.
He began his career in 1986 as an assistant chaplain, career advisor and adjunct instructor at Bethany College in West Virginia. He has also served at the University of Connecticut, Centre College in Kentucky, Jacksonville University in Florida, Florida Southern College, the University of South Florida, and Polk State College in Florida prior to joining the College of Central Florida as vice president for student affairs in 2015.
Reyes succeeded Dr. Tony Miksa, who served as president for nine years until his resignation in summer 2025 to serve as president of a community college in Kansas. Dr. Tom Sewell served as interim president before the appointment Reyes. The president is the college’s chief executive officer.
Reyes was one of three finalists selected by a 16-member search advisory committee composed of four Board of Regents members, representatives of the college’s students, faculty, staff and alumni, and civic and business leaders from the community.
The finalists participated in public forums on the Morristown campus July 21-23. After the forums, Tydings reviewed input from the public and the campus community, conducted further interviews with the candidates, and consulted with the search committee to select one candidate
for recommendation to the board.
The search process included the open forums with the finalists and an open forum on campus April 22 providing the public and campus community an opportunity to voice their views on the aspirations and needs of the college in the selection of its next president.
“This process is one of the most important things that we as a board do and we take it very seriously. We have a process that works, and it does engage people from the community. It’s so critical to get to the right decision in these searches. So, thanks to everyone who gave so generously of their time,” said Regent Emily Reynolds, board vice chair.
Walters State is a public community college established in 1970 and primarily serving Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Sevier and Union counties.
In addition to its main campus in Morristown, the college has the Niswonger Campus in Greeneville, the Sevier County Campus, the Claiborne County Campus, and the Newport Center.
For more information, visit the college’s website at https://ws.edu/ .
SUN FILE PHOTO
Randy Nomura, center, retired in 2025 as principal of Greeneville Adventist Academy.
DR. SAUL REYES
GARY RUSSELL
EMS Continues To Serve The Public
BY NELSON MORAIS STAFF WRITER
Greene County/Greeneville EMS is expected to pick up its fifth new ambulance within the last three months by the end of March, Assistant Director Myron Hughes told The Greeneville Sun. He said the assembly of the fifth ambulance is complete, but the vehicle is going through some unspecified “final steps” before it can be picked up.
Hughes said three of the five new ambulances are vans. The agency has also received two remounted chassis, including one that was in a wreck. He added that four remount chassis are still on order.
Greene County/Greeneville EMS currently employs 35 part-time employees, according to Hughes.
The agency last year updated its dispatch protocols, treatment guidelines and training process, and acquired new tablets for CADs, as well as new medication boxes, pediatric bags and glucometers.
It also began offering its employees the option of prerecorded continuing education content from FOAMfrat that is accredited at both the state and national levels and can be accessed more conveniently. EMS still has a full-time training officer who coordinates and teaches inperson classes, Hughes explained.
On Nov. 12, fire damaged part of the EMS building in Baileyton. No one was injured.
Tommy Payne, an advanced EMT, woke up in the sleeping quarters of the EMS building next to Baileyton’s Town Hall on Horton Highway around 3 a.m. and noticed smoke coming from the bathroom, a county sheriff’s department report stated.
Payne and paramedic Jenna Stephens Austin evacuated, and United Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire, containing it to the EMS building.
Traci Wihlen, United Volunteer Fire Department’s assistant chief, noted on the fire department’s Facebook page that “this could have been much worse had EMS personnel not closed the bathroom door. The fire originated in the bathroom
and was contained due to the door being kept closed! The door is a barrier which keeps the fire contained for a period of time.”
The EMS station relocated into the United Volunteer Fire Department building next door to the EMS station until repairs could be made.
Reconstruction of the damaged part of the EMS station began in February after the work was bidded out.
In other news, a softwaregenerated map employed by Greene County-Greeneville EMS beginning last year is helping agencies spot trends in dangerous spikes of illegal drug use in Greene County and take action to combat them.
EMS started using the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) locally near the end of July, said Greene County Anti-Drug Coalition Assistant Director Christina Matthews.
“It tells the general location” of an EMS overdose call in real time, the primary suspected drug in the overdose and if the person was transported to a hospital, she stated.
Hughes, the EMS assistant director, said that the ODMAP system has “been around for a while” in the U.S, but is “new for us.”
He explained that the ODMAP “automatically” pulls information from tickets submitted by EMS personnel following each emergency call, so there is no extra effort or time required by the personnel.
It enhances the partnership between EMS and the Tennessee Department of Health, he said.
