Debra Bentley recently retired from Johnson City Schools where she served as Director of Instruction and Communications since 2005.  Prior to this position, she was principal of Johnson City Schools’ Mountain View Elementary from 1995 to 2005 and Keystone Elementary from 1992 to 1995.  She was selected as Tennessee’s National Distinguished Principal in 2004. Debra serves as an adjunct instructor in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis department of E.T.S.U.  She has held several positions with the TN Department of Education in the evaluation of state teachers and principals.  Debra has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Washington County, Coalition for Kids, Boys and Girls Club, and Girls, Inc.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia’s College at Wise and a masters and doctorate from E.T.S.U.

Stephanie has 21 years of teaching experience in Tennessee public schools and has served as a Niswonger Rural LIFE literacy/ personalized learning coach. Stephanie began as a guidance counselor and special education teacher, started behavior programs for high school and elementary students, taught special education, started a district-wide program for students with autism, and taught 6th grade math and science before teaching 6th and 8th grade ELA.  She has served as a personalized learning facilitator, district-wide personalized learning coach, Secondary Literacy Council member, and as a SCORE education fellow.  Stephanie has served in many teacher leader roles throughout her career and been recognized as the Rotary Middle School Teacher of the Year for Putnam County in 2011 and Algood Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2018. She is passionate about equity in student achievement opportunities and closing gaps by providing high-quality rigorous opportunities for all students every day. Stephanie has been married to Jerry Boyd for 28 years and has three children. Killian is 27 and a graduate of TTU with a history degree; Calista is a 23 year old doctoral student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville studying comparative politics and statistics; Silas is 20 and majoring in chemical engineering at Tennessee Tech University.  Stephanie received her B.S. in Special Education from Tennessee Tech University and her M.Ed. in instructional leadership from Union University.

Jennifer is a life-long resident of East Tennessee.  She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in Reading from ETSU.  She also received an Educational Specialist Degree from LMU in Administration and Supervision.  Jennifer has served as an 8th grade ELA and Math teacher, leading her colleagues through curriculum development and implementation.  In 2012 her colleagues voted her Teacher of the Year.

Most recently Jennifer has been serving as a Field Supervisor and Adjunct Professor for ETSU’s Clemmer College of Education.  As a field supervisor, she coaches and evaluates student teachers at the undergraduate and graduate level.  She also works with job embedded teacher candidates, helping grow the next generation of educators.  In 2022 Jennifer was awarded Most Outstanding University Supervisor.  In 2023 she became the Math Curriculum Specialist for Project On-Track at the Niswonger Foundation.  Jennifer and her husband Josh currently reside in Johnson City with their two children, Maddie and Jack. 

Dr. Bethany Fillers is an educational leader and improvement specialist with nineteen years of experience in K-12 education. She is passionate about helping teams, organizations, and networks reach their improvement goals through the practical use of improvement science and systematic professional learning. She currently serves as Communications Liaison/Data Analyst for Project On-Track, a community partnership initiative providing East Tennessee students in grades 1-8 high-dosage literacy and math within TN ALL Corps. Previous work includes serving as the Director of Professional Learning for the Niswonger Foundation's Rural LIFE Initiative, leader of a statewide networked improvement community (Tennessee Early Literacy Network), Tennessee Department of Education literacy consultant, high school administrator, and middle school English Language Arts teacher. Since 2017, she has been recognized as a change management and leadership expert through Catalyst:Ed, a national partner serving to help organizations innovate, excel, and scale improvement efforts across various contexts. 

Wendy has over 35 year of experience in education in Nevada and Tennessee. She worked in the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada for 29 years. She is passionate about student achievement and ensuring ALL students are “ready by exit” in each facet of their education.

Wendy is originally from Elizabethton Tennessee. She recently retired and relocated back to Northeast Tennessee. She completed her undergraduate degree at UNLV and graduate degree at Nova Southeastern University. During her tenure in the Clark County School District, she taught Kindergarten through fourth grades. Next, she pursued leadership roles where she served as an elementary school assistant principal for 6 years and then as a principal for 11 years. She is thrilled to be working with the Niswonger Foundation and Project on Track to assist students who’s learning opportunities were impacted by COVID.

Hello! I’m Miranda. I’m a community-invested counselor with experience growing people, ideas, and partnerships. I have a servant’s heart for our rural and underserved communities, and a desire to promote mental health initiatives throughout our region. With 17 years of experience working in private practice, in-patient, and community-based initiatives, I’m excited to now turn my focus toward Project On-Track and empower tutors to be the safe, stable relationship that students need.

I’ve spent the past few years working with Ballad’s Population Health Department to promote behavioral health and equity for the Appalachian Highland region. I worked closely with the STRONG ACC, STRONG Kids, and B-Well.

I graduated from East Tennessee State University with a B.A. in Criminology, and Carson Newman College with a M.Ed. in Marriage and Family Counseling. I hold a license in Tennessee as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider. I’m also a trainer for Building Strong Brains, ACE Interface, Stress First Aid, and QPR.

My commitment to the region comes from being raised in the hollers and hills of Hancock County. My husband, Shane, and I have chosen “Overhome” to grow our own family. We have three school-aged kiddos, Birdie Kate (wild as a mink), Myla Mae (sweet as soda pop), and Cedar Lewis (half bear and the other half cat). I’m also extremely blessed to be healthy and happy after surviving a breast cancer diagnosis in June 2019.

(from 2022-2024)

Dr. Anne Littleford retired from Johnson City Schools in 2019 where she served as a classroom French teacher for 27 years and a school administrator for 11 years.  She currently serves as Supervisor of Interns and Student Teachers at Milligan University where she observes, evaluates, and encourages Milligan students during their practice teaching year.  Anne has served on various community boards of directors such as Watauga Mental Health, Family Promise, Girls, Inc., and Johnson City Schools Foundation.  She earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Tennessee as well as her masters, Ed.S, and doctorate in administration and school leadership at East Tennessee State University.  She hopes to be an encouraging resource and support agent for families whose children are part of the Niswonger Foundation Project On-Track tutoring program.

John earned his Bachelor of Science degree (Biology major/Chemistry minor) from Milligan College and a Masters in Education with emphasis in Instructional Technology from ETSU. He has also completed additional coursework at Northeast State and ETSU and holds a Certified Internet Webmasters certification (CIW). In 2011, John earned his Microsoft Innovative Educator certification and Smart Notebook trainer certification. John has been an educator for 32 years before retiring in 2015. He spent the first ten years of his career teaching Chemistry and Physics in the Greene county school system. In 1994, he joined the faculty of Dobyns-Bennett High School as a Physics and Physical Science teacher. In 2003, John gained his Career and Technical Education (CTE) certification and began to teach Web Page Design I and II as part of the CTE curriculum. In 2008, John began his tenure as Director of Technology for Kingsport City Schools serving in that capacity for 8 years.  John is married to Tammie Payne and they have one daughter Katie.