Who We Are

Site Coordinator

Sierra Cotham is currently a K-5 teacher in Hamilton County Schools. She holds a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Lee University. Sierra is a lover of reading and learning! She has loved and served the Freedom Schools Program for three years and is excited to support the program another year.

Site Coordinator

T'Aisa Hobdley currently works for Knox County Schools as an interventionist teacher’s assistant. She has been with KCS for three school years now. She has a passion for children and seeing them excel in every way possible. She is married with two lovely children, a 7-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son. She attends The University of Phoenix and is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.

Servant Leader Intern

Carmela Lewis is a rising sophomore at Maryville College as a biology major. She is involved with multiple STEM-related clubs on campus and is on a Board of Directors for a nonprofit, Build for Bees. In her free time, she enjoys roller-skating, scuba diving, hiking, and volunteering around the community. Her goal is to help provide equal opportunity and services to all. This is her first year as a Servant Leader Intern, and she is elated to get to work and connect with everyone around her!

Servant Leader Intern

Gabi Schmidl is from Atlanta, GA. She is currently finishing her senior year at the University of Tennessee. She is pursuing a Child and Family Studies degree with a concentration in Pre K-3 Education. She enjoys playing guitar, spending time with friends, and playing with her dog, Zeus. She is excited about working with the children and staff this summer!

Servant Leader Intern

Jalen Jones is from Knoxville TN and currently attends Carson Newman University working on a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. After graduation he wants to return to Knoxville and make a positive impact on his community wherever that may be. He hopes to enter the field of politics to change his community for the better from the roots! He is the founder and president of Young Adults for Equality which is an organization that strives to enlighten and educate our community about diverse cultures and individuals so we can help people understand life is not so much about "what" we are but it's more about "who" we are!

Servant Leader Intern

Kiara Moore is from Morristown,TN. She currently attends Lenoir-Rhyne University where she will be a senior year in the fall. She is a member of both the women’s basketball teams and the track and field team. She is a religious studies major with a concentration in counseling with the hopes of pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling. In my her free time she likes to spend time with loved ones, travel, and read. I She is super excited to serve as a Student Leader Intern this summer!

Servant Leader Intern

Nadia Powell is a graduating Senior in Child and Family Studies: Community Outreach from Memphis, TN. She loves to read, dance, travel, and be around family and frieds. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and is dedicated to inspiring everyone to being their best selves despite obstacles. In the future, she hopes to be a change in her community by helping and supportig children.

Servant Leader Intern

Naomi Shumpert is a graduate of Hardin Valley Academy and an English Major at the University of Virginia! She co-founded Hardin Valley’s first Black Student Union and is a member of the Knoxville Alliance for Race Education (KARE). As an avid reader and poetry lover, she can always be found with a Toni Morrison or Maya Angelou book. She also enjoys mindfulness activities such as yoga and meditation. She is looking forward to serving your children and the community!

Site Coordinator

Natalie Ward is a first-year graduate candidate in Communication Studies at the University of Tennessee. She is from Nashville, Tennessee. She has long-term goals to be a college professor teaching and publishing works on media literacy.

Servant Leader Intern

Claire Sudarshan is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She is originally from Brentwood, TN where she graduated from Ravenwood High School Ms. Sudarshan is in her fifth year at UT and is student teaching this fall in Knox County before she graduates in December. Ms. Sudarshan loves to sing, play guitar, and play piano. She cannot wait to spend this summer with amazing students and staff and is delighted to be an SLI!

Servant Leader Intern

Julia Watson is an early graduate from Beardem High School. She is a rising freshman at Fisk University in Nashville, TN where she will major in Political Science. She is excited to continue working with children, as she was very active in her church's youth ministry.

Servant Leader Intern

Kay Racine is a Student Athlete at the University of Tennessee in undergrad majoring in Child and Family Studies with concentration of community outreach. She also has some background in American Sign Language. Kay loves reading books on race and racism and enjoys being active and spending time with kids.

Site Coordinator

Julia Walker grew up in Alcoa, Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Child Development from Maryville College and a Masters of Educational Leadership from Bethel University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at Liberty University. She works in the Blount County School system in Maryville where she teaches Social Studies, and is the administrator of an after-school program, Crown Academy. Her educational passions are related to developing strong relationships with students and parents and closing the academic achievement gap for impoverished students. Julia has four wonderful children and is the wife of Joel Walker, a pastor in the Church of God in Christ. She loves reading, playing Scrabble, and consignment store shopping.

Servant Leader Intern

Kaitlyn Foust is a rising Senior at Maryville College. She is majoring in Child Development with Learning and minoring in American Sign Language. After she graduates she would love to continue her education in order to become a special education teacher. Kaitlyn enjoys reading, meeting new people, and working with kids!

Servant Leader Intern

Martina Junod is a new graduate from Maryville College. She just earned her Bachelor's in English with Teacher Licensure. She loves reading and performing arts. She looks forward to teaching in Knoxville this fall. She loves matching good books to energetic scholars.

Servant Leader Intern

Maylee Warren is from Dublin, Georgia and recently finished her time at Maryville College with a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare. The upcoming school year she will be continuing to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Tennessee Wesleyan University. After graduating, she plans to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner with a focus in pediatrics as she loves to work with kids. Maylee enjoys arts and crafts, making new friends, and working to make a more welcoming community for all!

Jessica Hunt is from Durham, NC and has lived in Knoxville since 2018. She is a Manager at UT's College of Veterinary Medicine. She has a BA in political science, BS in family and consumer science with a concentration in child development and family relations, and a Masters in Public Administration all from North Carolina Central University. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work at UT. She is passionate about education, helping others, and community organizing and advocacy. She has six intelligent and beautiful children and she enjoys reading, writing, shopping, volunteering, and traveling.

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Meredith Hawk holds a Master's of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, and works to promote a love of reading for all children in Knox County. In her free time, Meredith enjoys crocheting, reading, and spending time outdoors. She is excited to work with the scholars and staff at Freedom Schools this summer!

Natalie Hassett is a School Psychology doctoral student in the Dept. of Educational Psychology & Counseling at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she also earned her master's degree. In 2018, she graduated from Clemson University earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Natalie is an active member of a research group in the College of Health & Human Sciences led by Dr. Steve McCallum and Dr. Sherry Bell. She has worked on several research projects focusing on literacy assessment and instruction as well as the identification and screening of students for dyslexia and intellectual giftedness. In her free time, Natalie enjoys exploring Knoxville, TN and loves spending time with her family and community.