The data generated that shows up on the ODMAP shows what particular drugs are being misused
SUN FILE PHOTO
This is one of the new ambulances Greene County/Greeneville EMS received within recent months.
SUN PHOTO BY NELSON MORAIS
ODMAP is a new software-generated tracking system employed by EMS beginning last year that allows agencies to track spikes in illegal drug use in Greene County. Greene County-Greeneville EMS Assistant Director Myron Hughes, seen here at his desk, says the new system is helpful.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
in Baileyton, damaging the bathroom in it. No one was injured.
Ballad Health Academy Signs
Inaugural Class Of Future Medical Professionals
BY AMY ROSE STAFF WRITER
The Ballad Health Academy launched its inaugural class in 2025 with 55 students from Greeneville High School joining the program at a well-attended signing ceremony at GHS in May.
Each student signed a commitment to pursue a career in health care through GHS’s new program called Devil Med.
The GHS signing day kicked off a series of events across the region celebrating students pursuing accelerated career pathways as part of a first-of-its-kind $250 million effort funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Ballad Health Academy uses a “school-within-a-school” model, allowing students to stay at their local high schools while gaining access to in-person, virtual and inhospital learning experiences.
The 213 students in its inaugural class are enrolled at seven local schools: GHS, Science Hill High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Sullivan East High School, Tennessee High School, West Ridge High School and Elizabethton High School.
Ballad Health Academy is a free visionary high school medical training program that will provide students with job experience and dual-enrollment courses – provided by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology – connecting health care and education systems to create career and technical education (CTE) programs in 10 urban and rural communities across the country, a press release from Ballad Health said.
Scott Niswonger, Greeneville philanthropist and founder of the Niswonger Foundation, said, “Through the Ballad Health Academy, students will be careerready by their senior year in high school. This means they will be one step closer to earning a living wage and giving back to their community. The Niswonger Foundation is committed to improving education in Northeast Tennessee, and the Ballad Health Academy is an innovative learning solution that will help build a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.”
Graduating students will have the opportunity to move directly into high-demand health care jobs with family-sustaining wages upon graduation from high school, the press release said.
Program highlights include: Comprehensive curriculum: Students will study anatomy and physiology, nursing fundamentals, patient care, pharmacology and more – ensuring a well-rounded, industry-aligned education.
Hands-on experience: Clinical rotations at Ballad Health facilities provide invaluable real-world learning and skill development.
Qualified instructors: Experienced, passionate nursing educators will offer personalized mentorship and instruction.
Modern facilities: Labs and simulation centers replicate real clinical environments for safe, skillrefining practice.
Employment opportunities: Graduates of the program are guaranteed job interviews with Ballad Health.
“The nationwide shortage of health care workers has reached a critical level, and Ballad Health –along with our team members and patients – has felt the profound impact of this crisis firsthand,” said Alan Levine, Ballad Health chairman and chief executive officer. “Our region has the power to be part of the solution, and Ballad Health Academy is designed to become
a national model for how local communities can address the health care workforce crisis. By preparing students to fill essential roles in our hospitals – and guaranteeing each graduate a job interview with Ballad Health – we are building a stronger pipeline of caregivers and helping to ease the nationwide health care staffing shortage.”
“We know that early engagement can be a powerful motivator,” said Robin Roberts, chief nursing officer for Greeneville Community Hospital.
“When students see what nurses do and understand the depth of the profession, it will spark true passion.
I encourage educators, health care professionals and community leaders to rally around the students of Ballad Health Academy. We’re not just training future nurses. We’re investing in the health of our entire community for years to come.”
In August, Ballad Health introduced a new simulation lab mobile unit to bring high-tech, hands-on health care training directly to students of Ballad Health Academy.
“Access to hands-on health care education shouldn’t be limited by geography,” said Todd Barnett, program manager for curriculumbased programs at Ballad Health.
“The mobile simulation lab allows us to bring advanced training directly to students and helps ensure that our future health care workforce is as diverse, skilled and communityfocused as the region it serves.”
Rather than building expensive simulation labs at each participating school, the mobile unit provides a cost-effective solution by bringing the lab to the student. The customdesigned bus is equipped with advanced simulation equipment and will travel to each school, providing consistent, hands-on training, a press release said.
The unit includes two exam tables, blood pressure cuffs and exam equipment, and interactive monitors to simulate real clinical experiences. Designed to serve up to 15 students at a time, the lab offers an immersive learning environment where students can develop vital skills during their training, the press release said.
“The mobile lab opens doors to new opportunities for students, providing access to training tools that may not be available in their school districts,” said Dr. Jeff Moorhouse, corporate director of secondary programs for Ballad Health. “By exposing students to career paths that exist within the region, but not necessarily in their hometowns, the lab gives them a competitive edge for the future.”
