Caroline Baird
Pathway Advisor, Sullivan East High School
caroline.baird@balladhealth.org
Caroline has built her career around helping students discover opportunities in healthcare and navigate the educational pathways that lead to rewarding careers. Her background in higher education and academic advising has given her the opportunity to work closely with students as they prepare for college, career training and the healthcare workforce.
Caroline is excited to return to Sullivan East High School and continue partnering with students, families and staff. She looks forward to helping students explore their interests, discover new opportunities and take meaningful steps toward their future.
Todd Barnett
Pathway Advisor, West Ridge High School
Todd is a veteran educator with 37 years of experience in public education, having served as a mathematics teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal and district supervisor before joining Ballad Health. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to helping young people discover their potential and preparing them for meaningful careers.
Todd believes that investing in today’s students is one of the most important ways we can strengthen the future of healthcare in our region, and he looks forward to another exciting year of learning, growth and opportunity with Ballad Health Academy students and families.
Patrick Fraley
Pathway Advisor, Science Hill High School
patrick.fraley@balladhealth.org
Patrick is a career educator with 35 years of experience working as a classroom teacher, coach, school level administrator, district level administrator and grant program coordinator. The entirety of his career, before joining Ballad Health Academy, was narrowly focused on his passion to remove barriers to success for the students he served. Helping students prepare for their future endeavors is what drives his passion.
Patrick is excited to begin another exciting year of seeing students’ opportunities expand and witnessing their learning and growth as young professionals as they work toward becoming important assets in the wellbeing of the Appalachian Highlands region.
DeAnna Martin
Pathway Advisor, Greeneville High School
deanna.martin@balladhealth.org
DeAnna is excited to serve as the Ballad Health Academy Pathway Advisor at Greeneville High School. DeAnna is a veteran educator with 30 years of experience in public education, serving as a teacher; instructional coach; district teaching & learning coordinator; and elementary, middle and high school principal before joining Ballad Health.
She will be dedicated to supporting Greeneville High School students as they explore careers in healthcare and prepare for future success. DeAnna is thrilled to devote her time and energy to the Greene Devils and is honored to return to a school that has meant so much to her throughout her career.
Joe McPherson
Pathway Advisor, Elizabethton High School
joe.mcpherson@balladhealth.org
Joe has 41 years in education in East Tennessee as a teacher and coach, with the last 27 as a high school counselor. He is passionate about helping high school students create a path to a successful future.
Joe is excited to be supporting students at Elizabethton High School, having heard both his father and son reminisce about their joy in working with the people of Elizabethton. Joe’s father worked for 25 years in Elizabethton and his son’s first job in education was teaching and coaching at T.A. Dugger Junior High School in Elizabethton.
Tammy Pearce
Pathway Advisor, Dobyns-Bennett High School
Tammy is excited to serve as a Ballad Health Academy Pathway Advisor, bringing a lifelong career in public education and a deep commitment to strengthening the future of healthcare in our region. She is especially excited to support students and families, drawing on her career-long belief in the power of connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
She is passionate about guiding students to explore their strengths, discover rewarding healthcare pathways and prepare with confidence for meaningful healthcare careers. With her background as a teacher, administrator and district level supervisor, Tammy is honored to support Ballad Health Academy’s vision of bridging education to career readiness and ensuring every student has high-quality opportunities to grow, succeed and thrive.
Jennifer Rouse
Pathway Advisor, Tennessee High School
jennifer.rouse@balladhealth.org
Jennifer is a veteran educator with years of experience in public education, having served as a teacher, principal and district supervisor before joining Ballad Health. Throughout her career, she has worked to support young people discover their potential and reach for excellence.
Jennifer is dedicated to investing in students to develop and encourage them to become healthcare providers in our region. She is excited about a new school year providing opportunities to BHA-THS students and families. Go Vikings!
Doug Mitchell
Pathway Advisor, Ballad Health Academy Mobile Unit
doug.mitchell@balladhealth.org
Doug is an experienced educator with 38 years of service in public education. His experience included time as a social studies teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal prior to accepting a role with Ballad Health Academy. As an educational leader, Doug believes strongly in supporting students in their learning, growth and success while always maintaining a focus on their future.
Today, Doug is a part of the Ballad Health Academy team of professionals supporting a very unique opportunity for learning and growth in the healthcare profession. Students in our region are being provided with a dynamic nursing program at the high school level and we look forward to the second year of commitment, investment and guidance impacting our region’s future!
Ballad Health Academy's Program Manager of Curriculum-Based Programs
Dr. David Timbs
Program Manager of Curriculum-Based Programs
Dr. David Timbs is the Program Manager of Curriculum-Based Programs with Ballad Health. A veteran teacher and administrator with 33 years of K-12 experience, David transitioned into Ballad Health from Johnson City Schools where he most recently served as the Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instructional Technology.
A native of Mountain City, David believes that the Ballad Health Academy initiative represents an incredible opportunity to inspire students to dream earlier about the purpose of their lives and their career pathways. Along with the Pathway Advisors, he is passionate about working with area administrators and teachers in growing access to this program and working to fill the need for healthcare professionals in our region with our own public high school graduates.