Proposed Slate of TNSO State Officers, Elected Committees and Vision Foundation Board of Directors

President: Sherrie Collins

Collins is a member of Beta Pi chapter where she currently serves as the Executive Secretary. She has served as President, First Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary as well as serving on the Membership, Program, Communications, and Literacy Committees.

On the state organization level, Collins has served as First Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary as well as chair of the High School Essay, Professional Affairs, and Educational Excellence committees. In addition, she has served on the Personal Growth and Steering Committees and as Area II director. Collins currently serves as TNSO Webmaster and serves in an ad hoc position on the Communications Committee.

On the international level, Collins served on the Membership Committee from 2014-16. She is a graduate of the 2018 International Leadership Management Seminar in Austin.

Collins is a member of the Tennessee Association of School Librarians and the International Society for Technology in Education. She has a B.S. in English Education, a M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, and has an Endorsement in School Media Specialist. She has taught in Union County for 33 years and has served as the media specialist for Union County High School for the last 12 years.

Collins states “As President, I would encourage our members to embrace inclusiveness, seek innovation in accomplishing our Society's purposes, and develop as stronger leaders. I want to empower all our members to make a difference in education.” She says, “As we celebrate our traditions and the foundation of our Society, we will also look to the future: involving younger members in leadership roles, reaching out to student teachers, and supporting early career educators.”

First Vice President: Michelle Steen

Steen is currently serving as President of Theta Chapter and has served in the past as President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary as well as serving on the Finance and Music Committees. She has served as chair of the Nominations Committee.

On the state organization level, Steen has served as Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding Secretary. She has served on the Leadership Development Committee, Ad Hoc Committee for the NY Reception for International President, Area IX Director, and as chair of the Convention Steering Committee. Steen is a graduate of the TNSO Beginning Leadership, Advanced Leadership and International Leadership Management seminars. She is currently serving as TNSO Editor.

Steen has a BA in English, MA in Education, and Plus 30 hours in Graduate Spanish. She teaches Spanish and serves as Department Chair. Steen is a member of the Tennessee Foreign Language Teachers Association; the Jackson Area Wide Soccer Board, serving as Secretary/Treasurer and Referee Administrator and Assignor; Girl Scouts of America, Troop 40105; Boy Scouts of America, Pack 102; and has served on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Justice Center.

Steen says “I want to have a voice in moving this organization forward because it means so much to me both personally and professionally.”

Second Vice President: Misste Phillippi

Phillippi is a member of Gamma Mu chapter. She is currently serving as the chapter’s First Vice President. She has served on the Communications Committee and currently serves as Chair. She has published the Gamma Mu newsletters since becoming a member. She also currently serves as the chair for the chapter’s Project/Programs Committee. She attended the Officer Training in 2024 and presented a workshop at TNSO Convention.

Phillippi is responsible for photography during the chapter’s annual Good Neighbor project. She has helped to sell pecans at a local craft fair to raise funds for the chapter and shared DKG materials while selling them. She oversaw the Gamma Mu table at the Johnson County Trunk R Treat, handing out candy and hugs to hundreds of Johnson County families. She is the Gamma Mu contact for Disaster Relief in Johnson County due to Hurricane Helene. Phillippi put together an Amazon Wish List that was shared with all the Tennessee DKG chapters via President Marsha Brewer. All deliveries came to Phillippi, and she ensured they were delivered to very grateful residents. She also provided updates for President Brewer on the P2P meetings on the recovery in Johnson County.

Phillippi has her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and teaches 6th grade math in Johnson County. She has served as Co-President of the Sunflower Festival Planning Committee, Children's Church Director for The Rock Fellowship Church, as Cheer Commissioner for Johnson County Youth Football and Cheer and is currently the League President.

Phillippi states: “I am excited for the opportunity to work with the Steering Committee to make the TNSO conventions amazing.”

Recording Secretary: Chasity Ragsdale

Chasity Ragsdale is a member of Alpha Rho chapter where she has served as President, chair of the Communications and Membership committees as well as a member of the Visual Arts and World Fellowship committees.

On the state level, Ragsdale is currently First Vice President and chair of the EEC. She has served as both a member and chair of the Membership Committee. She has attended the Beginning Leadership and Advanced Leadership seminars as well as DKG Ignite in Austin. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, WCEA, TEA, NEA, and TASL.

On the international level, Ragsdale was selected by the international president as a participant in DKG Next, a “think tank” of younger members to help DKG move forward effectively and is currently serving on the International DEIA Task Force.

Ragsdale has a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and is currently working on her Master’s degree in informational Services. She is serving as a middle school librarian in Williamson County. She relates, “I am a quick learner and adapt easily into whatever role I am assigned.”

Corresponding Secretary: Belinda Juergens

Juergens has served her chapter as President and Treasurer. She has served on the Leadership and Nominations, and Finance and Scholarships committees, and is currently serving on Membership.

On the state level, Juergens is currently serving as Corresponding Secretary. She has served as Area VI director as well as serving on the Special Events and Leadership Committees, currently serving as chair. She attended the Beginning Leadership and Advanced Leadership seminars. She has served on the Tennessee Department of Education Externship with UNUM Insurance and has served as a Tennessee Promise Mentor. Juergens has presented two workshops at TNSO Conventions and one at the DKG International Convention.

Juergens teaches high school English in Williamson County. She has a BS in Language Arts Education and MAEd in English Education.

She states, “I would like to lend my organizational and leadership talents to help our organization grow and prosper.”

