Administrative Appointments Announced in July 2022

July 17, 2022

Kenwood Elementary Principal

Ashley Karch has been selected as the principal of Kenwood Elementary School. She has served as the assistant principal at Burt Elementary since 2019. Karch began her career in public education in 2007, and has served as a teacher, Academic Coach, Dean of Students, and cheerleading coach in schools in CMCSS and Cheatham County. She has served in numerous school- and district-level curriculum, instruction and assessment leadership roles. She completed the CMCSS Leadership Class Series, Aspiring Administrators Academy, and McREL Balanced Leadership training. She earned her M.A. in Educational Leadership from Austin Peay State University and B.A. in English and Allied Language Arts from Western Kentucky University.

Carmel Elementary Assistant Principal

Kim Masters has been selected as the assistant principal at Carmel Elementary School. She has served as the principal of Kenwood Elementary since 2012. Previous administrative experience includes principal of Liberty Elementary and an assistant principal at Glenellen and Byrns Darden elementary schools. Masters began her career in CMCSS 30 years ago, serving as an elementary classroom teacher for 14 years before entering administration. She earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Trevecca Nazarene University. Masters stated, “I am excited to join the Carmel Community to continue their tradition of excellence and look forward to knowing the students, families, faculty, and staff as we learn together.”

Kenwood High Assistant Principal

Shannon Salyer has been selected as an assistant principal at Kenwood High School. She began her career in public education in 1993 as a teacher and has 20 years of experience in administration as an assistant principal, serving in both CMCSS and Cheatham County. She was selected for and completed the Governor’s Academy for School Leaders through the TN Department of Education and completed the CMCSS Advanced Leadership Training for Assistant Principals. She earned her Ed.S. in Administration & Supervision, M.A.Ed. in Administration and Supervision, and B.S. in Biology from Austin Peay State University.

Montgomery Central High Assistant Principal

Courtney Brown has been selected as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central High School. Since 2015, she has served in several roles at Montgomery Central High, including Academic Coach, Student Support Coordinator, Head Volleyball Coach, and chemistry teacher. She began her career with CMCSS in 2012 as a chemistry teacher at Kenwood High School. She completed the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles. Brown earned her Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, M.A.T. in Secondary Education, and B.S. in Chemistry and Forensics from Austin Peay State University.

Montgomery Central Middle Assistant Principal

Kelly Parker has been selected as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central Middle School. Parker has most recently served as an assistant principal at Liberty Elementary School, starting the 2021-2022 school year in a split AP position between Liberty and Minglewood elementary schools. Previously, she served as the Student Support Coordinator at Northwest High School and has 13 years of teaching experience at Northwest High, New Providence Middle, and Hopkinsville High schools. She has served as an adjunct instructor at Austin Peay State University and Tennessee Tech University. In 2009, she earned the Green Apple Award. She completed the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy. Parker earned her M.A. in Exercise Science from Tennessee Tech University and her B.S. in Health and Human Performance from Austin Peay State University.

Northeast Middle Assistant Principal

Argelis Buck-Thomas has been selected as an assistant principal at Northeast Middle School. She began her career in CMCSS in 2012, teaching English, Creative Writing, ACT Prep, and other courses at Northwest High School. Additionally, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including Site-Based Induction Specialist, Step Team Coach, Student Government Sponsor, and School-Wide Intervention Period Lead, to name a few. Buck-Thomas earned her M.S. in Educational Leadership, M.A. in Reading Specialist, and B.A. in English from Austin Peay State University.

Rossview Middle Assistant Principal

Dr. Candice Leaverton has been selected as an assistant principal at Rossview Middle School. She has served as an assistant principal at Carmel Elementary School since 2021. Dr. Leaverton began her career in CMCSS in 2017 as a special education teacher and department chair at West Creek High School. Previously, she has served as a special education teacher at schools in Tennessee, Georgia, Alaska, and with DoDEA in Italy. Dr. Leaverton has served in the school-level leadership roles of Testing Team Co-Chairman and After-School Activities Coordinator. She graduated from the CMCSS Aspiring Administrator Academy and participated in the Sumner County Schools Leadership Academy. Dr. Leaverton earned her Ed.D. and Ed.S. from Union University, M.Ed. from Walden University, and B.S. from Austin Peay State University.

West Creek Middle Assistant Principal

Johnathan Stoll has been selected to serve as an assistant principal at West Creek Middle School. He has served as an assistant principal at Montgomery Central Middle School since 2021. Previously, he served as the Student Support Coordinator for three years and science teacher for five years at New Providence Middle School, beginning his career with CMCSS in 2013 as a substitute teacher. Stoll has participated in several school- and district-level professional learning and curriculum roles and was the district’s Eighth-Grade Science Lead Teacher. He was named the New Providence Teacher of the Year in 2017. He completed the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and has earned certifications in Restorative Practices and the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Stoll earned his Ed.S. in Accountability and Instructional Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University, M.A. in Teaching from Austin Peay State University, and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

West Creek High School Principal

Dr. William (Will) Ferrell has been selected as the principal of West Creek High School, replacing Dr. Damaris Luna who is pursuing career opportunities outside of CMCSS. Dr. Ferrell has been an assistant principal at Montgomery Central High School for the past 12 years and has served as the Athletic Director, Academy Administrator, and in several other leadership roles. He taught for four years at the Alternative School and taught in summer programs at Kenwood and Clarksville high schools. He earned the Green Apple Award for teaching excellence. Before entering public education, he served in management roles in the private sector. Growing up as the son of two active-duty military parents, he deeply understands the importance of supporting military-connected students. Around 50% of West Creek High’s student body is military-connected. Dr. Ferrell earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands, Ed.S. from Lincoln Memorial University, M.A. in Learning and Teaching from Lipscomb University, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University, and A.S. from Cleveland State Community College.

Richview Middle School Principal

Kelly Daniel has been selected as the principal of Richview Middle School, replacing Lisa Baker who was selected as the District’s Director of Federal Programs. For the past 12 years, Daniel has been an assistant principal at Northeast Middle School. Previously, she taught ELA at Kenwood Middle School. Over her 22 years in public education, she has served in numerous school-, district-, and state-level leadership roles and earned the Green Apple Award. She completed the High-Performing Assistant Principals Academy, Aspiring Administrators Academy, Leadership Development Class Series, and McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators. Daniel earned her B.A. in English and History from Athens State University and M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Austin Peay State University.

West Creek Middle School Assistant Principal

Shelly Jamison has been selected as an assistant principal at West Creek Middle School. She has served as the school’s Academic Coach since 2020. Previously, she taught at West Creek Middle and Northeast Elementary schools, beginning her career with CMCSS in 2007. Jamison has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles, including mentoring teacher residents. She completed the Aspiring Administrators Academy, Leadership Development Class Series, and McREL Balanced Leadership Training for Administrators. Jamison earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Austin Peay State University and M.A. in Educational Leadership from Carson-Newman University.