About Us

Brent Glenn

Mr. Brent Glenn has been an educator for 27 years and currently serves as the principal of Karns Middle School. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he earned a B.A. in Literature, an M.S. in Curriculum, and an Ed.S. in Administration.

Mr. Glenn began his teaching career in 1998 as an English Language Arts teacher at Halls Middle School. After six years there, he moved to Carter High School, where he taught English for 12 years and served as a TAP mentor and master teacher. His passion for supporting teachers and students led him into school leadership, first as an assistant principal and, since 2018, as the principal of Karns Middle School. This year marks his eighth year leading the school.

Born and raised in Knoxville, Mr. Glenn is a proud graduate of Carter High School’s Class of 1991. He values the strong connections between schools and their communities and is committed to fostering a positive, supportive environment where every student can thrive.

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Karyn Lee

Mrs. Karyn Lee has been an educator in KCS for 20 years. Of those 20 years, eight have been with the Karns community. She taught seventh-grade ELA at Carter Middle, Karns Middle, and Gibbs Middle. Mrs. Lee also served as department chair and lead teacher during her middle school stint. While at Karns High School, she held the position of instructional coach prior to beginning her administrative career.

This year will be her fifth year serving as an administrator. She was an assistant administrator at West High School, then served as an assistant principal at both Halls High and Carter High before settling back at KMS. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Education, both from the University of Tennessee. She earned her administrative licensure through Carson Newman University.

Mrs. Lee grew up in Knoxville her entire life and is a proud graduate of Carter High School, Class of 1999, in Strawberry Plains, TN. While attending the University of Tennessee, she was a majorette for the Pride of the Southland Band and a member of the UT Concert Choir. She resides in Kodak with her husband and two children.

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Tina Shelton

Mrs. Tina Shelton brings 25 years of experience in education to her role as seventh-grade principal and principal of special programs at Karns Middle School. A proud alumna of Karns High School, she is deeply connected to the community she now serves.

Mrs. Shelton began her teaching career in 2001 at Northwest Middle School, where she taught for many years and took on leadership roles as a TAP mentor and master teacher. Her passion for supporting both students and teachers led her into administration, first as an assistant principal at Northwest, and for the past eight years, as part of the leadership team at Karns Middle.

She holds a B.S. in Education from East Tennessee State University, an M.S. in Reading Education, and an Ed.S. in Administration and Leadership, both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

As an educator and leader, Mrs. Shelton believes in the power of teamwork and the importance of schools as the heart of the community. She is committed to helping students grow not only academically, but also as kind, responsible individuals ready to make a positive impact.

Outside of school, Mrs. Shelton enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, and their two children—a daughter who is currently a sophomore at East Tennessee State University and a son in eighth grade at Karns Middle. She loves to travel and proudly embraces her role as a baseball mom.

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Brant Gerhardt

Mr. Gerhardt began his career in education in 2000 in Virginia, where he taught science for 13 years and was an assistant principal for three years. In 2016, he returned home to Knoxville, where he taught science full-time at Karns Middle School for six years. He transitioned into a teaching and administrative role in 2022.

Mr. Gerhardt grew up in Knoxville, holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, and a master’s degree from Radford University.

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Jack Renfroe

Mr. Jack Renfroe is a dedicated educator with more than a decade of experience in middle school teaching. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Florida State University, a master’s degree in Teaching from Cumberland University, and an Education Specialist degree in Principalship from Arkansas State University.

Mr. Renfroe began his career in education in 2012 at West Valley Middle School before joining Karns Middle School in 2014, where he currently serves as a sixth-grade math teacher and dean of sixth-grade students. He is committed to fostering a positive learning environment, supporting student growth, and contributing to the success of the Karns community.

Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, Mr. Renfroe and his wife—who is also an educator—are proud parents of three daughters. Together, they enjoy traveling, music, and being active in their community.

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