KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The former principal of Hardin Valley Academy will lead Austin-East Magnet High School as its new principal starting in June 2024.
Rob Speas was previously the principal at Hardin Valley Academy but was put on paid administrative leave in spring 2023 after a contracted custodial worker left gas valves on overnight. In the morning, employees smelled the gas and evacuated. Students were sent home for the day. Some parents questioned Speas' leadership after the incident.
Speas was moved to start working at Farragut High School after the months-long administrative leave. He worked as an assistant principal at Farragut High School.
He is now going to lead Austin-East Magnet High School — located in East Knoxville. He started working at the school as a teacher and coach when he was first hired at Knox County Schools in 2000. Around eight years later, he started working as an assistant principal at Austin-East Magnet High School.
He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in education, both from the University of Tennessee, according to a release from Knox County Schools.
The school district also said Krist Woods, who started working in Knox County Schools in 2002 and eventually started a career in administration in 2011, was appointed as Chief of Staff for KCS starting in July 2024. Other administrative appointments are available on Knox County Schools' website.