To support students with special needs and their families to successfully navigate the support services offered by Knox County Schools and the surrounding community.

Email: Advisorycouncil@Knoxschools.org
Website: knoxschools.org/pac
Phone: 865-594-9582

Dr. Karen Loy has been appointed Director of Special Education effective July 2022.

Dr. Loy joined Knox County Schools as a school psychologist in 1997. She previously worked as the director for Bare Facts Academy. In 1998, she became a program consultant for Richard Yoakely School, and in 2000, she was named principal of Ridgedale School and the Karns Annex Alternative Programs. She also oversaw the Middle School Evening Alternative Program. In 2007, she became principal of Northwest Middle School, and in 2017, she was appointed special education supervisor.

Dr. Loy received a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Tennessee Tech University, as well as an education specialist degree in Psychology and a doctorate degree in Education Leadership, both from the University of Tennessee.

It is almost that time again! Families are preparing for the first day of school with a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and relief. Some of the biggest concerns for families is. "Will the teacher see my child as an individual and appreciate unique needs?" and "What is the best way to communicate questions and concerns?" Click on the article below to find a sample parent letter to help introduce your child to this year's teacher(s).

Knox County Schools is now using ParentSquare for school communication, primarily with email, text and app notifications. Invitations to join ParentSquare will be sent via email and text message on July 5. Please click the link in the invitation to activate your account. It takes less than a minute.

You can use ParentSquare on any device. You can download the free mobile app for iOS or Android or use the desktop version at parentsquare.com.

Our goal is for every family to join ParentSquare and engage with our school community. We encourage parents to activate their accounts so they can download the mobile app and update their preferences on how and when they are notified.

Click on the button below to learn more about it

At one time or another, all children experience "big emotions" and parents deal with a child that is acting out or "has a meltdown". What can parents do to help calm a child down when they feel out of control? Co-regulation, sometimes also referred to as mutual regulation, is when another person steps in to help the child identify and process the emotion.

Click on the link below for tips involving co-regulation for both young children and teens.

On July 16, everyone in the United States will have immediate access to mental health and substance abuse help and resources by dialing just three digits: 9-8-8.

Through the new universal 988 number – which is intended to be an alternative to 911 it will broaden care access and decriminalize mental health crisis calls, trained counselors and response teams will be available 24/7. They will listen to the caller’s problems, assess their needs and provide support by connecting individuals with local resources, and alert local emergency crisis teams, if necessary.

Tennessee's traditional sales tax holiday on clothing, school supplies and computers begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2022, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

Click the button below for more information.

Para obtener la lista en español, desplácese hasta la parte inferior de la página y haga clic en "Traducir", luego desplácese hacia abajo hasta "Español"