Hamilton County Schools Appoints New Community Superintendents
Hamilton County Schools (HCS) appointed new leaders Monday to positions the district considers key to supporting students, teachers and school principals.
Dr. Elaine Harper will step into the role of community superintendent for the Harrison Bay Learning Community. Meanwhile, Dr. Lee Ziegler has been appointed to lead the North River Learning Community.
The district says the newly appointed leaders will play a key role in supporting school principals and fostering environments where students and staff can succeed.
“These leaders provide necessary support to school principals, ensuring every building-level leader has what they need to succeed,” said HCS Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson. “Dr. Harper and Dr. Ziegler are both experienced leaders who understand what it takes to foster learning environments where students and staff can thrive.”
A New Chapter for Harrison Bay
Dr. Harper transitions to Harrison Bay after four years at the helm of the North River Learning Community.
A Hamilton County native, Dr. Harper brings decades of experience, with a track record in school transformation and leadership development.
The district says North River schools saw gains in instructional coherence, family engagement, and school-based decision-making under her leadership. During that time, she expanded the Community Schools Model and strengthened pipelines for developing future school leaders, according to a news release.
Previously, as principal of Red Bank High School, Dr. Harper implemented project-based learning, launched the BlueCross Technology Academy, and raised both graduation rates and ACT scores.
Harper said she is honored to take on the role and emphasized the importance of strong schools in building thriving communities.
“It is a privilege to lead the Harrison Bay Learning Community, where exceptional leaders and strong community partnerships are making a lasting difference,” Harper said. “I believe that great schools are the heart of every thriving community.”
Ziegler to Lead North River
Dr. Ziegler, an HCS educator for more than 20 years, assumes leadership of the North River Learning Community after serving as principal of Hixson High School since 2020. Under his leadership, the school achieved the state’s highest level of growth on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) in three of the past four years and maintained a graduation rate above 91 percent for three consecutive years.
HCS says Ziegler’s data-driven approach also led to a reduction in chronic absenteeism and disciplinary referrals, while boosting academic performance and school culture. District leaders add his prior leadership at Daisy Elementary yielded a dramatic jump from Level 1 to Level 5 growth in a single year.
Ziegler emphasized his commitment to building on Harper’s foundation and fostering collaborative leadership across the learning community.
“This work is deeply personal to me,” Ziegler said. “Every child deserves to be seen, supported, and empowered—both in the classroom and beyond.”
Transition Planning Underway
HCS has begun the search for Ziegler’s successor at Hixson High School and plans to engage families and staff through an upcoming survey. A new principal will be announced in July to ensure continuity of leadership.
HCS school leaders emphasized the importance of community-level leadership in advancing academic success and supporting school communities.
“Strong leadership at the learning community level creates the conditions for excellence in every school,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sonia Stewart. “These appointments strengthen our ability to meet the needs of students, families, and staff.”
About Hamilton County Schools
Hamilton County Schools serves more than 45,000 students across 79 schools in Southeast Tennessee. The district says they are committed to providing educational excellence and equitable opportunities that empower every student to realize their full potential.
