Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Dr. Bruce Borchers announced today the appointment of Ms. Jenifer Laurendine as interim principal of Willow Brook Elementary School effective August 16, 2021.
Ms. Laurendine has been with Oak Ridge Schools since January 2014, serving most recently as the Vice Principal of Jefferson Middle School (JMS) since July 2020. Previously she held positions of Coordinator of School Health in the Department of Pupil Services and JMS Dean of Students. She is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and has served in the following capacities: Active Anderson Healthier TN Community Chairperson, Anderson County Health Council Committee Member, ASAP of Anderson Secretary, Oak Ridge High School ASAP Youth Ambassador Sponsor, Oak Ridge Schools District Wide Mental Health Strand Facilitator, member of the Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee (PCAT) Advisory Board and the Tennessee School Health Coalition East Regional Representative.
Prior to her move to Oak Ridge, Ms. Laurendine taught PE, Health and Computer Programming at Coalfield School and served as the TAP Mentor Teacher, on the High Schools that Work committee, Title 1 supervisor, PLC Facilitator and head softball coach. She also was Head Softball Coach/HKR Instructor at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas.
The interim principal holds a B.A. in Communications from Geneva College, a M.S. of Education (HPER) from Delta State University, a teaching certificate from Tennessee Tech and an Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University. She resides in Oak Ridge with her husband Michael and daughter who is currently a student at JMS.
“I love Jefferson Middle School and it has been a privilege to serve here over the past 4 years with Mr. Cox and the amazing staff, students and community. I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to serve in this new role and will work hard do what is best for all students and staff at Willow Brook Elementary and Oak Ridge Schools.”
