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JAMESTOWN (July 31, 2026) — Belinda Payne has been named coordinator of TCAT at Fentress County, a campus of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, President Tim Smith announced Friday.
A native of Fentress County, Payne has more than 20 years of classroom experience as an educator, and has served as a reading ambassador at South Fentress Elementary since 2022. She has a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech University and a master’s from Austin Peay University.
As campus coordinator, Payne will supervise on-site activities and facilities operations, act as the primary contact for staff, students, and visitors, and serve as a community and workforce liaison for TCAT in Fentress County.
“Our primary concern as we moved to hire a campus coordinator was to find someone who understands Fentress County and what makes it unique, and I cannot be more excited that Belinda is filling this role,” Smith said. “She is very experienced and very qualified in the fields of public education and education leadership, and she’s a face that our students and staff in Fentress County will find familiar.”
TCAT shares the new Fentress County Higher Education Center with Roane State Community College.
“As we move into this new facility and continue to strengthen our relationship with Roane State, Belinda is the right person to facilitate that partnership,” Smith said.
Payne said the decision to accept the position at TCAT “was not easy” because she has “truly loved” her career serving students, families and educators of the Fentress County School System. However, she’s ready to embrace the new role.
“Throughout my career, I have been passionate about helping students discover what is possible for their future,” she said. “As a Reading Ambassador, I worked to open doors through literacy. In this new role, I hope to open doors through career and technical education.
I am excited to help students explore career pathways, dual-enrollment opportunities, industry certifications, and higher-education options that can lead to successful and fulfilling careers,” Payne added. “My vision for the Fentress County campus is to create a place where students and community members can clearly see the connection between education and opportunity. I look forward to strengthening partnerships with our local schools, businesses, and community leaders to expand opportunities for Fentress County and help students identify their strengths, discover their passions, and achieve their goals.”
TCAT’s move to the new facility began with the current cohort of practical nursing students, which is set to graduate later this month. In addition to a new group of LPN students, new programs will start at Fentress County in September. Slated to start in the months ahead are Telecommunications and Underground Construction Technology, Allied Health and Medical Assisting, Industrial Maintenance Technology, and Building Construction Technology.
Additionally, TCAT will continue to offer programs at York Institute and Clarkrange High School, including Culinary Arts, Farming Operations Technology, Welding Technology, Cosmetology, and Automotive Technology.
For more information on any of the programs offered by TCAT, visit tcatoneida.edu. Prospective students are also invited to schedule a tour of the new Fentress County campus. For financial aid inquiries, call (423) 663-4900 ext. 109.