meet the board
Photos By
Chair
leah flynn
As the daughter of educators and a graduate of MHS and UT Knoxville, I am passionate about the impact teachers and schools have on our students and community. I believe that academic and personal success are best achieved in an environment of kindness, connection, accountability, compassion, and play. I am grateful for a career of more than 20 years in civil engineering and commercial property development. I currently utilize my experience in a part-time consulting role, where I lead my clients through the property development process, including design, entitlement and construction. However, my most important endeavor in life is raising our children, Jack and Sam, members of the classes of 2029 and 2033. I am thrilled to share this adventure with my husband and fellow MHS alumni, Chris. Our family enjoys spending time at the lake, and we are very enthusiastic about traveling as much as possible. In quiet moments, my happy place is in the pages of a book. I serve on the MCSF Board because I want to help our teachers and schools to support every child, in ways that go beyond what our public school system can do with tax dollars alone.
Vice Chair
stefan Wilson
Stefan Wilson is a product of all 3 school systems in Blount County; he started in Kindergarten at Sam Houston Elementary (Maryville), then moved to Fairview Elementary (Blount County), and then Alcoa Middle before graduating from Alcoa High School. Stefan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UT Knoxville, where he graduated magna cum laude. He currently operates Allevia Technology which employs 45+ people and serves 400+ local businesses with IT services. He and his wife have 6 children, 4 of whom are enrolled in the Maryville City School system. Stefan wants to use his time on the board to support the school system that cares for and loves not just his children, but the entire community.
Past Chair
david dawson
David Dawson is a Maryvillian thru and thru. Born at Blount Memorial Hospital, David attended St. Andrews Day school, Sam Houston, Fort Craig, Maryville Middle, Maryville High, and Maryville College…then went to work at Blount Memorial Hospital. David is now employed at Pilot Company in Knoxville where he works as an IT Director. David is married to fellow Maryville College Alum, Jennifer; and their two children (Savannah and Owen) attend Maryville City Schools. Despite making the long drive up and down Alcoa Highway to Knoxville every day, David and his family chose to stay in Maryville in large part due to the quality of the Maryville City Schools' education. David hopes that his time on the board will somehow help Maryville City Schools to continue to provide the same high level of education that he experienced.
Treasurer
Andrew Stafford
Andrew Stafford is originally from Johnson City, Tennessee. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from East Tennessee State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business. Andrew has worked in healthcare mergers and acquisitions over the past decade and is an Equity Principal in transaction advisory services with PYA, PC. Andrew joined the MCSF board in 2023 and has served on the Haslam Young Alumni Board since 2019. Andrew and his wife Kristen moved to Maryville in 2020 and have two daughters Mason (6), a 1st grader at Sam Houston Elementary School, and Allie (3).
Secretary
toni miller
Toni Miller is a graduate of Heritage High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She has spent her entire professional career in various roles at Clayton Homes/Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc.. She and her husband, Cody, have three children (Bailey, Abbey, and Cameron) attending Maryville City Schools. She currently serves on two local non-profit boards and has a passion for volunteering and giving back to her community. This is something she strives to instill, by example, in her children and believes it to be a vital factor to growth and development.
Board Member
debbie ernsberger
Debbie Ernsberger is a native of Maryville, Tennessee, graduating from Maryville High School. Debbie earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Tennessee. She is a Certified Public Accountant. Debbie has worked in the public accounting industry since graduating and is an Equity Principal in Healthcare Consulting and Tax Services with PYA, PC in the Knoxville, Tennessee office. Debbie has served on the Maryville City Schools Foundation board since 2017. Debbie is married to Curtis, and they have two sons. Emmitt and Davis are Maryville High School graduates of 2020 and 2023, respectively.
Board Member
PATTY RAMSEY
Patty Ramsey grew up in Fayetteville, TN, and moved to the area when she attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She graduated with her degree in marketing. Upon graduation, Patty spent seven years recruiting for Northwestern Mutual. After her first child was born she decided to stay at home with her children. She was a stay-at-home for 10 years. Once her youngest started kindergarten, she started recruiting consulting/coaching with Northwestern Mutual offices nationwide. Patty has a strong passion for giving to the local community. She was toy chair for Toys for Blount County with Junior Service League. She is currently on the board with Empty Food Pantry. She is the president of the PTO at John Sevier Elementary School. When she is not working or volunteering, you will find her working out at CrossFit or playing tennis. She is married to Daniel. They have three children: Hayden, Katelyn, and Ethan.
