BOE tabs Nancy Lay as interim director of schools

‘You have to have a director picked by your April meeting’- BOE Attorney Dale Cantrell

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- At Monday’s Board of Education special called meeting, Elk Valley Stem School Principal Nancy Lay was tapped as the interim director of schools for Campbell County.

Lay will serve in this position effective January 1, 2026, until a permanent director of schools is named. The interim director will receive the same compensation as the current director.

School Board Chairman Jeffrey Miller opened Monday’s meeting, reminding everyone that “about two weeks ago” the BOE had voted to advertise the position for a 10-day period and received six applicants.

Miller went around the table, asking if any board member had any comments or questions on what had been received.

Randy Heatherly was the only one who commented and asked if their was a time frame that the interim had to be hired.

Board attorney Dale Cantrell said “yes, immediately upon Jennifer’s (Director Fields) resignation.”

“There can’t be an empty seat, so it would kick in the second her resignation becomes effective, it’s like a handing off of power,” Cantrell said.

Chairman Miller reiterated what he said at last month’s meeting that it needed done sooner than later. He also said he had debated back and forth on whether or not to call candidates but decided not to and went off their resumes. When there was no more discussion, Miller made a motion to hire Nancy Lay and Jamie Wheeler seconded that motion. All board members voted yes, except Sharon Ridenour.

Applicants turning in resumes for the interim position, included Evan Hunt, Schyler Ivey, Jerry Kidd, Nancy Lay, John Stern, and Arthur Wright. Hunt is a former head of school from Colorado, Ivey is a kindergarten teacher at Jacksboro Elementary, Kidd is a part-time substitute teacher in Campbell County, Lay is the principal at Elk Valley STEM School, Stern is a former principal from Nevada, and Wright is a semi-retired school administrator from Kentucky.

After Lay was approved as interim director, Miller said he looked forward to working with her.

“I am going to hit a precursor here, this budget is going to be sort of like the last one we had and there is a lot of work to be done, and I have the utmost confidence with Miss Lay to help with that and we will get to work immediately,” Miller said.

After the meeting, when WLAF caught up with Lay for a comment, she said she was” excited about the opportunity of being a liaison between the board and the next director.”

“I’m looking forward to helping out where I can, helping things go smoother,” Lay said.

Current School Director Jennifer Fields will serve in her position until the end of the calendar year and then move to the transitional position January 1, 2026, that ends on September 30, 2026.

Her “employment will end on Oct. 1, 2026, and there will be a lump sum pay out on the current contract that will be funded through April 12, 2027, according to county finance director Eric Pearson.

In other business, the Board of Education approved hiring the Tennessee School Board Association (TSBA) to conduct the search for the Campbell County Director of Schools vacant position. Miller said the TSBA would narrow it down and schedule the interviews.

“That way it’s in their hands as the professionals and there is no politics involved,” Miller said, adding that it was his recommendation to hire TSBA.

Board Attorney Dale Cantrell pointed out that it was an election year for some of the board members and that by statute they would have to advertise for the hiring of the director position at the March meeting and be ready to retain your director, they don’t have to start the job, but you have to have a director picked by your April meeting,” Cantrell said.

Also approved on Monday was a budget amendment appropriating $15,000 in funds to pay for hiring TSBA to do the school director’s search.

The November BOE meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 18th at 5:30pm at the courthouse due to the 11th being Veterans Day. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/04/2025-6AM)