Dr. Penny Thompson has been an educator since 1982. She taught two years in Texas and three years at Mt. Juliet Christian Academy before joining the Lebanon Special School District in 1991, where she taught early grades to 10 years. She was named Byars Dowdy Teacher of the Year and LSSD Grades K-5 Teacher of the Year in 2000. In 2001, she served as Byars Dowdy Assistant Principal, then moved to a central office position in 2004 in her current role as Instructional Coordinator and Pre-K Director.

Dr. Thompson earned her Master’s Degree and Educational Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee Technological University. In 2009 she began teaching with Cumberland University as an Adjunct Professor.

In 2015 Dr. Thompson earned her Ph.D. in Literacy Studies from Middle Tennessee State University. She had served on several Tennessee Department of Education advisory boards such as the Early Literacy Advisory Task Force, the Commissioners Early Literacy Council, and currently on the Reading 360 Literacy Advisory Council.  Additionally, she serves on the Middle Tennessee State Advisory Commitee.

In 2022-23 Dr. Thompson was named the Tennessee State Supervisor of the Year.

Dr. Thompson’s professional philosophy is that every child deserves high-quality education regardless of their background, and the beginning of of a child’s educational career begins with reading and writing proficiency.