Principal

Shannon Graves is an alumna of the Powell Valley High School class of 1996. She attended the University of Tennessee, earning her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Special Education for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing and English Education. She has an Educational Specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Instructional Leadership, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Leadership with an emphasis in Education from the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Graves taught at Tennessee School for the Deaf,  Knox County Schools, and Campbell County Schools before returning to Claiborne County to teach English at Cumberland Gap High School for 12 years. She then moved to Midway Elementary School where she served as assistant principal and principal before returning home to Powell Valley Elementary School in July 2023 as principal. 

Dr. Graves has lived her adult life in Speedwell with her husband, Kojak, and her children, Rachel and Jon. 

Outside of school, she enjoys reading, traveling, and crocheting. She enjoys making students and teachers feel loved and appreciated, and her philosophy of education is simply, "It's all about the students". 

Chastidy Wilder graduated from Powell Valley High School in 1999.  She attended Southeast Community College earning her Associates in Business, Lincoln Memorial University earning a Bachelor's Degree in K-8 Elementary, and Union College earning her Master's Degree in Beginning Administrator PreK-12.  Chastidy taught 2nd and 4th grade at Ellen Myers before moving to Powell Valley to teach 6th grade math and science.  The 2025-2026 school year will be Chastidy's 19th year in education, and one year was spent filling a medical leave as Interim Assistant Principal, two of those years have been spent as Assistant Principal at Powell Valley Elementary School, and one year as 1st-6th Alternative School principal.

Chastidy lives in Speedwell where she and husband, Jason, have raised their two children, Peyton and Riley.  She enjoys traveling, going to church, and spending time with family.  Powell Valley is home, and Chastidy wants other kids to experience the Powell Valley that she grew up in and loved.  "We are Family."