Teacher Spotlight
Meet Our Knoxville Teachers
South Knoxville Elementary
South Knoxville Elementary, located at 801 Sevier Avenue, serves approximately 175 Pre-Kindergarten to Fifth-grade students.
Led by principal Tanna Nicely, South Knox Elementary has 40
Educators and support staff. The school is known for its academic excellence and was recently awarded a $10,000 donation acknowledging the school’s outstanding performance in third-grade reading proficiency. Congratulations, South Knoxville Elementary, for your hard work and dedication to your students!
South Knoxville Elementary
801 Sevier Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37920
Ashley Davis Bonny KateElementary
Thank you to Mrs. Ashley Davis to her continued service as a valued teacher at Bonny Kate Elementary. We are thankful for you! This is her 20th year in education. She currently teaches 2nd grade.
Favorite Part of the Job
Her favorite part of the job is, without a doubt, her students! They bring the fun.
Hobbies
Where she isn't teaching, Ashley likes to play pickleball, read, and go camping with her family.
LeeAnn Carter from New Hopewell Elementary
During the 36 years of working with children I have done several different jobs. I worked at a DayCare. I ran a DayCare in my home while my husband was stationed in the Air Force and was licensed by the Air Force.
I have worked as a Curriculum Specialist for the Air Force, working with the Family Child Care Program, the Child Development Center, and the School Age Programs. I have taught Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and 3rd Grade. I currently teach 1st Grade!
My favorite part of my job is my students. It is when you see the “lightbulb” click when they get something that is hard and the proud moment on their face. Also, they make you feel the best. Even on the hard days, you get hugs and students say this is the best class, or they love you or even you smell so good!. I always tell them three things when I start the year.
1. I am here to teach you, and you will learn in my class.
2. You are safe in my class. You don’t have to worry about anything.
3. You are loved in this classroom.
My hobbies and favorite pastimes!
My family is my life! I have two amazing married daughters who are teachers, and we talk about school and things we can do to help our students.
I also have an amazing husband who supports me and encourages me. We go to the movies and spend time together, watching or going to University of Kentucky games or Atlanta for the Braves.
But the most awesome thing is being a Mimi, to Elijah, who is 5 months and David who is 18 months! David and Elijah are the best! We love watching them and spending time with them.
Lindsay Joiner Lee
Lindsay Joiner Lee started as a part-time educational assistant in 2012 and started full-time in 2013. She currently serves our community at South Knoxville Elementary as an educational assistant. Her favorite part of the job is her wonderful coworkers. She says, “I love the people where I work; we aren’t just coworkers. We are a family”.
Another highlight of her job is her amazing students. Lindsay states, “We are such a small school that we are able to make lasting connections with our students. Since I live in South Knoxville as well, I get to see them from elementary to high school. I love that I have the privilege to see them grow into young adults”.
As for hobbies, she loves to read in her spare time. Lindsay and her husband also love to take their jeeps out. However, most of the time, you will find her at South Doyle High School supporting her daughters, who are cheerleaders and cheering on our football and basketball teams.
Lindsay Joiner Lee
Logan Dalton has been an official educator since 2021 but has worked as a paraprofessional, substitute, and practicum student for three years prior to that, so six years total in the education field. She has been at Dogwood Elementary as an extended resource K-2 teacher since her first year as a head classroom teacher! Her favorite part of the job is getting to work with her students using a multitude of strategies and seeing them reach their full potential - whether that’s with mathematics, reading, social skills, or pre-vocational skills. She states, “There is nothing like seeing their success and seeing them reap their harvest.”
Logan’s favorite hobbies are spending time with her husband of three years and her new baby, who just turned one year old. She is also an avid traveler and enjoys shopping. We are so thankful for her dedication and hard work at Dogwood Elementary!
Bethany Maples
Bethany Maples has been in education for 12 years, with this being her third year at New Hopewell Elementary. Fun fact: She attended New Hopewell as a child, and taught there while in college, which is probably why, as she claims, she is so dedicated and committed to her school.
Bethany also lives in our community and loves being able to teach our South Knoxville neighbors. Her favorite part of the job is, hands down, her students. She says, “They make me smile, cry, and laugh!” When not teaching, Bethany is busy with her two children and husband. They love to travel, especially camping. She attends Lake Forest Presbyterian Church, where her family serves and grows with our community.
Charly Cooper
Charly Cooper is entering her fifth year of teaching and her fourth year at Dogwood Elementary. She currently teaches Blended Pre-Kindergarten, where students with and without disabilities work together to develop skills and abilities in an educational and fun environment. Her favorite part of her job is planning fun learning activities for her students. Charley’s hobbies include crafting, balloon art, and visiting amusement parks with her daughter.
Karla Mikels
If you have visited South Doyle High School recently, you have seen a big smile from the front office. That friendly face belongs to Mrs. Karla Mikels. She has been serving the South Knoxville community since 2007. She began by volunteering in the classroom and attending field trips with her children. When her oldest daughter started 3rd grade, she became the school bus driver for Gap Creek Elementary and South Doyle High. In 2010, she entered the classroom as a substitute teacher. Then, she went to full-time in 2015 as a TA in the Special Education Department.
In 2018, she took the job as the Attendance/Athletic Secretary at South Doyle High School and has been there ever since. She loves her job, the South Doyle community, and her co-workers but says the BEST part of my day is the students. Karla states, “I love these kids.” When not at school, she raises produce on the farm, which she cans and sells. We are so thankful for educators like Karla Mikels, who serve our community so well!