JOHNSON CITY — Brian Partin, principal at Robinson Middle School in Kingsport, has been named director of University School at East Tennessee State University. He assumes the permanent role formerly held by the late Dr. Troy Knechtel, who passed away this summer.

Partin brings to ETSU 21 years of service in Tennessee public education, including 16 years in administration. Prior to becoming principal of Robinson Middle School in 2015, he was principal at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, also in Kingsport, and at Crieve Hall Elementary in Nashville.

He recently was named as a 2019 National Distinguished Principal for a middle level school in Tennessee by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). He has served terms as president of both NAESP and the Tennessee Principals Association, and he is also a member of the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.

He holds a B.A. from Anderson University (Indiana), an M.Ed. in administration and supervision from Tennessee State University and an Ed.S. from Lincoln Memorial University. Last year, Partin earned his Doctor of Education degree from Lipscomb University.

University School, which is part of the ETSU Clemmer College, enrolls 601 students and employs 41 teachers. The school was recently ranked as the ninth best high school in Tennessee by U.S. News & World Report in its “Best High Schools” listing. University School was the only school in Northeast Tennessee ranked in the top 10 and the highest ranked school east of Chattanooga.