A Special Tribute to Dr. and Mrs. Paul Kelley

If you have been active in Oakwood Lincoln Park organization or attended any neighborhood events in Oakwood Lincoln Park, you certainly have met the Kelleys. Paul and Norma Kelley have been mainstays in the OLPNA organization since its inception in 1979 and have demonstrated a passion for Oakwood Lincoln Park and the community of Knoxville for many years. Always smiling, both contribute an upbeat energy and momentum that have helped move OLPNA toward positive change.

Paul Kelley has served as president and board member for OLPNA for many years. His career has been dedicated to making education better in Knox County. He was a member of the Knox County School Board from 1991-2004, a Professor of Education at Knoxville College from 1983-1994, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for Knoxville City Schools, and principal or teacher at several Knoxville schools. He completed a Doctorate of Education at the University of Tennessee. Along the way he has contributed his time and talent to Knoxville in many ways, including serving as a Boy Scout troop leader, as President of Child and Family Services and as Chairperson of the Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park Task Force. An article published in the Halls Shopper News upon Dr. Kelley's retirement from the Knox County School Board is reproduced below.


Norma Kelley is an OLPNA native, having been born on Atlantic Avenue to Roy and Ethel Sawyer. She attended Oakwood and Lincoln Park Elementary Schools, Christenberry Junior High School, and Old Knoxville High School, where she was the very last graduate. After graduating from Cumberland Junior College and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, she taught at Christenberry for five years and then was librarian at Whittle Springs until her retirement in 1993.

The Kelleys have two sons--both are attorneys. John, a lawyer graduated from Yale University and now lives in San Francisco. Michael, whose law degree is from Harvard, lives in Knoxville. The Kelleys have a grandson Lucas.

Paul Kelley off school board, continues to educate

In politics, you’ll find smart people and others not so smart; honest people and some who are less so; but for integrity, common sense and basic goodness, it’s hard to top Paul and Norma Kelley. Paul was a scoutmaster for 40 years and an educator for 55.

His departure from the school board is huge.

Kelley, on the school board since 1991, chose not to seek reelection this year and was succeeded by Indya Kincannon.

Known as the conscience of the school board, Kelley often voted alone against expulsions. He especially opposed the automatic expulsions of “zero tolerance” offenses. Kelley said the courts exist to punish lawbreakers and the school system exists to educate children. He pushed for alternative programs for troubled and troublesome kids. The alternative programs that exist today are to his credit.

Paul and Norma live in the Oakwood-Lincoln Park community where they raised two sons. Each graduated as valedictorian of Fulton High School. John, a lawyer who graduated from Yale University, now lives in San Francisco. Michael, whose law degree is from Harvard, lives in Knoxville and served as Victor Ashe’s law director. The Kelleys have one grandson, Lucas.

The Kelleys met when both taught at Christenberry Junior High. When they married, under the rules one had to leave. Paul transferred to Fulton High School where he taught English for five years. Along the way, Norma obtained a master’s degree and Paul got his doctorate. Among their students were Dr. Doug Leahy, Gloria Ray, the Rev. James Whedbee and Alan Carmichael.

Paul became principal of South Junior and Senior High and later of West High School. He went to the Central Office of the old city system in 1973 as director of instruction. He retired in 1982, taking a year off which he loathed. Then he taught at Knoxville College for 11 years, retiring in 1994.

Norma retired in 1993, ending her teaching career as a librarian at Whittle Springs Middle School.

Both are active in the Emerald Ave. Youth Foundation where Paul tutors a third grader who needs help with reading and Norma cooks supper for some 40 participants every Wednesday.

“It’s an effort to rescue kids,” Norma said. Our kids had us, but today’s parents are not there for their kids. Many work hard, trying to make a living. They love their kids, but don’t have time for them. The neighborhood has changed as well, with younger families moving to the suburbs and older couples often replaced by tenants. Poverty, not race, is the biggest problem for urban schools, Norma said.

She ponders why some kids find their way out of poverty while others don’t. Paul said: “You give, hoping that they will be the ones.”

Paul and Norma are proud that the Emerald Ave. Youth Foundation has grown to include several graduates of the program on its full-time staff. Paul chaired the board of trustees at Emerald Avenue United Methodist Church when the Youth Foundation was begun in the late ’80s. It started with a $25,000 budget and now has a budget of $1 million and three locations.

Paul calls director Steve Diggs a “miracle worker,” and said St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Sisters of Mercy have been crucial in sustaining the program. The Youth Foundation now includes a gym with football programs and wrestling. Norma wants more – music programs, reading and art.

The Kelleys have been married a long time. Perhaps this is why: During political season, they don’t put up a yard sign unless they both agree on the candidate. Ditto on bumper stickers. They agreed to watch the presidential debates in silence. Paul kept his word except one time. When the moderator asked Bush and Kerry about their wives, one said each was married to a strong woman. At that, Paul reached over, put his arm around Norma and said, “And so am I.”

Educators, care-givers, politicians. Paul and Norma Kelley are community builders.– S. Clark

Putting children first

“Dr. Paul Kelley is an exceptional member of this community. His commitment and dedication over a lifetime have made a tremendous difference is the lives of thousands of students, and have helped this community and our school system progress in areas where many have not. He has proven himself to be a leader and a statesman in all of his activities with the school board. In every instance Dr. Kelley has put children first.

“I have served with 60 plus board members in my career, and Dr. Kelley’s level of performance and conduct on the school board have been something to which we all should aspire.

“I have enjoyed working with him, and I feel that we are all better for having his example to emulate. We will surely miss his keen insight and his ability to rapidly get to the heart of an issue.”