According to Greeneville City Schools’ Annual Report, this past summer, GHS students previewed the program during a three-day camp at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Activities included skill station rotations, hospital tours, simulation exercises, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and
panel discussions with health care professionals.
The camp concluded with a recognition ceremony that included parents and community partners. Eighteen students attended camp,
where they had a 100% pass rate to obtain their CPR certification, the report said.
For more information about the Ballad Health Academy, visit balladhealthacademy.org .
SUN FILE PHOTO
Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine, left, and local philanthropist Scott Niswonger are shown at the Ballad Health Academy signing ceremony at Greeneville High School.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Scott Niswonger speaks at the Ballad Health Academy signing ceremony at Greeneville High School.
SUN FILE PHOTO
The audience at Greeneville High School watches a student sign a commitment to the Ballad Health Academy.
SUN FILE PHOTO
A mobile lab for Ballad Health Academy was introduced in August.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BALLAD HEALTH
Students participate in a summer camp in Bristol as part of the Ballad Health Academy.
Construction Begun On New County Health Department
BY KEN LITTLE STAFF WRITER
Construction on the new Greene County Health Department building on Edens Road should be complete “around the beginning of May,” a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Health said in late February.
“Remaining work includes final construction, completing exterior items such as masonry work, interior build-out, equipment installation, and inspections before opening,” Morgan Scott said.
Ground was broken for the project in January 2025. The health department will open to the public after inspection work is complete and the building interior is outfitted.
“No official public opening date has been announced yet, but we will be hosting a ribbon-cutting and open house at a later date,“ Scott said.
The 12,000-square foot Greene County Health Department building is situated along Edens Roads on part of the 336-acre section of the former Greene Valley Developmental Center property transferred in 2024 from the state to the Greene County-Greeneville-Tusculum Industrial Development Board.
Unlike much of the property south of Edens Road, the health department site and neighboring Eternal Water spring water bottling plant under construction had infrastructure like electricity and water service in place prior to the start of construction.
“We’ve got these two projects going on and we’ve been able to do that with the existing infrastructure,” Tusculum Mayor Alan Corley recently said.
The health department project will cost about $6 million, including a $5 million grant from the state health department and a $1 million Greene County match using federal American Rescue Plan funds.
Scott said the new county health department will be beneficial to the public in many ways.
“The facility will be one level, improving accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges and making it easier for families with young children. It will also provide efficiency for patient visits due to the layout,” she said.
An additional amenity is a community conference room that can be utilized for public trainings, Scott said. A $1.5 million grant will fund the construction of the multimedia and broadbandconnected community education center. The center will be open to the community and connected to the new health department, officials said.
The new health department building “was designed to enhance efficiency and provide modern functionality, replacing the existing space-constrained building,“ Scott said.
The Greene County Health Department building at 810 W. Church St. was built in 1973 and is a multi-level facility. Officials have noted accessibility issues.
All services currently offered by health department will be offered at the new facility.
Services moving into the new facility include the Women, Infant and Children Program, vital records, health promotion and education, immunizations, nutrition education, family planning, home visiting,
newborn screenings, communicable disease; and environmental health services, which covers inspections and permits.
Building plans call for the facility to include more than 10 exam rooms, multiple dental rooms, a telemedicine center and a demonstration kitchen.
Current county health department employees will move to the new facility when it opens to the public.
“At this time, staffing is optimal in providing health department services,” Scott said.
The new Greene County Health Department building is part of a surge in development on the former Greene Valley site. New projects include the Eternal Water facility that is nearing completion.
The Eternal Water site covers 130,000 square feet, including 6,000 square feet of office space. It will include 14 truck docks and a dedicated truck entrance for safety purposes.
Along East Andrew Johnson
Highway in Tusculum on stateowned land, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology satellite campus and Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging regional office are scheduled to be complete later in 2026.
Greene County Partnership President & CEO Jeff Taylor recently told Tusculum officials that the presence of the TCAT campus and the DDA complex should create job opportunities for Greene County residents who currently work in nearby communities.
Corley said ongoing development will also benefit the City of Tusculum.
“Likely, it will attract other retail businesses that would help us,” he said. “Hopefully, there will be some ancillary things that will develop. The overarching goal is to create new jobs opportunity for Greene County residents. It’s not just about Tusculum, It’s about (providing) the entire area with good-paying jobs and all that will bring.”
