.jpg)
Wlaf1450It was a busy first week for Nancy Lay taking over official duties as Campbell County’s School District Interim Director last Monday
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- It was a busy first week for Nancy Lay as she took over official duties as Campbell County’s School District Interim Director last Monday.
She will serve as the interim director until a replacement is hired. She said that even though her “tenure is short term” she plans to do the absolute best for students first and foremost and faculty and staff as well.
“My goals are to be approachable, a listener, and to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students and academics,” Lay said.
Lay said it had been “a very busy week” and that she has had “a great transition” going from the supervision of around 120 students at Elk Valley to the 4,500 children enrolled in the district.
“I’ve been learning a lot and getting to see the ins and outs of things that I never knew before,” Lay said, adding that “everyone had been very welcoming.”
One of the challenges facing Lay is the looming budget deficit.
She said the school district was facing a large deficit once again this year and that the budget would begin to be reviewed in February.
“I am just now looking into things and hoping we can find things to make up for the deficit, we will begin digging into the budget for review come February,” Lay said.
Lay has worked in the Campbell County School system for 26 years. With the exception of one year at Campbell County High School as a curriculum coordinator, her entire career has been spent at Elk Valley STEM School. She worked as a literacy coach, a reading recovery teacher, as well as an unofficial role as assistant principal while also serving as a literacy coach, before serving as principal for the last 15 years. Mary Beth Seiber took over as principal at Elk Valley after Lay was hired as interim director. Lay said she was “excited for Miss Seiber to get her opportunity to move up” and that she knows she left the school in “good hands.”
“Elk Valley was my baby, but I know I left my baby with somebody I can trust. We really built something good there and have an awesome community,” Lay said, adding that after a week on the new job, she was missing the students.
“The students were the first faces I saw every morning, I miss them so much, as a matter of fact, I went back for 8th grade night to watch that and get some time with my kiddos,” Lay said. In her 26 years as an educator, she said her most proud moment was Elk Valley receiving the first and second Science, Technology, English and Math (STEM) designation.
“I think that helped put Elk Valley School on the map and our students are so proud of that, they are just so proud and our community is proud,” Lay said.
Education is the second career for Lay. Prior to teaching and becoming a principal, Lay worked as an administrator for a company that made roof support systems for coal mines. However, she said she “always knew from a young age that she wanted to be in education” but did not have the college opportunities until later in life. She worked and went to school at the same time, something she said she could not have done without her support system.
“Once I got established in my first career, I started taking college courses and got to where I needed to be, some days I didn’t know if I was coming or going, but I had great support from my husband and good support taking care of things at home too,; he always supported me in whatever decision I made,” Lay said.
She said she was looking forward to her time in the director’s position, even though it is only temporary.
“I am all about the students, my role, and again, it is short-lived, but whatever I do, I try to think from the student’s standpoint and what is best for them, that will be the main lead in any decision I make, while here,” Lay said.
Lay is a 1984 graduate of Campbell County High School. Her family lived in Jacksboro when she first started school, and she went to Jacksboro until 4th grade and then the family moved, so she attended Caryville for 5th and 6th grade, then Jacksboro Junior High through the 9th grade, before starting CCHS in the 10th grade. She said she played ball in elementary and middle school.
“I’m so old, when I first started playing Elementary School basketball, it was still the half court that first year, the second year is when it changed,” Lay said, explaining that back then, “women’s ball was half court, with offense on one end and defense on the other end.”
Lay said that she had educators in her own lifetime that really made a difference in her life and that is what teachers do for their students.
“Joyce Robinson took me under her wing and W.L. Grimes was amazing, I had so many teachers that were wonderful and inspiring it is hard to name just one or two; teachers make such a difference and there are so many blessings within school systems,” Lay said.
She had a message for students and faculty for 2026.
“I just want to say that I am excited to be in a position to look at everything and try to help everyone. I don’t know all the answers yet, but my goal is to make sure that anything that happens or any changes that are made are in the best interest of our students. Our students are the best thing we have going for us in the entire district, so that’s our future and so we want to do what’s best for them and what helps them grow to the best of their ability. We have wonderful teachers, custodians, cafeteria staff, teaching assistants, we have wonderful people in our district, and I know that all of them also are looking out for what is in the best interest of our students. Academics have to be at the forefront,” Lay said.
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-01/12/2026-6AM)