Nicholas Shaun Darnell

A native of Greeneville, Tennessee, Nick was president of his senior class, graduating as valedictorian from South Greene High School.  He is the son of Earlin and Ada Darnell.  He attended Tusculum University, graduating with a degree in elementary education.  He was inducted into the honor society Alpha Chi and helped found the university’s chapter of College Republicans. He earned his master’s in education (M.Ed.) and his education specialist (Ed.S.) degrees at East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Nick has spent his career as an educator in Hamblen County Tennessee.  He served many years as a seventh and eighth grade ELA and social studies teacher at East Ridge Middle School and as assistant principal at West View Middle School.  He was selected as the 2015 Hamblen County and Tennessee Region 1 middle school teacher of the year.  He was one of 18 teachers named to the Governor of Tennessee’s first Teacher Cabinet.  He was appointed by former Governor Bill Haslam to a five-year term as a member of The Tennessee Board of Education representing the 1st Congressional District.

Nick is principal of East Ridge Middle School, in Morristown, Tennessee.  He attends First Baptist Church in Morristown with his family, where he is a Deacon and Sunday School teacher.  He, his wife, Emily, and daughters, Madeline and Charlotte, reside in Morristown.