Look for more information as we welcome new staff and faculty to PPE this year.
We are proud of our Percy Priest Elementary faculty and staff. More than 80% of our faculty holds a Master’s degree or higher. Take a look and see who makes our school one of the best in the city.
Administration
Melinda Williams – Principal
B.S. Austin Peay State University
M.A. Trevecca Nazarene University
32 years of experience
Certifications: Early Childhood Pre-K – 3rd, Kindergarten – 3rd, Elementary 1st – 8th, Administration and Supervision K – 8th
Mark Mason – Assistant Principal
B.S. Middle Tennessee State University
M.Ed. Administration and Supervision University of Phoenix
Administration and Supervision, Classroom Organization and Management Program (COMP) Specialist
37 years in education including 21 years classroom experience, 4 years as MNPS New Teacher Mentor, 5 years as MNPS Instructional Coach, 7 years MNPS Administrator
Kindergarten
Murray Benson
B.S., Elementary Education, University of Mississippi
M.A., Lipscomb University
Masters +30 TSU
ELL Certification – David Lipscomb University
7 years of experience
Bitsi Condra
B.S. Lipscomb University
M.Ed. Administration and Supervision Tennessee State University
26 years of experience
Lovie Lester
B.A. Aurora University
TN PreK -K Certification TSU
31 years of experience
Amy Patterson
B.A. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Masters Plus 30
21 years of experience
Ashley Strobel
B.S. Tennessee Tech University
M.Ed. Belmont University
M.Ed. Vanderbilt University
23 years of experience
First Grade
Susan Acker
BS Mary Baldwin University
10 years teaching experience
Christina Brumleve
B.S. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
M.A. Southeast Missouri State University-Cape Girardeau
29 years of experience
Laura Faison
B.A. Vanderbilt University
M.Ed. Tennessee State University
15 years of experience
Beth Hartsock
B.S. MTSU
M.A. Trevecca Nazarene University
EDS TSU
ELL Certification – David Lipscomb University
24 years of experience
Brad Tanner
B.S. Southern Illinois University
16 years of experience
Second Grade
Grace Akbari
B.A. University of Tennessee
M.S. University of Tennessee
ELL Certification University of Tennessee
5 Years of Experience
Rebecca Bourlakas
B.A. Florida State University
M.Ed. North Georgia University
Ed.D. University of Sarasota
26.5 years of experience
Erin Parker
B.S. Harding University
ESL certification Henderson State University
14 years of experience
Terri Wall
B.A. Lipscomb University
M.A. in Reading and Instruction MTSU
26 years of experience
Hillary Zeller
B.A. Lipscomb University
M.Ed. Special Education Lipscomb University
14.5 Years of experience
Third Grade
Emily Bray
B.A. Rhodes College
M.Ed. Peabody College Vanderbilt University
ESL certification Lipscomb University
12 years experience
Laurel Bell
B.S. Lipscomb University
5 years experience
Jessica Ely
B.S. Florida State University
M.A.T. University of South Florida
8 years of experience teaching
Jessica Morrel
B.A. Elon University
2 years Autism Behavior Therapist
6 years teaching experience
Anne Clarke Snyder
B.S. University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.Ed. Lipscomb University
5 years teaching experience
Fourth Grade
Kate Allen
B.S. University of Tennessee
M.S. University of Tennessee
14 years experience
Emily Cary
B.A. Appalachian State University
M.A.L.T. Lipscomb University
10 years teaching experience
Brian Hudson
B.L.A Mississippi State University
M.A.T. Trevecca University
5 years teaching experience
Jessica Morris
B.A Lipscomb University
16 years teaching experience
Physical Education
Matthew Swift
B.S. Eastern Kentucky University
8 years experience
Mary Lee Nash
B.S. Tennessee Technological University
M.A. Administration
Ed.S. Instructional Leadership
Endorsement in Elementary Education 1-8
26 years of experience
Art
Tina Atkinson
B.S. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction- University of Phoenix
22 years of experience
Parthenon Teacher of the Year 2005
Middle Tennessee Art Teacher of the Year 2009
TAEA Elementary Art Educator of the Year 2011
Nationally Board Certified (NBPTS) in Visual Art, Early/Middle Childhood
2018 TAEA Tennessee Art Educator of the Year
2019 MNPS Blue Ribbon Teacher Award
Music
James Mott
B.A. Arkansas State
M.A. Administration; Plus 30
26 years of experience
Spanish
Lisa Trujillo
B.A. Trinity University
M.A. Early Childhood Education Vanderbilt University
Tennessee State University; Plus 30
32 years of experience
Interventionists
Jamie Duke
B.A. Point Loma Nazarene University
TN K-6 Certification – Trevecca Nazarene University
ELL Certification – David Lipscomb University
M.Ed. Lipscomb University
10 years of experience
Jill Hasselbring
B.S. Lipscomb University
M.Ed. Lipscomb University
11 years Experience
Jeanne Lobb
B.S. East TN State University
Elementary Education
30 Years Experience
Terri McConnell
B.A. University of Tennessee
M.S. University of Tennessee
16 years of experience
Caren Wayburn
B.S. University of Tennessee – Speech Pathology
M.Ed. Vanderbilt University – Special Education
39 years of experience
Exceptional Education
Mandy Beeman
BS Ashland University
MEd Ashland University
K-12 Reading Endorsement
7 years teaching experience
7 years paraprofessional experience
Encore
Catherine Rollins
BS Elementary Education; Texas Tech University
MA Educational Leadership; Trevecca Nazarene University
Plus 30- Curriculum; University of San Diego
19 years experience
ELL
Courtney Haley
B.A. Anthropology, University of TN, Knoxville
M.S. Information Science, University of TN, Knoxville
30+ from UT and TSU
13 years experience
Library
Emmie Stuart
B. S. Elementary Education UT-Chattanooga
M.L.I.S. University of Tennessee
K-12 Library/Media Specialist Certification
6 years of experience
LTDS (Literacy Teacher Development Specialist)
Lindsay Baumhor
B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies, Middle Tennessee State University
M.Ed Literacy, Middle Tennessee State University
Literacy Specialist Endorsement
ELL Endorsement, Vanderbilt University
30+ from Vanderbilt University and Lipscomb University
12 years experience
School Counselors
Mary Twitchel
B.A. Union University
M.Ed. of School Counseling MTSU
16 years of experience
Jenny Cunningham
B.B.A Belmont University
Masters of Science Tennessee State University
Administrative Educational Leadership Endorsement David Lipscomb University
Principal Leadership Academy Vanderbilt University
15 years in education including School Counselor and Assistant Principal
Technology
Lisa Ramsey
B.S. Taylor University
M.Ed. Western Governors University
11 years of experience