Upperman’s Stepp Selected As Cumberland County Director

The Cumberland County School Board voted Tuesday night to begin contract negotiations with Upperman Principal Billy Stepp as the system’s new director of schools

In a second round of voting, Stepp earned five votes while Dr. Rebecca Farley, the school system’s current supervisor of instruction for pre-K through eighth grade for Cumberland County Schools, received four votes.

“If we can’t come to terms with Mr. Stepp, we would go to Dr. Farley,” School Board Chair Jim Inman said.

School Board Member Teresa Boston will speak to Stepp to see if he accepts the nomination and wants to begin contract talks.

“Kinda get some idea of what he expects and then we can have a special called meeting to see what we’re willing to offer,” Boston said.

In the first round of voting, Rebecca Farley received four votes, Stepp three votes. Stephanie Barnes, Cumberland County’s chief academic officer, received one vote. Michelle Barnett, a former Cumberland County teacher and dean of the School of Education at South College in Knoxville, received one vote.

Stepp became principal at Upperman in 2015. He previously served as principal at Upperman Middle School and Cornerstone Middle School, and assistant principal positions at Avery Trace Middle School and Cookeville High School.