Amy Sullins, PhD is a newly elected Athens City School Board member.  A career educator, a student of education and an active volunteer throughout the school system, Sullins draws from her diverse background in education when planning, developing, and upholding board policies.  Promoting excellence for the entire system and its students as well as the system camp at Watts Bar is paramount to Sullins. 

            Sullins was born in Parkersburg, WV and raised in Coral Springs, FL, graduating from Coral Springs High School in 1989.  She attended Auburn University and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary English Education (grades 7-12) summa cum laude in 1993, and began teaching 9^th grade English and debate at Auburn High School in Auburn, AL.

            Sullins moved to Athens in 1998 with her husband, Athenian native Dr. Stuart Sullins.  She taught 9^th and 11^th grades English and debate at McMinn County High School through 2001 and maintains current Tennessee professional teaching licensure. 

            In August 1999, Sullins graduated with a Master’s of Science of English Education from Auburn University.

            Sullins then joined the Department of Education and Psychology faculty at Tennessee Wesleyan College in 2001, teaching secondary education classes and speech.  She served as Chair of the department in 2005-2006 and was awarded the TWC Student Government Association Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award in 2005.  Sullins was the recipient of the Who’s Who Among American Teachers award four times, nominated by former high school and college students.

            Also while at TWC, Sullins began pursuing her doctoral degree at the University of Tennessee’s College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, receiving an academic fellowship.  She graduated with her PhD in Education:  Assessment, Evaluation, and Research in May 2010.

            Since 2007, Sullins has worked for the Tennessee Governor’s Academy for Mathematics and Science, a residential, state-supported school in Knoxville for highly talented 11^th and 12^th graders.  STEM issues (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are of great interest to her, and she is a proponent for strong STEM education in Athens City Schools.

            Sullins is a former president of the McMinn County Education Foundation and remains active on the Board of Directors.  Sullins and her husband teach Senior High Sunday School at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, and Sullins serves as the Outreach Coordinator.  She serves on the E. G. Fisher Library Advisory Board; Kids’ Connection Advisory Board, and Four Star Academy Advisory Board and also functions as the Secretary/Treasurer of Cub Scout Pack 614. 

            Sullins and her husband have three sons who attend three of the six Athens City system schools:  George is a 4^th grader at North City; Andy is in 1^st grade at Ingleside, and Spencer attends Four Star Academy.  Sullins is a PTO member and volunteers in the schools in numerous capacities.

            Sullins attributes her desire to serve on the Athens City School Board in part on local Athens City and McMinn County teachers who were also her colleagues:  Ben Wilson and Anne Catron-Austin from TWC, and from MCHS, the late Sherry Godsey, Pat Sutherland, and Debbie Ivens.