Oak Ridge Schools has named two experienced educational leaders to senior leadership positions, welcoming Dr. Catherine Ginel as Principal of Jefferson Middle School and Kristina Goodacre as Executive Director of Human Resources.
“Dr. Ginel and Ms. Goodacre each bring a wealth of experience, proven leadership, and a deep commitment to serving students and staff,” said Dr. Bruce Borchers, Superintendent of Oak Ridge Schools. “Their expertise will strengthen our district in meaningful ways—from supporting and developing our outstanding employees to ensuring every student at Jefferson Middle School has the opportunity to thrive. We are excited to welcome them to the Oak Ridge Schools team.”
Dr. Ginel returns to Oak Ridge Schools to lead Jefferson Middle School, bringing more than two decades of experience as a teacher and school leader. She began her Tennessee career teaching seventh-grade science at Robertsville Middle School before serving in several leadership roles at Farragut Middle School in Knox County Schools, including biology teacher, instructional coach, assistant administrator, and most recently, Curriculum Principal, where she focused on instructional excellence and educator development.
Beyond her school leadership experience, Dr. Ginel has been an active contributor to education across Tennessee. She has served on former Governor Bill Haslam and Commissioner Candice McQueen’s Teacher Cabinet, participated as a Tennessee SCORE Educator Fellow, and contributed to multiple Tennessee Department of Education committees focused on advancing student achievement and educator excellence. She holds a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia, an Education Specialist degree in Administration from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Science Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Boston University.
“I’m honored to return to Oak Ridge Schools and lead Jefferson Middle School,” said Dr. Ginel. “I look forward to partnering with our students, families, and staff to build on Jefferson’s tradition of excellence where every student can learn, grow, and succeed.”
Goodacre joins Oak Ridge Schools with more than 15 years of experience in education administration and a decade in progressive Human Resources leadership experience in organizational development, compensation strategy, employee relations, and workforce planning. Most recently, she served as Director of Human Resources at Maryville College, where she provided strategic leadership for all aspects of human resources operations while advising executive leadership on workforce planning, compensation, organizational effectiveness, and institutional compliance. Prior to that role, she served as Director of Talent Management at Pellissippi State Community College and held human resources leadership positions at the University of Tennessee and the College of DuPage.
A SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and Certified Employee Relations Professional (CERP), Goodacre has extensive experience developing compensation systems, leading employee engagement initiatives, implementing leadership development programs, and building organizational cultures that support employee success. She holds a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Southern Illinois University.
As Executive Director of Human Resources, Goodacre will oversee all district human resources functions, including recruitment and retention, employee relations, compensation and benefits, staff development, compliance, and workforce planning.
Both leaders will begin their new roles ahead of the 2026-27 school year and will play an important role in advancing Oak Ridge Schools’ vision of ensuring every student is prepared for college, career, and life success.
