Board Members

The Greeneville Board of Education is made up of five elected members. Each member serves a four-year staggered term. Elections are held in August during even-numbered years. New Board of Education members are seated on September 1 of each election year.

Regular monthly board meetings are usually held on the fourth Tuesday at 5 p.m. All meetings are located in the Professional Development Center at the Greeneville City Schools Central Office in downtown Greeneville.

To address the board concerning an issue not included on the board's regular monthly agenda, you must submit a written request with supporting documents to the Director of Schools office at least ten business days prior to the scheduled board meeting. At the discretion of the Director of Schools and the Board of Education Chairman, your concern will be placed on the agenda or addressed privately at an appointed time. There shall be a pubic comment period for each meeting with actionable items on the agenda, with the exception of teacher disciplinary hearings. Public comments may address any matter germane to the jurisdiction of the Greeneville City Board of Education. If an individual wishes to address the Board, they shall contact the Director of Schools' office the preceding day before the scheduled meeting to request time to speak or sign up on the form provided before the beginning of the board meeting to request time to speak. Board of Education Meetings are open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.

The Board hosts a legislators' breakfast in January, a budget workshop in April, and a visioning/goals workshop in October of every year.

Members of the Greeneville City Board of Education are:

Johnny Painter (2nd Ward)

Johnny Painter was elected to the Board of Education in 2026. He retired from Greeneville City Schools after 35 years of service. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health from East Tennessee State University (1991), with endorsements in Elementary Education and Secondary Math. He is married to Debbie Ott Painter, and they have two married children, Tracy Tipton and David Painter.

Josh Quillen - Chair/Treasurer (1st Ward)

Josh Quillen was appointed to the Board of Education in spring 2019 to fill the unexpired term of Brian Cook, who resigned for military deployment for medical service in the Middle East. Quillen was elected to the board in the fall of 2019. Quillen is a Level IV School Board Member. He is also vice president at South State Contractors Inc. He has worked for South State since 1999.

David Hollowell (2nd Ward)

David Hollowell, a retired educator and a 1992 Milken National Teacher of the Year award recipient, was elected to the Board of Education in 2026. Hollowell completed 33 years in public schools. Seventeen of those years were as a teacher/coach and 16 years as a school administrator. After retiring, he taught and coached at Briarcrest Christian School in West Tennessee for 9 years.

Watson Leonard (At-Large)

Watson Leonard was elected to the Board of Education in 2026. He graduated from Greeneville High School in 1999 and earned degrees in Accounting and Finance from the University of Tennessee in 2004. Watson is President of the Leonard Family of Businesses. He is also active in several community and nonprofit organizations throughout Greeneville and Greene County.

Pamela Botta (1st Ward)

Pamela Botta was elected to the Board of Education in 2019. A career educator, she is currently an adjunct professor at Walters State Community College's Greeneville and Morristown campuses. Botta is a Level IV School Board Member. In May 2016, she retired after a 20-year career teaching science to sixth-graders at Greeneville Middle School.