“We lost something important as farms became subdivisions,” I wrote here. “We misplaced our connection to the land and our sense of community. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to bring that back. …

“And know this, new leaders:

  • Don’t wait for permission. Just lead.
  • Don’t worry about money. It will come.
  • Don’t concern yourself with followers or how to get out your message.

“You see, there’s this older woman, formerly known as the Shopper lady, who writes daily at KnoxTNToday.com. We’ll tell your story, help raise funds and even grant permission. The scarcity is never followers – it’s leaders.”

Our new leader at Knox TN Today is Susan Espiritu, effective July 1, 2024. I’m still involved, so now there are two of us.

Sandra Clark and Laura Gill Bailey check the Shopper. circa 1978

At heart, I’m an ink and paper reporter. While storytelling remains the same, the internet requires a different mindset – more moving parts and weird readership metrics require someone who understands (and cares) what that means.

Susan Espiritu is perfectly suited to take KnoxTNToday to the next level. She’s a competitor, unafraid to tackle new things, and she knows there’s no need to make the copy fit when the format is elastic.

A Fountain City native who still attends church there, Susan took early retirement from Knox County Schools. Most recently, she was principal at Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy. She launched the University Assisted Community School at Pond Gap Elementary, with funding from Randy Boyd and coaching from Dr. Bob Kronick.

Susan says: “Throughout her career, Sandra left a lasting mark on her profession and her community. Her innovative ideas, leadership skills and commitment to excellence have inspired and motivated those around her.

“However, know she has not quit writing. She is dedicated to her Let’s Talk column and providing the daily obituary links for nine counties. (She is also checking in to edit every night, because she just can’t help it and doesn’t like most of my headlines.)”

KnoxTNToday still features Marvin West, Beth Kinnane, Tom King, Maria Cornelius and others from the Clark era as well as many new writers that Susan has recruited.

It’s not a –30– for me (newspaper talk for end of story). It’s just a maybe –26.5–.

Sandra Clark is founder of Knox TN Today, Inc.