Nominees for TNSO Elected Committees and Vision Foundation Board

The three nominees for each of the 2025-2029 elected committees and the two for the Vision Foundation Board bring a wealth of experience in Society. Committee members represent each major division of Tennessee. Vision Foundation members are nominated without regard to location in the state.

Nominations Committee: Tasked with selecting state organization officers, state elected committee members and Vision Foundation Board of Directors for the 2027-2029 and 2029-2031 Biennia.

East Tennessee: Lynn Caruthers, a member of Zeta Chapter, has served in many positions as chapter officer and committee chair. On the state organization level, she has served as Second Vice President, and Corresponding Secretary as well as chair of the Arts and Personal Growth Committee. On the international level, Caruthers is currently serving on the Non-due Revenue Committee. She is a retired elementary librarian.

Middle Tennessee: Dr. Elaine Alexander, a member of Beta Epsilon Chapter, has served in numerous capacities as chapter officer and committee chair. She has served on and chaired numerous state committees and currently serves on the TNSO Achievement Award Committee. She has also served as TNSO President, First Vice President and Second Vice President. On the international level, Alexander served on the 2016 International Convention Steering Committee and as Tennessee Night chair as well as a member of the Leadership Development Committee. She is retired as a teacher of Gifted Students.

West Tennessee: Paula Marshall is a member of Alpha Lambda Chapter, where she has served as President, First Vice President, and Recording Secretary as well as on numerous chapter committees. On the state organization level, she has served as Area IX director and is currently on the Educational Excellence Committee. She served as the Properties Room Manager at the 2016 International Convention. Marshall is retired from the Memphis/Shelby County Schools and is currently serving as a data collector for a research study being conducted by Vanderbilt University.

Lynn Caruthers, East

Dr. Elaine Alexander, Middle

Paula Marshall, West

Personnel Committee: Tasked with seeking members for the related personnel positions (paid) of state organization editor, executive secretary, webmaster, and treasurer, receiving TNSO Executive Board approval for the hiring of said positions, evaluating and reporting to the Executive Board on biennial evaluations of work of those in the related personnel positions and maintaining/updating the state organization Personnel Manual.

East Tennessee: Kim Thurman, Alpha Xi chapter, has served her chapter as President, on the Membership and Educational Excellence Committees, and is currently serving on the Communications Committee. On the state organization level, she has served as co-chair of the State Projects Committee. Kim teaches Government and Economics.

Middle Tennessee: Kathy Smith, from Alpha Nu chapter, has served her chapter as President and Corresponding Secretary as well as serving on several committees. On the state level, she has served as Director for Areas V and VI, Vision Foundation Board Secretary, Chair of the Literacy and Historical Preservation Committees and as a member of the Steering and Creative Arts Committees. Smith has also served as Ad Hoc Communications Committee for International Convention. She is a retired kindergarten teacher in Metro Nashville.

West Tennessee: Dr. Dorrie Powell, of Beta Sigma chapter, has served in numerous capacities as chapter officer and committee chair. On the state organization level, Powell has served as President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President as well as serving as chair of numerous committees. She has served on the international level on the Leadership Discovery Centre Committee, DKG Editorial Board, Scholarship Committee, and Coordinator of First Time Convention Attendees After 40 years as a teacher, librarian, and GEAR UP site coordinator in Hardeman County Schools, she retired in 2020.

Kim Thurman, East

Kathy Smith, Middle

Dr. Dorrie Powell, West

Finance Committee: Tasked with preparing and submitting a two-year state organization budget to the Executive Board and then, once approved, monitoring income and expenditures of the state organization and making any necessary recommendations to maintain the approved budget. They are also tasked with maintaining an up-to-date inventory of TNSO tangible assets.

East Tennessee: Dr. Elaine Vaughan, Alpha Epsilon chapter, has served in numerous capacities as chapter officer and committee chair. She has served as TNSO President, First Vice President, and Corresponding Secretary, on the Vision Foundation Board of Directors as well as serving as chair and member of many other state committees. Vaughan is currently serving on the DKG International Educators Fund Board of Directors. She is a Mathematics Instructor at Oak Ridge High School.

Middle Tennessee: Teresa Gregory is a member of Alpha Gamma Chapter, where she has served as Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and as the Treasurer since 2010 in addition to numerous chapter committees. She is currently serving on the TNSO Special Events Committee. She taught kindergarten until her retirement.

West Tennessee: Betsy Lucas, Beta Sigma chapter, served her chapter as President from 2016-2018, Treasurer from 2018-2024, and will return as President from 2024-2026. She is the Special Education Coordinator for Elementary Schools in Hardeman County.

Dr. Elaine Vaughan, East

Teresa Gregory, Middle

Betsy Lucas, West

Vision Foundation Board of Directors: Tasked with soliciting donations for the Foundation, advertising the availability of individual and project awards that align with foundation guidelines, and selecting recipients for those awards.

Becky Sadowski has served Alpha Lambda chapter in many capacities. She has served as TNSO President, First Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, and Parliamentarian as well as chair and member of a host of committees. She has served as International President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Southeast Regional Director, and on many committees both as a member and as chair. Sadowski is retired from teaching and currently serves as an educational consultant.

Kacey Whited, member of Beta Pi chapter, has served on the Planning Committee, as chapter Secretary and is currently the chapter President. On the state level, she has served on the Scholarship Committee and is currently serving on the Legislative Committee. Whited teaches 8th Grade Social Studies.