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Kingsport City Schools (KCS) has announced its 2025 Principal of the Year and Supervisor of the Year. Shanna Hensley was named KCS Principal of the Year and Dr. Holly Flora was named KCS Supervisor of the Year.
"On behalf of Kingsport City Schools and our Board of Education, it is an honor to celebrate Mrs. Hensley and Dr. Flora on being recognized as Principal and Supervisor of the Year," said Kingsport City Schools Superintendent, Dr. Chris Hampton. "I have no doubt they will represent our school district and community incredibly well."
Shanna Hensley, Principal of D-B EXCEL, has been named district Principal of the Year. Hensley is in her 22nd year as an educator, with 21 of those years being in Kingsport. While in Kingsport, Hensley has served as a Kindergarten and 4th Grade teacher, an Associate Principal at Johnson Elementary and Lincoln Elementary Schools, the Principal of Kennedy Elementary School, Cora Cox Academy, and D-B EXCEL. Hensley developed the vision of what D-B EXCEL is today, a program of choice for Dobyns-Bennett High School students which features blended learning with a one-on-one approach. Under her watch, D-B EXCEL was awarded the 2019 Tennessee School Board Association's (TSBA) Award for "Excellence in Education Program" and in the same year, D-B EXCEL was one of six schools in Tennessee to be highlighted in SCORE's "What High School Could Be" report. D-B EXCEL was also featured in Tennessee STEM Innovation Network's (TSIN) Reimaging School Culture: STEM School Designation Impact report where Vanderbilt University conducted an extensive research project of TSIN's effectiveness. Hensley was instrumental in D-B EXCEL receiving the initial STEM designation (in 2018) through TSIN and the Tennessee Department of Education. In May 2024, D-B EXCEL received a re-designation which will last through 2028. Most recently in August 2024, D-B EXCEL was nominated again for the Canopy Project. The Canopy Project allows education leaders, school designers, and researchers to explore how a diverse set of learning environments describe their innovative designs. Hensley holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and an Educational Specialist degree in School Leadership, all from East Tennessee State University. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from ETSU and will finish in May 2025.
Shanna Hensley, Principal of D-B EXCEL, has been named district Principal of the Year. Hensley is in her 22nd year as an educator, with 21 of those years being in Kingsport. While in Kingsport, Hensley has served as a Kindergarten and 4th Grade teacher, an Associate Principal at Johnson Elementary and Lincoln Elementary Schools, the Principal of Kennedy Elementary School, Cora Cox Academy, and D-B EXCEL. Hensley developed the vision of what D-B EXCEL is today, a program of choice for Dobyns-Bennett High School students which features blended learning with a one-on-one approach. Under her watch, D-B EXCEL was awarded the 2019 Tennessee School Board Association's (TSBA) Award for "Excellence in Education Program" and in the same year, D-B EXCEL was one of six schools in Tennessee to be highlighted in SCORE's "What High School Could Be" report. D-B EXCEL was also featured in Tennessee STEM Innovation Network's (TSIN) Reimaging School Culture: STEM School Designation Impact report where Vanderbilt University conducted an extensive research project of TSIN's effectiveness. Hensley was instrumental in D-B EXCEL receiving the initial STEM designation (in 2018) through TSIN and the Tennessee Department of Education. In May 2024, D-B EXCEL received a re-designation which will last through 2028. Most recently in August 2024, D-B EXCEL was nominated again for the Canopy Project. The Canopy Project allows education leaders, school designers, and researchers to explore how a diverse set of learning environments describe their innovative designs. Hensley holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and an Educational Specialist degree in School Leadership, all from East Tennessee State University. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from ETSU and will finish in May 2025.
"Mrs. Hensley has worked tirelessly to vision, build, and to grow D-B Excel as a school," said Hampton. "She has worked to lead the school to support the specialized and personalized experience that supports the unique needs of a wide range of students. Through the process, they have found great success with their Underwater Robotics Program, Bio-Builder Synthetic Biology Club, and have been recognized as a STEM-designated school. All of the success is credited to Mrs. Hensley and the staff she has assembled at DBE. Congratulations!"
Dr. Holly Flora, Kingsport City Schools Chief Academic Officer - Elementary, has been named district Supervisor of the Year. Flora oversees all academic operations for elementary education, including curriculum and instructional programs. Over her 29-year career, she has served as a teacher at Lincoln Elementary and Washington Elementary Schools, the KCS K-12 Literacy Coordinator, and the Principal of Jackson Elementary School and Sevier Middle School. Flora has been a member of the Tennessee Principals Association (TPA) Board for 13 years, including a term as President. She has also served as the TPA state representative for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and in 2017, she was honored as the National Distinguished Principal by the NAESP. Beyond her K-12 work, Flora has been an adjunct professor at both Milligan University and East Tennessee State University (ETSU). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Milligan College, a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from ETSU, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU.
Dr. Holly Flora, Kingsport City Schools Chief Academic Officer - Elementary, has been named district Supervisor of the Year. Flora oversees all academic operations for elementary education, including curriculum and instructional programs. Over her 29-year career, she has served as a teacher at Lincoln Elementary and Washington Elementary Schools, the KCS K-12 Literacy Coordinator, and the Principal of Jackson Elementary School and Sevier Middle School. Flora has been a member of the Tennessee Principals Association (TPA) Board for 13 years, including a term as President. She has also served as the TPA state representative for the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and in 2017, she was honored as the National Distinguished Principal by the NAESP. Beyond her K-12 work, Flora has been an adjunct professor at both Milligan University and East Tennessee State University (ETSU). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Milligan College, a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from ETSU, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from ETSU.
"Dr. Flora brings a great energy, passion, and focus to student learning and teacher development in our district," said Hampton. "She has high expectations for everyone and models and supports what it looks like to work toward and reach those expectations. She is a lead learner in our district and invests greatly in our school improvement endeavors. Dr. Flora brings a depth of experience as a teacher, literacy coordinator, and as a principal of three schools in two different districts. These experiences have uniquely prepared Dr. Flora to lead learning endeavors for our Pre-K-5 schools. Congratulations!"
Names of the KCS 2025 Teachers of the Year for district-level will be announced in the coming weeks.
Names of the KCS 2025 Teachers of the Year for district-level will be announced in the coming weeks.
Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program; with a total enrollment of over 7,400 students.
KCS has been ranked the "#1 Best Place to Teach in Tennessee" by the 2023 NICHE Best Schools Ranking and the City of Kingsport has been voted as the "Nicest Places in America" in the October 2022 Reader's Digest.
For more information visit www.k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or call the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (kcsdistrict), Instagram (kcs__district), and check out our YouTube Channel (@kcs__district).
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