This week, the Knox County Board of Education holds its monthly work session on Monday evening, January 5, followed by the regular January meeting on Thursday.
A key agenda item involves the board’s annual evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk. The median score from all nine board members was 4.2, while Dr. Rysewyk’s self-evaluation came in at 4.1. Overall, the board and superintendent appear aligned in their assessment.
Breaking it down by member:
• District 1: Dr. John Butler – 4.2
• District 2: Anne Templeton – 3.4
• District 3: Patricia Fontenot-Ridley – 4.5
• District 4: Katherine Bike – 3.3
• District 5: Lauren Morgan – 4.7
• District 6: Betsy Henderson – 4.2
• District 7: Steve Triplett – 3.0
• District 8: Vice Chair Travis Wright – 4.4
• District 9: Chair Kristi Kristy – 4.5
From a partisan perspective, the lower scores (below 4.0) came from Republican Steve Triplett alongside Democrats Anne Templeton and Katherine Bike. The higher scores (above 4.0) were given by Republicans Lauren Morgan, Kristi Kristy, Travis Wright, and Betsy Henderson, joined by Democrats Patricia Fontenot-Ridley and John Butler.
It’s worth noting that under Dr. Rysewyk’s leadership, Knox County Schools has progressed from a Tennessee state designation of “Needs Improvement” in 2022 to “Advancing District” by 2025.
Highlights from the written comments:
• Dr. Butler provided no comments.
• Templeton provided no comments.
• Fontenot-Ridley commented on opportunities for educator growth: “Do you have a way to focus the types of professional development on needs of the educator (new, mid-career, veteran teacher)?” She also praised superintendent communication: “The many facets developed to engage with the communities and families are helping keep people engaged.”
• Bike submitted extensive comments, largely requesting additional data, including: student enjoyment of math and love of learning; teachers’ access to planning periods without interruptions; professional technical certifications upon graduation and post-graduate outcomes (with demographics); and district-level teacher appreciation efforts, especially in schools with limited community funding. She emphasized post-graduate success data multiple times and asked how opportunities translate to success for every student.
(One practical note: Tracking every graduate’s long-term outcomes in higher education or beyond could prove challenging for a PreK-12 district due to FERPA privacy protections and limited access to external records.)
• Morgan offered relevant, positive comments tied to specific objectives and real experiences observed across the district.
• Henderson provided constructive comments based on what she has directly seen in schools.
• Triplett highlighted areas of concern, including a 0.8% decrease in 3rd-grade TCAP proficiency; overall increases in 3rd-8th grade proficiency that fell short of goals; the 865 Academies not reaching the 85% target; a 1.8% shortfall on Ready Graduate metrics alongside a drop in EPSO enrollment; and Region 5 missing proficiency goals in both 3rd-grade ELA and 8th-grade math.
• Vice Chair Wright offered no comments beyond the numerical rating.
• Chair Kristy offered no comments beyond the numerical rating.
A quick observation on two of the lower-scoring evaluations: For Bike’s numerous data requests, it’s fair to ask—what specific changes or outcomes would the board pursue if all that information were compiled and presented? As for Triplett, a former private school principal whose comments often frame issues negatively, it might be insightful to review his own past administrator evaluations for comparison.
The work session begins at 5 p.m. Monday, January 5, at the district offices (or available online). Check the full evaluations [here].
