Administration

Head of School

Kristin Watts became the 13th Head of Bright School on July 1, 2021. Mrs. Watts has been an administrator in independent schools and colleges for more than 20 years.

She came to The Bright School from St. Anne’s Day School and Enrichment Programs in Atlanta, where she was director for five years. Prior to that, Mrs. Watts served as director of admissions at Trinity School in Atlanta for 11 years and also held posts at University Lake School in Hartland, Wisconsin, and Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

A Michigan native, Mrs. Watts earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and her master’s degree in human resource management at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan.

Mrs. Watts currently is serving on the Creative Discovery Museum's Board of Trustees.

Her husband, Jay, is the athletic director at GPS. Their daughter, Colby, is a student at Bright School, and her stepson, Campbell, is in college.

Kristin Watts

Head of School
Phone: 423-267-8546

Joined Bright faculty in 2021
B.A., The Catholic University of America
M.A., Siena Heights University

Renee' Kropff

Assistant Head of School, Operations, and Director of Technology
Phone: 423-305-6466

Joined Bright faculty in 1999
B.S., East Tennessee State University

Kendra Reasor

Assistant Head of School, Curriculum and Instruction, and Director of Bright Afternoons
Phone: 423-305-6463

Joined Bright faculty in 2017
B.S., University of West Georgia

Kim Brown

Director of Advancement, CFRE
Phone: 423-267-8593

Joined Bright staff in 2001
B.A., University of Georgia

CFRE badge

Elizabeth Davis

Director of Alumni Relations

Bright alumna '86 
Joined Bright staff in 2015
B.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Jennifer Dillon

Director of Finance
Phone: 423-267-8548
Joined Bright staff in 2023
A.S., New River Community College
B.S., Otterbein College

Deanna Luna

Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 423-305-6460
Joined Bright staff in 2023
B.S., Catawba College
M.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Brooke Moore

Director of Admissions
Phone: 423-267-8549

Bright alumna '92
Joined Bright staff in 2010
B.A., Furman University

Brittany Williams

Director of Student Services
Phone: 423-305-6468

Bright alumna '98
Joined Bright faculty in 2023
B.S., University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S., Trevecca Nazarene University

Board of Trustees 2023-2024

Mrs. Betsy Ranalli, Chair
Mr. Robert Batson '85
Mrs. April Beaupain
Mr. Chase Bullard
Mr. Jonathon Bullard
Mrs. Kamri Busby '01
Mr. Philip Byrum '85
Mr. Will Conroy
Mr. Ryan Dillard
Mr. Scotty Jones
Mrs. Betsey Kates
Mr. Barry Large
Mrs. Amy Mahone '86
Mrs. Maria Kain Matthews '69
Mr. Todd Phillips
Mrs. Ani Yacoubian Riggs '94
Mr. Daniel Scearce '87
Dr. Jill Tichy
Mr. Brian Trautschold
Ms. Caroline Walker
Mr. Brett Williams

Former Heads of School

Mary G. Bright: 1913-1961
Dr. Mary D. Davis: 1961-1969
Martha Becton (K-3) and Gaylor Raley (4-6): 1969-1970
Sib Evans: 1970-1974
Dr. Mary D. Davis (acting): 1974-1976
Mary Ann Neale: 1976-1982
Dr. Kirk Walker: 1982-1990
Harold F. Witman (interim): 1990-1991
J. Roberton MacColl IV: 1991-1992
Harold F. Witman (interim): 1993-1994
Michael G. Murphy: 1994-2004
O.J. Morgan: 2004-2021