About Us

Located in Board of Education District 9 and KCS Region 3 Gap Creek Elementary is located on Kimberlin Heights Road in South Knoxville. Gap Creek Elementary serves grades K-5.

We are a small school but have big goals for our students. We work closely with our community through parent engagement, PBIS initiatives, and professional learning. We partner with families to promote a positive and productive educational experience for all students. Together, we cultivate confident, inquisitive learners who are well-prepared for success in all areas of life.

History

History

Gap Creek Elementary School was first built in 1865. While the school has grown over the years, it remains more than just a building—it’s a family. Students here become part of a small, close-knit school community in a unique South Knoxville neighborhood. One visit, and it’s easy to see what makes Gap Creek such a special place.

Many parents describe Gap Creek as feeling like a private school experience—without the private school cost. Most classes have fewer than twenty students, allowing for individualized attention and strong connections between teachers and students.

Some of our students are children of Johnson University faculty and staff, while the majority live in the surrounding community. Many parents and grandparents also grew up in this area and attended Gap Creek themselves, creating a strong sense of continuity and community pride.

Our proximity to Johnson University provides a wonderful opportunity for collaboration. Johnson students volunteer throughout the school year, offering support in tutoring, reading and math groups, and classroom activities. Their talent and energy enrich our school in countless ways.

Often called “the best kept secret” in the area, Gap Creek is a place where teachers and staff go above and beyond to help students live by our motto: Work Hard and Be Nice. Our students reflect that spirit every day—they truly are Gap Creek students.

Gap Creek Elementary is more than a school. It’s a community, a family, and a place where every student can thrive.

VISION

Our school empowers learners to be proficient readers, problem-solvers, to have a growth mindset, a passion for learning, and a positive attitude in a rigorous learning environment.

MISSION

Gap Creek Elementary is committed to being one school family and providing high-quality, differentiated learning experiences that create confident learners and great citizens.

SCHOOL PROMISE

As a member of the Gap Creek family, I promise to work hard, respect others, and be responsible for my actions in order to make my community proud.

School Administrators

Principal

Principal

Mr. Carl Whipple

Carl Whipple has been an educator for almost 40 years, having worked with students at all educational levels. He began his career in the fall of 1989 as the director of bands at Darlington School in Rome, GA. The band director position at Webb School of Knoxville brought him to the area in 1993. He joined Knox County Schools in 1998 as the band director at Vine Middle Magnet School where he taught for 8 years. His start as an administrator began in 2006 at Norwood Elementary working as the Assistant Administrator and later Assistant Principal. He served as an Assistant Principal at Northshore Elementary from its inception in 2013 through 2019. In 2019, he became Principal of West Haven Elementary where he served for 5 years. In the summer of 2024, he arrived at Gap Creek Elementary where he continues to serve the students and staff as they soar to new heights.

Mr. Whipple holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Davidson College, a Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville).

Email Carl Whipple

Staff Directory

Our staff directory provides a comprehensive and easily accessible listing of school and district personnel. Searches can be made by name, job title, or facility location.

Search directory

Calendar

Gap Creek Elementary follows an academic calendar approved by the Board of Education that identifies the first and last day of school; student and teacher in-service days; early release days; school holidays; and grading periods.

These calendars are detailed by school year.

See Calendar

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