Blount County Schools has appointed Dr. Alisa Teffeteller as its new interim director, the Blount County Board of Education announced during a meeting last Thursday. Dr. Teffeteller steps into the role following Jake Jones' departure, who had initially been slated to fill the interim position after David Murrell's resignation in early January. According to a statement obtained by WVLT, this transitional period in the district's leadership is intended to be smoothed over by Teffeteller's decades of experience within the system.
Offering a glimpse into her perspective on the position, Dr. Teffeteller said that she intend to provide calmness, consistency and support to the school district as we find a new Director of Schools. Her credentials include more than a decade's worth of experience as a business teacher prior to her supervisor tenure within Blount County Schools, and she holds degrees from several reputable institutions, spanning from Walters State Community College to East Tennessee State University.
The significance of Dr. Teffeteller's new role is not lost on the community, marking her as the first woman to lead Blount County Schools since the 1990s. Highlighting her deep connection to the district, Teffeteller expressed to WBIR her sense of personal investment: "I was born and raised in Blount County, I'm an alumni of Blount County Schools, so I have a vested interest in the school district." Her extensive experience within the school system and her historical appointment come as the district searches for a long-term replacement for the director's chair.
Dr. Teffeteller's predecessors, Murrell and Jones, both left their positions under distinct circumstances, with Murrell resigning to return to a tenured faculty position and, Jones being appointed as the Alcoa City Schools' director. As reported by WBIR, Teffeteller aims to bridge the gap until a permanent director is found.
