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District

About Us/Administration

Welcome to Sevier County Schools!

From the heights of Pittman Center to the fertile fields of Boyds Creek and the quiet seclusion of Jones Cove to the bustle of suburban Seymour, the Sevier County School System stands ready to meet the needs of students and families in any of our educational districts.  It is our mission to educate and empower students to excel and achieve their full potential, and we firmly believe that parents, students, staff, and community partners working together can reach this goal!  Working together in a family-oriented atmosphere, our schools have devised and continue to hone educational and extracurricular programming that is designed to offer Sevier County students not only a sound academic foundation, but a variety of skills and opportunities that will help them meet the needs of the changing world in which they live.

 

The tenth largest school district in Tennessee with 31 schools and nearly 15,000 students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, the Sevier County School System is a sizable district that continues to support the needs of a growing county. Our schools offer comprehensive instructional programs with opportunities for every student to achieve and excel. Early post-secondary opportunities abound at the secondary level and include Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, State Dual Credit courses, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and industrial certifications, services for exceptional children, and many other instruction and intervention options. Pre-kindergarten programming has recently been expanded to all elementary schools, and the S.E.V.I.E.R. Ready program, now a few years old, has successfully connected scores of high school students with internship opportunities in community-based industries that have led to enhanced career readiness and job openings that suit their wants and needs.

 

Please take a moment to peruse our website to familiarize yourself with the information and resources available to you here.  Feel free to reach out to district or school administrators for additional information as needed.  We believe that clear, thorough communication leads to effective educational partnerships which benefit our students–the future leaders of Sevier County.

 

Sincerely,

Wendy Patterson,

Interim Director of Sevier County Schools

Meet the Administration

Mrs. Wendy Patterson

Wendy Patterson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, a Master of Science degree in curriculum & instruction from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and an Educational Specialist degree in administration & supervision from Lincoln Memorial University. She has worked in Sevier County Schools since 1994, teaching at Pigeon Forge Middle School and Caton’s Chapel Elementary School, serving as instructional coach and assistant principal at Caton’s Chapel Elementary School, and as principal at Pittman Center Elementary School and Pigeon Forge Intermediate School. Wendy moved to the Central Office as the Director of Educator Talent and Effectiveness in 2024 and was most recently appointed Interim Director of Schools in July of 2026.

Professional Organization Memberships

  • East Tennessee Superintendents' Study Council (ETSSC)
  • Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS)
  • Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA)
  • Tennessee School Systems for Equity (TSSE)
  • Tennessee Association of School Personnel Association (TASPA)
  • Metropolitan Area School Systems Association (MASS)

Throughout her career, Mrs. Patterson has served public education in a variety of leadership capacities, including the following:

  • Partners in Progress Board Member (2026 – Present)
  • Sevier County Board of Health (2026 – Present)
  • Johnson University Templar School of Education (2025 – Present)
  • Carson-Newman University Education Advisory Council (2023 – Present)
  • 100+ Women Who Care of Sevier County (2023 – Present)
  • Sevier County School System Principal of the Year (2023)
  • Leadership Sevier (2015)
  • Sevier County School System Leadership Development Academy (2014)
  • Pigeon Forge Middle School Teacher of the Year (2000 – 2001)

Degrees and Certifications:

B.S. Education

M.S. Curriculum and Instruction

Ed.S. Administration and Supervision

Contact Information:

Email: wendypatterson@sevier.org

Phone: 865-453-4671

Dr. Lewis graduated from Carson-Newman College in 1992 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.  She earned a M.S. in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University (1994), an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University (1996), an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (2001), and an endorsement as a Reading Specialist in Pre-K-12 (2016).  She has served the Sevier County School System in the capacity of a classroom teacher at the intermediate level, an assistant principal at Sevierville Intermediate and Sevierville Primary, Title I Program Director, Federal Programs Director, and Director of Elementary Education.  She was named Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in 2020. 

Professional Organization Memberships

  • East Tennessee Supervisor's Study Council (ETSSC)
  • Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS)
  • National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
  • Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
  • Tennessee Association of Federal Program Administrators (TAFPA)

Throughout her career, Dr. Lewis has served public education in a variety of leadership capacities at the district and state level, including the following:

  • International Literacy Association's Corwin Literacy Leader Award (2019)
  • Literacy Association of Tennessee Administrator of the Year Award (2018-2019)
  • State of Tennessee Supervisor of the Year Award (2017-2018) 
  • East Tennessee Grand Division Supervisor of the Year Award (2015-2016)
  • Federal Programs Mentor (2015)
  • Leadership Sevier (2013)
  • East Tennessee Federal Programs Conference Chair/Committee Member (2011-Present)
  • Leadership Tomorrow Advisory Board (2005-2008)
  • Leadership Tomorrow (2005)
  • Delta Kappa Gamma (2001-Present)

Dr. Helton earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2001 and his M.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2007.  He completed additional graduate studies at Lincoln Memorial University where he earned Ed.S. (2010) and Ed.D. degrees (Ed.D).

He served as a teacher, assistant principal, and instructional supervisor with the Sevier County School System prior to his current role as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Human Resources.

Professional Organization Memberships

  • Association of School Business Officials International
  • Tennessee Association of School Business Officials
  • Tennessee Association of School Personnel Administrators
  • American Association of School Personnel Administrators
  • Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents
  • Metropolitan Area School Systems Association
  • Tennessee Association of Board Secretaries

Throughout his career Dr. Helton has served in a variety of public service and leadership capacities, including the following:

  • Certified County Finance Officer Program (2021)
  • Leadership Sevier (2017)
  • Tennessee Department of Education Credit Recovery Working Group (2016)
  • Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation Board (2013-2015)
  • City of Gatlinburg Recreation Board (2009-Present)
  • Tennessee Department of Education Curriculum Review Committee (2009)
  • Leadership Tomorrow (2006)

Tony Ogle is a graduate of Caton’s Chapel Elementary School and Gatlinburg-Pittman High School (1996).  He earned a B.S. in Secondary Education with a certification in English from Tennessee Technological University (2000), an M.S. in Supervision and Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (2005), and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership at Lincoln Memorial University (2010).  Tony has served the Sevier County School System as a teacher at Pigeon Forge High School, a vice principal at Seymour Middle School, and a principal at both Jones Cove Elementary and Gatlinburg-Pittman High School before becoming the Director of Pupil/Personnel Services in 2019.  He was named Assistant Superintendent of Student Services in 2020.

Professional Organization Memberships

  • Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS)
  • Tennessee Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA)
  • National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
  • Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

Throughout his career, Mr. Ogle has served public education in a variety of leadership capacities at the district and state level, including the following:

  • Leadership Sevier
  • Sevier County School System Leadership Development Academy
  • Pigeon Forge High School Teacher of the Year