Dr. Karen Thorn has been an educator for over 26 years.  Her education career began as a business education/technology teacher, where she taught at Red Bay High School for 11 years. She then left the classroom to take on the role of assistant principal at Russellville Middle School.  After serving five years as assistant principal, she transferred to Russellville High School as assistant principal and AP Coordinator for three years.  Dr. Thorn then returned to Russellville Middle School, where she served four years as principal.  After four years as principal of Russellville Middle School, she accepted a position as principal of Tharptown Elementary School, where she remained until she became the Alabama Technology in Motion Specialist for Region 1 in October 2021.

Dr. Thorn attended the University of North Alabama, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Office Administration.  She spent several years working in business and industry and decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Business Education.  She then became interested in pursuing the role of a school administrator and; therefore, earned a Master of Arts in Education Administration from the University of North Alabama.  After completing her degree in Education Administration, Dr. Thorn attended the University of Alabama, where she completed her Ed.S in Educational Leadership and her Ed.D in Instructional Leadership.

She is proud to say that she is the mother of four daughters and the grandmother of two grandsons and two granddaughters.  She is very excited to be back at UNA serving the educators in Region 1.  In her free time, Dr. Thorn enjoys spending time with her husband and family, reading, and traveling.