Pastor still at Christian school system, but not as principal

KINGSPORT — Tri-Cities Christian Academy's grades 6-12 school opened Wednesday at its new Colonial Heights campus.But the first day at the the Upper School was without previously announced new principal Brian McKinney.Controversy has swirled around the recently hired ordained minister's past hiring of a convicted sex offender to do contract football field work at the last Christian school he headed.The decision to put Dr. McKinney in another position with the local private school system for 2025-26 was announced to parents Tuesday. It came after weeks of pushback, multiple emails to the Kingsport Times News and social media rumblings from TCCS parents over McKinney's recently announced hiring.They expressed concern with the hiring of the would-be Upper School principal and head of schools for all TCCA campuses, given that he resigned in May from his Florida Christian school headmaster job after an outcry there for contracting with a convicted sex offender to do football field work.That school was the Clark Avenue Christian Academy in Titusville, Florida.The offender was Colby R. Ammons, which Tennessee and Florida sex offender registries indicate was convicted of engaging in computer communications seeking sex with a minor. The Florida registry indicates that was in in 2008.What's more, Ammons, according to the Tennessee sex offender registry and Florida sex offender registry, has moved to the Chuckey area in nearby Greene County.McKinney, a married father of four originally from Middle Tennessee, will still work for TCCS but will not become head of school for Tri-Cities Christian School overall for the 2025-26 school year. And the existing middle and high school operations in the former Colonial Heights Middle building will retain the 2024-25 interim principal.ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGESTCCS parents Tuesday evening received a notice from the Lakeway Christian Schools Board of Directors, which governs Tri-Cities Christian."Dr. Kevin Cline, who currently serves as the superintendent and head of schools for the Lakeway region, will serve as the interim head of schools for the Tri-Cities Region, providing leadership and oversight for the academic and operational functions of the campuses within that area," according to the parent letter, provided via email by Brown.Jeff Hawkins will continue as Upper School principal, and Andrew Griffith as Lower School principal, and they will report directly to Cline, the notice said."Dr. Brian McKinney will be supporting Dr. Cline in the Tri-Cities region. In this capacity, Dr. McKinney will provide strategic guidance for Tri-Cities Chrisitan Academy for operations and construction projects and collaborate with the advancement team to support long-term growth initiatives. He will focus on fostering a culture of excellence and growth across the organization through strategic guidance and collaboration."Brown said, "I believe the statement was well received that we made yesterday" but confirmed "we've received (notice of) a few who have moved out" of TCCS but "not as much as I had feared."LEAVING TCCAOne of those was the daughter of April Ferguson of Gray. Ferguson said the daughter would be homeschooled for the 2025-26 school year. Brown said the grades K-12 enrollment at TCCA was about 500 as of Wednesday.Ferguson said a major parent concern has been no response from school officials to repeated questions and concerns about McKinney's hiring and the situation in Florida."If they hadn't done that (made the announcement Tuesday) I think a lot of people would have left," Ferguson said. "They knew the situation when they hired him. To me, that's a huge red flag."Brown said, "I'm sorry they don't feel communicated with. We're trying to be transparent."The Times News attempted by email and phone repeatedly to contact Brown and others with Lakeway starting in late July, receiving a return phone call from Brown Wednesday morning and an email response from another Lakeway employee after Brown called."At this point, we are looking at what we can do to move ahead," Brown said when asked if McKinney someday still might be tapped to be TCCA principal and head of school as originally announced. "I can't predict what the future is going to be."Ferguson said she feared for her daughter's safety at the school. However, Brown said anyone hired or contracted to be on campus at TCCA must pass a background check first."They're trying to cover it up (that) they've hired this individual, knowing the background," Ferguson said."We almost did let her go back," she said."We did really love it there. My daughter was thriving there," Ferguson said. "We're praying that things will settle down and we can go back next year."The letter also said that Jen Nounou will continue as pre-Kindergarten director at Boones Creek and report directly to Griffith. That campus and the elementary one in Blountville opened Aug. 6.In addition, the letter said the Lakeway Christian Schools Board of Directors will add two additional board members "that will represent the Tri-Cities region."IN CLOSINGThe letter ended with reference to a Bible verse."These have been challenging days. Yet, we believe as Romans 8:28 clearly states, '. . . We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.'"Our prayer and hope is that the partnership we have chosen for Christian education with parents and families will become stronger than ever as we move ahead in our shared desire for trust and excellence in all we do. Thank you for your prayer and patience."