BRISTOL, Tenn., August 31, 2018 — Teaching candidates from King University began their final semester in classrooms throughout the region as they met their mentors and their students to begin teaching. “Guiding these individuals as they become teaching professionals is a joy. We have seen their course work, projects and reflections about field experiences, and we now see their enthusiasm for their classrooms,” said Dr. Donna Hardy Watson, Dean of the School of Education. Teaching candidates at King do their student teaching in two different grade levels during the semester. “Our public school partners provide the last critical piece of their induction into teaching, the important everyday work of a teacher,” emphasized Watson.
Jordan Burgess and Faith Booher, both graduates of John S. Battle High School, will complete their student teaching at Bluff City Elementary School. Burgess, who will be licensed in elementary grades K-5 and ESL K-12, is the daughter of John and Janet Burgess of Bristol, Va. Booher will be licensed in elementary grades K-5 and is the daughter of John and Debbie Booher of Bristol, VA.
Aldonza Olivo and Lindsey Osborne are both graduates of Abingdon High School. Olivo is the daughter of Bruce and Tammy Olivo. Olivo is at Holston View Elementary School this semester and will be licensed in elementary grades K-5 and ESL K-12. During her time at King, Olivo served as STE-KE president, Foreign Language Association president, and chair of the King University Honors Council; she is also a Snider Honors Fellow. Osborne is the daughter of David and Sherry Osborne. Osborne will be licensed to teach Physical Education, grades K-12, and her student teaching experiences are at Sullivan East High School and Emmett Elementary School. Osborne, while at King, has served as STEA-KE president and Foreign Language Association president; she is also a Snider Honors Fellow and received the French Language Award.
A graduate of Lebanon High School, Kendra Reynolds is from Abingdon and is the daughter of Jonathan Reynolds and Jeannie Mullins. She will be licensed in elementary grades K-5, and her classroom experience is at Emmett Elementary School and Abingdon Elementary School. Also a Lebanon High School alumnus, Benjamin Jones is the son of Edgar and Dorothy Jones. He is pursuing a Master’s of Education degree and will be licensed in English grades 6-12 with student teaching at Bluff City Middle School and at Honaker High School.
Chelsea Crowder, a graduate of Johnson County High School, is the daughter of Elizabeth Holland and the late Rick Fenner. Crowder is from Mountain City and will be licensed to teach elementary grades K-5, and her classroom experience is at Roan Creek Elementary.
Abbigail Pierce, from Elizabethton, is the daughter of Brian and April Pierce. Pierce is a graduate of Elizabethton High School. Pierce will be licensed to teach elementary grades K-5, and her classroom experience is at Hunter Elementary School.
Hannah Riddle is from Greeneville and is a graduate of Chuckey Doak High School. Riddle is the daughter of Randy and Nicole Riddle. Riddle will be licensed to teach elementary grades K-5 and ESL grades K-12, completing her student teaching at Holston View Elementary.
James Scales III, is the son of James Scales and Carla Dalton. Scales is from Rogersville and a graduate of Cherokee High School. Scales is the founder of Disciples Basketball Club and is currently the ninth grade basketball coach at Dobyns-Bennett High School. Scales is pursuing his Master’s of Education degree and will be licensed to teach history grades 6-12. His classroom experience is at John Sevier and Dobyns-Bennett High School.
Cassidy Ferrell is from Woodlyn, Pennsylvania and is the daughter of Mike and Kim Ferrell. Ferrell is a graduate of Ridley High School in Folsom, Pennsylvania. Ferrell is completing her student teaching at Holston Elementary and Middle School. She will be licensed to teach physical education grades K-12.
Randall Gilmore, the Director of Teacher Education at King University, teaches the Capstone Seminar for all the student teachers. “One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching in the School of Education at King is seeing students begin in Introduction to Teaching, unsure of their path, and then watching them progress to student teaching, filled with confidence, excitement, and joy as they fulfill their calling,” Gilmore said. “Every professor who has had the opportunity to contribute to that maturation process celebrates the accomplishments of these students and shares in the blessings of their journey.”
For more information on the School of Education:
Dr. Donna Hardy Watson, Dean
School of Education at King University
423.652.4843
Student Teachers Fall 2018
Front Row, Left to Right: James Scales III, Kendra Reynolds, Abbigail Pierce, Hannah Riddle, Cassidy Ferrell, Benjamin Jones
Back Row, Left to Right: Chelsea Crowder, Lindsey Osborne, Faith Booher, Adonza Olivo, Jordan Burgess