Myers new BHS principal
After a decade of service as Bearden High School principal, Dr. John Bartlett has been promoted as one of three supervisors of Secondary Education with Knox County Schools.
Jason Myers has been appointed to take his place. Both of these appointments were made official in July.
Myers most recently served as principal at Knoxville Adaptive Education Center and previously worked as a special education and lead teacher. He also served as an administrative assistant at Knoxville West High School before being promoted as an assistant principal at KWHS.
Myers said he is “honored and excited to be joining Bearden High School and its community, and I’m thankful for Dr. Bartlett’s help and guidance during this transition.
“Bearden High School has a well-established tradition of excellence and I look forward to continuing and advancing the work done by Dr. Bartlett to create a positive culture for students and staff,” Myers added. “As we move forward, we will maintain high academic standards and deliver quality instruction.”
Bartlett had high praise for his successor.
“I have worked with him as a colleague for over 10 years and have been able to get to know him. Mr. Myers is a good man with a great heart,” he said.
“I always told the (BHS) parents that I loved the students like they loved the students, and I believe Mr. Myers has the same type of heart for the kids and the teachers at Bearden,” Bartlett added.
“Bearden should not miss a beat.”
Bartlett and Myers both joined Knox County Schools in 2008. Bartlett previously was Loudon County High School principal and also taught in Bledsoe County.
During his service at BHS, Bartlett earned Principal of the Year honors in 2016 from Tennessee Association of Secondary School Principals.
“I love Bearden High School and I love the community” he said. “And, I love the staff — love them like family, (so) making this (change) has been difficult emotionally.”
Bartlett said his new position is part of a central office reorganization, which added a secondary educational supervisor position. He said he will be working with a five county high schools and seven middle schools.
“It is a different challenge,” he added. “I feel it is necessary to do this, and make sure the principals and teachers are supported.”
