New Teachers Are Welcomed to the Tenaha ISD Family

August 16, 2018 - Tenaha ISD takes pride in providing the best education possible to the students of Tenaha. The excellent faculty and staff are crucial in achieving academic and extracurricular goals. This year several new teachers were added to the Tenaha ISD family.

Luke BalkcomLuke Balkcom came to Tenaha from Alto ISD. Luke is a graduate of Joaquin High school. After high school he attended and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. He has been in education for 13 years. Luke will be coaching and teaching high school and middle school math. He is married to Lauren Balkcom and they have an 8 month old son, Gavin Balkcom.

Tammy HamiltonTammy Hamilton graduated from Joaquin High School. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University after high school where she graduated with a degree in Animal Science. She has been teaching Special Education for 6 years and working in education for 12 years. She proudly joins the Tenaha ISD staff as a special education teacher.

Brandy JenkinsBrandy Jenkins joins Tenaha ISD as a science teacher. Brandy graduated from Frankston High School. She is a graduate of West Texas A & M University. This will be Brandy’s 8th year in education. Brandy is married to Jeremy Jenkins and they have three boys, Tyson, Gage, and Jake that keep them busy! Brandy will teach 8th grade science, biology, and chemistry.

Jeremy JenkinsJeremy Jenkins is a Cayuga High School Graduate. After high school he attended and graduated from UT Tyler and has been in education for 16 years. Jeremy is married to Brandy Jenkins and they have three boys, Tyson, Gage and Jake. Jeremy Jenkins will be the new Defensive Coordinator for the Tenaha Tigers. 

Janet JenningsJanet Jennings is a 1979 Carthage High School graduate. After high school she graduated from Panola Jr. College with an Associate’s Degree in Business. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in Education specializing in reading. Janet has been in education for 26 years. She will be teaching 2nd grade at Tenaha ISD. She is very excited to be a Tenaha Tiger and more excited to be teaching the future Tenaha Tigers.

Andre JonesAndre Jones is a 5th year teacher. He is a native of a native of McGregor, Texas. After high school graduation he attended Trinity Valley Community College and Stephen F. Austin on football scholarship. He has earned a B.S Liberal Studies and American History from Excelsior College and he will graduate in December 2019 with a Masters Degree in Sports Administration from Concordia University of Austin. Andre proudly served 21 years in the United States Army before retiring in 2013. He will be teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies.

Lynn SilveyLynn Silvey is East Texas born and raised. After graduating from Kilgore High School at the top of her class, she went to Jacksonville College and played piano for the travelling choir while completing an associate of science degree with honors. That led to a move to College Station and a degree in English and history from Texas A&M University in 1985. A masters degree in English and a principal's certificate both from SFA completed her education.

With a total of 31 years in education, Mrs. Silvey taught at Union Grove High School, Gladewater Middle School, and Maude Laird Middle School (now named Kilgore Middle School) before moving to Joaquin to teach high school English. She has also taught for Kilgore College, LeTourneau University, and Panola as an adjunct English teacher.

Mrs. Silvey is married to Paul Silvey, who is the pastor of Joaquin First Baptist Church, and they have one son Matthew who is a freshman at Texas A&M University this year majoring in history and planning to pursue a law degree. Her older son Zack Phillips, a former US Marine, died unexpectedly two years ago. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, knitting, playing piano, travelling, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Silvey loves teaching and is excited about being a Tenaha Tiger!