Tennessee Superintendent of the Year Award Announced at TOSS Awards Banquet
GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE –The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents released the following statement announcing Dr. Marlon King as the winner of the 2027 Superintendent of the Year Award on September 20, 2026.
The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) met in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on September 20, 2026, for their annual Awards Banquet. The 2027 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year was announced at the banquet on Sunday night.
This year, the honored award recipient was Dr. Marlon King, of Jackson-Madison County Schools, representing the Southwest region of Tennessee.
Dr. King was selected for this honor from a distinguished group of eight Regional Superintendents of the Year, which included Mike Garren (Loudon County Schools), East; Dr. Adrienne Battle (Metro Nashville Public Schools), Mid-Cumberland; Kim Worley (Dyersburg City Schools), Northwest; Dr. Vickie Beard (Giles County Schools), South-Central; Dr. Justin Robertson (Hamilton County Schools), Southeast; and Kristi Hall (Fentress County Schools), Upper Cumberland.
Marlon’s professional journey sets him apart from many educators in Tennessee, as he has gained a wealth of diverse experiences throughout his tenure. His impressive background encompasses roles as a teacher (Shelby County Schools – legacy), principal (Fayette County Schools), Superintendent (Haywood, Fayette, and Jackson-Madison Counties), and executive director (Tennessee Department of Education), all within the Tennessee education landscape.
Academically, Marlon earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN. He furthered his educational pursuits with a Master of Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN.
Notably, he achieved the distinction of being named the Outstanding Doctoral of Education Student at the 68th Annual Honors Convocation while pursuing his Doctoral degree at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS. Dr. King was named Southwest Region Superintendent of the Year by the Tennessee School Boards Association in 2024 and 2026. Dr. King is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He and his wife, Latisha, created a local endowment to support scholarships for JMCSS graduates pursuing college degrees in science, education, the arts, and legal fields (SEAL) —areas that shape communities and change lives. Their son, a graduate of Jackson-Madison County Schools, is currently a student at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland.
“TOSS is proud to recognize Dr. Marlon King as the 2027 Tennessee Superintendent of the Year,” said TOSS Executive Director Dr. Gary Lilly. “Dr. King’s career reflects an extraordinary breadth of experience and a deep commitment to serving students, educators, and communities across Tennessee.
“From the classroom to the superintendent’s office and state-level leadership, he has consistently demonstrated a thoughtful, student-centered approach to educational leadership. His dedication to Jackson-Madison County Schools and his investment in creating opportunities for students exemplify the kind of service and leadership this award represents. We congratulate Dr. King on this well- deserved honor and are proud to celebrate his contributions to public education in Tennessee.”
Dr. King will represent the state of Tennessee at the 2027 AASA National Conference on Education, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 25–27, 2027.
TOSS also presented the George ‘Kip’ Reel Award for Leadership in Education to Dr. Melanie Miller, and the “Friend of TOSS” Award to State Representative Rebecca Alexander.
The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) is the leading superintendent advocate organization for public education in the state of Tennessee. Since 1975, TOSS has been progressing public education and addressing the needs of its administrators. TOSS provides advocacy at the state level for education issues that are high priorities for Tennessee schools and is composed of district leaders who are committed to lifelong learning, best practice sharing, and continuous improvement.
(PHOTO: Dr. Marlon King, right, receives the 2027 Superintendent of the Year Award from TOSS Executive Director Dr. Gary Lilly)
