By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City Schools has added eight new teachers to its already-strong faculty roster for the 2019-20 school year.
The new hires include five people at UC Elementary School and three more at Union City Middle School.
At least one teacher will be added at UC High School, with the possibility of a couple of others in the system, according to Director of Schools Wes Kennedy.
“I’m excited about the quality and character of people who’ll be joining us at Union City Schools,” Kennedy said. “Each of them brings a unique skill set and has great passion for both kids and education. Their desire to join our faculty and willingness do whatever is asked and whatever is needed gives me great confidence that we’ve made excellent hires.
“I can’t wait for them to be part of the Purple and Gold Family.”
The new hires include:
- Cole Clanton is returning to the UC School System after spending the last four years at Obion Central as a teacher and high school football assistant coach. He will teach history at UC Middle School and be an assistant football coach on the staff of Darren Bowling at UCHS.
Clanton spent a year-and-a-half previously in the UC School System as a high school teacher and assistant coach and also has experience with those duties at McKenzie and Jackson South Side.
He has a bachelor of science degree from Bethel University.
“I am thankful for this opportunity,” Clanton said. “I have worked with many remarkable individuals over the past couple of years, and look forward to this new chapter in my life.”
- Chelsea Cupp will teach fourth-grade ELA at UCES. She is a graduate of UCHS and the University of Colorado at Denver (2013), and currently teaches at Sharon School in Weakley County.
She has previous classroom experience at Stevens Elementary in Wheat Ridge, CO.
“I am so excited to be returning home to my Union City family,” Cupp said. “I truly look forward to working with my community.
“Go Tornadoes!”
- Karen Fields will fill a second-grade classroom role at UC Elementary. Fields has actually already been a part of the UCES faculty for the second semester this year, having taught fourth grade when Allison Palmer was promoted to an administrative role at UC Middle mid-year.
She had previous elementary school teaching experience at Atoka Elementary School, where she was a Level-5 teacher for nine years. Mrs. Fields has degrees from both the University of Memphis and UT Martin.
“I feel so honored to be a part of an excellent school system,” Fields said. “The staff here at UCES has already made me feel so much like a part of their family. That is what the UC School System is, one big family who supports each other in everything.
“I look forward to helping each and every student learn to love school and become active participants in their community.”
- Jessica Flood will join the faculty at UCES as a first grade teacher.
Flood has seven years of classroom experience at Alamo City School and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin. She obtained her master’s degree from Arkansas State.
“I’m excited to start my new journey at UC schools,” Flood said. “I have already had so much support from the staff and community.
“My goal is to support the students. I want them to believe they have what it takes to achieve their biggest dreams. “
- Allison Kail has been hired as a 6th-grade ELA teacher at UC Middle School.
She is currently completing her 16th year in the Obion County School System, having worked at both Lake Road and Hillcrest.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from UT Martin and a master’s from Arkansas State.
“After 16 years of teaching, it is exciting to have new opportunities to invest in our students and our community,” Kail commented. “I am grateful to work with the people of the Union City School System next year as they work toward excellence.”
- Bill Kail has been hired to teach computer classes at UC Elementary School and also will serve as the UC Middle School head baseball coach.
Kail has spent 20 years in the Obion County School System and was the head boys’ basketball at Obion County Central the majority of that time. A Crockett County native, he received his bachelor’s degree from UT Martin and a master’s degree from Arkansas State.
“My family and I are excited and grateful for the opportunity to be in the Union City School System,” he said. “We were looking for stability and new opportunities for our three boys that was close to home.
“We feel Union City Schools can provide all those things for our family.”
- Christie Rodgers will be the new system-wide school psychologist and also serve as the guidance counselor at UC Elementary School.
Rogers has a BA and MA from Murray (Ky.) State University in Psychology and Clinical Psychology, respectively, and has extensive teaching experience at MSU as well as with dual credit off-campus classes in area high schools.
“I am looking forward to joining an amazing school district and working with students and their families to enhance their psychoeducational experience,” Rodgers said.
“I am just thrilled to be able to do what I love, in a place I love, and with people I love. It just doesn’t get better than that!”
- Mary Wiggins will be the new guidance counselor at UC Middle School.
Wiggins holds a bachelor of science degree in communications, as well as an ME in postsecondary education and graduate endorsement in school counseling – all from UT Martin.
She has served as the assistant director of Admissions at UTM as well as the coordinator of New Student and Family Programs there.
“I have had the opportunity during the spring 2019 semester to intern under all counselors in the Union City School System,” Wiggins said. “I am thankful I have gotten to learn from such caring, experienced counselors to help start my counseling career.
“I look forward to serving the students of Union City Middle School and being part of an exemplary school system.”