PHOTO BY KEN LITTLE
Ground was broken in January for construction of a new Greene County Health Department facility on Edens Road in Tusculum
Greeneville Community Hospital Is Part
Of Ballad Health System
BY NELSON MORAIS STAFF WRITER
Greeneville Community Hospital is part of Ballad Health, a system of 20 hospitals and other health care services located in 29 counties across Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky. It was formed in 2018.
A dedication ceremony for a new TrueBeam linear accelerator that will provide cutting-edge cancer treatment to patients at the local hospital took place in November 2025.
Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott Niswonger and his wife Nikki donated $1 million to help fund the purchase of the new equipment.
The cancer care center at the hospital was named the Niswonger Family Radiation Treatment Center.
Dr. John Boys, medical director of the cancer center at Greeneville Community Hospital, said the new Varian linear accelerator was leading edge technology.
He said, “The TrueBeam provides our clinicians with the flexibility to customize therapy for each patient, proving a more comfortable experience for patients and overall improving outcomes … Having this technology here in Greeneville means our community members can receive exceptional care without traveling for hours to receive treatment.”
Eric Carroll, the CEO of Greeneville Community Hospital described linear accelerators as “the center cog that delivers the radiation to the patients to target the cancer cells without damaging the healthy tissue.”
In another matter, the Leapfrog Group, which describes itself as “a nonprofit watchdog organization” for health care consumers, issued a report on patient safety at Greeneville Community Hospital in May of last year. It gave the hospital an overall “C” grade for patient safety.
The hospital performed better than average on several measures, average on most and below average on a few metrics, according to Leapfrog’s report.
Greeneville Community Hospital performed above average in 7 prevention and safety measures, including infection in the urinary tract, death from serious treatable complications and dangerous bed sores.
The hospital rated average in 15 areas,
including MRSA infection, sepsis infection after surgery and communication on medicines.
The hospital performed below average on 3 measures: surgical would splits open, collapsed lung and communication with nurses.
Greeneville Community Hospital graded out higher than Johnson City Medical Center and Bristol Regional Medical Center. Both of those received “D” safety grades.
In a statement, Ballad Health officials disputed the accuracy of data used by Leapfrog as a measuring tool and said the nonprofit group “relies heavily on Medicare fee-forservice data, which represents only a small and often more severely ill portion of our patient population.”
Ballad Health also said five Tenet Healthcare hospitals in Florida were suing The Leapfrog Group, claiming it runs a “pay-to-play” system, “where hospitals must pay to get good safety grades.”
In October 2025, the Greene County Commission voted down a resolution that would have urged the state to repeal Tennessee’s Certificate of Need (CON) and Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) laws.
The state’s CON law requires those wishing to locate and expand medical facilities or to increase services to apply for the approval of the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. The state commission requires that a demonstrable need for the facility in a given community be shown, which can make it difficult at times for new health facilities to open or for new services to be provided.
The state’s COPA law is what allows Ballad Health to exist in east Tennessee. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, a COPA provides state action immunity to the hospitals from state and federal antitrust laws by replacing competition with state regulation and active supervision. The goal is to protect the interests of the public in the region affected and the state, according to the Department of Health.
In June of the same year, the legacy of compassion and bravery exhibited by Boone McCrary, a registered nurse at Greeneville Community Hospital who died while trying to rescue stranded citizens along the Nolichucky River during the remnants of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, was remembered.
The Boone McCrary, RN Memorial Scholarship raised over $70,000 to support future nurses in this region, Ballad Health announced. It was established by the Ballad Health Foundation and funded by local donors and commemorative T-shirt sales.
The scholarship provides full financial support for an associate degree in nursing, covering tuition, school-related expenses and an additional stipend, according to Ballad Health.
The Greeneville Community Hospital also experienced renovations and upgrades.
In 2025, the patient care unit on the third
floor of the hospital was completed, and work on the fourth floor began.
Hospital rooms on the third floor have new chairs, new beds, new bedside tables, new IV pumps, new IV poles and pumps, new blinds and new TVs.
The old tile in rooms was replaced with new flooring, and the rooms were painted. It was the first major overhaul of the patient care rooms at the hospital since the 1990s, according to hospital officials.
New beds include built-in bed alarms, which are said to make
it easier for staff to know when patients are trying to get out of bed. A renovated work space for hospital staff was also planned. In January 2026, Ballad Health announced plans to
Greeneville Community Hospital is part of the Ballad Health system
other health care services located across northeast Tennessee, southeast Virginia, northwest North Carolina and southeast Kentucky.
rebuild Unicoi County Hospital, which was deemed unsafe after floodwaters overtook the facility when the remnants of Hurricane Helene hit the region in September 2024.