Board Member
georgana jackson
Georgana Jackson grew up in Greeneville, TN, and moved to the area to attend the University of Tennessee Knoxville where she received an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology and then a Master’s in Social Work. Upon graduation, she worked in Knox County Schools as a therapist in special education for 10 years. Georgana currently works as a Realtor for LeConte Realty and owns a local gym, Crossfit Pistol Creek. She and her husband, Trey, have three children (Hughes 13, Ollie 10, Scout 8) attending Maryville City Schools. She has a strong passion for our local community in the educational and fitness space. While she believes academic performance is important, she also believes that building strong interpersonal relationships among students, peers, teachers, and the community plays a vital role in child development and success.
Board Member
Kandi Yeager
Kandi Yeager is a lifelong resident of Maryville. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee, Kandi practiced law in East Tennessee for almost two decades. As a member of a firm in Knoxville, she focused her practice primarily on business, corporate and commercial law. In 2020, Kandi decided to take a break from practicing law in order to have more time with her daughter and for volunteer work. In addition to the MCSF, Kandi also volunteers at her church, her daughter’s school, animal rescue organizations, and other charities. A seventh-generation Blount Countian, this community and region are a part of Kandi’s heart. She and her husband, Rick, have one daughter, Shelby, MHS Class ’29.
Board Member
Britt Autry
Britt is a Vice President at DENSO, a global supplier of advanced technology components and systems. He currently lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains with his wife, Lisa, and two children. When not at work, he raises Angus cattle and enjoys beekeeping on a small East Tennessee farm.
Board Member
bill eanes
A native of Bristol TN/VA, Bill Eanes has been a Maryville resident since 1999. Prior to obtaining his real estate license, Bill enjoyed 16 years in higher education administration and also worked with the Blount Partnership as Director of Economic & Workforce Development. A sense of community is very important to Bill. He is a graduate of Leadership Blount, East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association, and Experience Your Smokies. He has served on the board of several local non-profits and joined the Maryville City Schools Foundation in 2021. Bill is married to Jodi, the STEM teacher at John Sevier Elementary and they have one daughter, Norah.
Board Member
brian winbigler
Dr. Brian Winbigler, a native of Maryville TN, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology from The University of Tennessee Knoxville, a Master of Business Administration from Lincoln Memorial University, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) from the University of TN Health Science Center, and completed a community pharmacy residency. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science at the University Of Tennessee College Of Pharmacy, Dr. Winbigler directs the fall Substance Use Disorders elective and spring IPECSIV course. He also works with the TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as a Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists, providing training and education on opioid overdose and overdose prevention through the distribution of naloxone. He serves on the Blount County Board of Health, Board of Harbours Gate-Treasurer, and the UT Alumni Association Board of Governors-Treasurer. He holds active membership in both state and national pharmacy organizations and is the recipient of State and Federal funds for opioid-related research. He and his wife Jennifer have 3 boys, Max, Wyatt, and Ayres.
Board Member
Brian Davis
Bio coming soon...
Board Member
Summer Brooks
Bio coming soon...
Board Member
Ceteka Holder
Bio coming soon...
Board Member
Ashley Merrick
Bio coming soon...
Board Member
Eliza Conatser
Eliza, a graduate of Maryville High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Upon graduation, she moved to D.C. to work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and then The Warner Theatre. After marrying her high school boyfriend, Eliza spent twenty years ‘seeing the world’ as a Navy wife. During fourteen moves she held various community and communications positions among them the City of Bath, the Chocolate Church Center for the Arts, GlaxoSmithKline, and Health Impact. She is currently a marketing strategist with Visual Voice in Maryville. Eliza’s local volunteer involvement has included Blount County Public Library, United Way of Blount County, Haven House, and New Providence Presbyterian Church. She and her husband Judd have two children in the Maryville City Schools, Jack and Maggie.
Board Member
Whitney Davis
Bio coming soon...
Ex-officio
Director of Schools
Dr. Mike Winstead
School Board Chairman
Julie Elder
Sam Houston
Jeremy Johnson
Montgomery Ridge
Haley Tate