PUTNAM COUNTY, TENN. – The Putnam County School System is pleased to announce Deborah Robbins as the new principal at Sycamore Elementary. 

Robbins, who has been at Sycamore since 2012 as a teacher and assistant principal, replaces Tracy Nabors, who recently announced her retirement.

“Ms. Robbins's love for Sycamore, the faculty and staff, and students was evident during her interview,” said PCSS Director of Schools Corby King. “Ms. Robbins' commitment to student well-being and academic success is unquestionable. I am excited to support and work with Ms. Robbins as she leads Sycamore.”

A Putnam County native, Robbins joined the SES staff the same year Nabors became principal. When the principal position opened up, Robbins was openly supported by the SES faculty and staff to succeed Nabors.

“I am deeply honored to accept the position of principal at Sycamore,” Robbins said. “I have been a part of the Sycamore community for eleven years, both as a teacher and an administrator. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue the important work that Tracy Nabors and I have already started. Sycamore has a strong tradition of academic excellence and a vibrant community culture, and I am eager to build upon these foundations of excellence.”

Robbins grew up in Putnam County, attending Uffelman Elementary and Monterey High School before graduating from Tennessee Tech in 1996 with a Bachelor's Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies~Human Learning (K-8). She returned to Tech and earned a Master’s in Instructional Leadership in 2001.

As a teacher, Robbins started her career at Volunteer Christian Academy in 1996 before being hired at Monterey High School in 1999. After moving to Burks Middle School, where she taught for 11 years, Robbins took a position at Sycamore in 2012, teaching 4th grade before becoming an assistant principal.

Robbins has been married to her husband, Chris, for 25 years. They have two children: a daughter, Macie, who will attend Tennessee Tech this fall, and a son, Gavin, who will be a freshman at Upperman High School this fall. They also have two cats, Alice and Snoop.