The new hospital will be located in the Town of Unicoi. The land purchase was expected to be finalized in February, according to Ballad Health officials.
Ballad Health also announced in December 2025 that it is providing “lending support” to State of Franklin Healthcare Associates, in a joint statement released by both entities.
The statement said that, “Like many independent medical groups across the country, SOFHA has faced financial pressures stemming from national reimbursement
along Edens Road that has infrastructure in place will be the site of a new 12,000-squarefoot Greene County Health Department building and a spring water bottling company, Eternal Water.
In February, construction on both projects was nearly complete.
The state is providing $5 million in federal grant funding for the construction of the new health department building, while Greene County is providing a $1 million funding match.
The Eternal Water building covers 130,000 square feet and includes 6,000 square feet of office space. The site will have 14 truck docks, as well as a dedicated truck entrance for
changes particularly harmful to physicians practicing in rural and non-urban communities, workforce challenges caused by shortages and decisions made under previous leadership.”
Ballad Health did not purchase SOFHA and will have no role in the organization’s operations, according to the statement.
In other news, in December Standard and Poor’s revised Ballad Health’s credit outlook from “Stable” to “Positive” and affirmed its A- rating, affecting Ballad Health’s series of debt instruments.
In October 2025 Ballad Health announced it filed a federal lawsuit in Greeneville against UnitedHealth Group, one of the country’s largest health insurers.
Ballad Health alleged that UnitedHealth has denied, delayed
or underpaid for care that doctors determined to be medically necessary, while also overstating to the federal government how sick
its members are in order to collect higher taxpayer-funded payments through the Medicare Advantage program.
safety purposes. Evergreens, other trees and additional vegetation will provide a visual buffer and “overall aesthetic” to the property, a spokesperson with
Comprehensivecareclose to home.
From ever yday care to life’s most critical moments, ourteamatGreenevilleCommunity Hospital is herefor youand your family. With advanced technology andskilled specialists, we provideawiderange of services designedtohelpour neighbors live theirhealthiestlives right hereathome.
Emergency &Critic al Care
•24/ 7emergency depar tment
•Acuteinpatient care
•Intensive care unit
•M edic al/surgicalunit
Specialt yC are
•C ardiology
•Family BirthCenter
•Radiationoncology
•Sleep care
•Women’s health services including obstetrics and imaging
•Wound care
SurgicalSer vices
•Endoscopy
•G eneral surger y
•Robotic-assistedsurgery usingthe Da Vinci
surgic al system
Diagnostic &O utpatientSer vices
•Diagnostic imaging
•O utpatientlaboratory services
•Pediatric physic al,occupational and speech therapy
•Physical, occupational and speech therapy Contac
the architectural firm Fisher & Associates stated. It will border the Tusculum Linear Trail.
PHOTO BY SPENCER MORRELL
A new 12,000-square-foot Greene County Health Department is going up on the former Greene Valley Developmental Center site in Tusculum.
SUN FILE PHOTO
Dr. John Boys, center, an oncologist at Greeneville Community Hospital, shows off a new linear accelerator to Ballad Health officials and members of the public in November 2025. The radiation equipment is now being used to treat patients in the hospital’s cancer center.
GreenevilleInternalMedicine &FamilyPractice
BrandyHolder,FNP;EmilyYates,FNP;Dr.W.Joseph Scot t; Dr.B.TylerBailey; Dr.R.TheoHensley; and EvaFields,FNP 1404 TusculumBlvd.,MOB3,Suite3100 •Greeneville,TN
Telephone :(423)638-4114
Tusculum FamilyPhysicians
Dr.CarlaNickle,DO( front); Dr.D ebraLewis, DO ;Dr. Rebecca Lindberg, MD; LeslieHenr y, NP;Dr.KenNickle,DO; HollyMcGaw,NP; Christina Gaby,NP; Shea Pitts, NP 555JustisDrive •Greeneville,TN37745
Telephone :(423)783-7965
Summit FamilyMedicine -Greeneville
Dr.JaimeOakley; AshleyMusgrove, FNP; AbigailAlley, PA-C ;ErinStayton,FNP 5000Monarch Pointe•Greeneville, TN Telephone :423-639-2161
ThwingMedicalGroup
Dr.PhilipThwing 400 YSt. •Greeneville Telephone :(423)639-0707
Greeneville FamilyMedicine
Brian Gong,FNP;SonjaB. Woods,M.D.;Alli N. Bradley, D.O.; Shalee Nanney,FNP 1404TusculumBlvd.,MOB3,Suite3000 •Greeneville,TN Telephone: (423)638-1188
