Donna Scott, the first face you see upon entering Carmel Christian School, is one of the most memorable women to walk the campus. Though she is the first person you encounter when stepping inside the campus doors, she is beloved for the way she strives to care for students, faculty, guests and more, who check in and out each day. 

Scott was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She grew up alongside her two sisters, Lea Anne and Alisa, as well as her two parents, Pay and Bonnie Sisk. She describes her adolescence by stating, “It was many, many years before technology was innovated, to me that was a perfect time to grow up.” Life to Scott moved at a slower pace without the city distractions. Church was always the main focus of her life ever since she was a little girl. She attended a local Baptist church every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. She enjoyed her teenage years of plugging into the youth ministry and making lasting friendships.

Scott describes her high school self as someone who “was everybody’s friend.” She was a hard-working student who prioritized a balance of school work and her social life. She was involved in a YMCA organization, Y-Teens. The club allowed her the opportunity to gather for prayer meetings around the flag pool, complete numerous service projects and attend dances throughout the school year. She recollects that Friday night football was always a big deal within the community. She always participated in the games by cheering on her team in the stands with her closest friends. 

Scott graduated from high school and continued her education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She majored in elementary education in hopes of pursuing a career in teaching in the future. Scott loved her college years and cherished her time while on campus. When asked to describe her years on campus, she shared, “I absolutely loved every second on campus. I would be a student today if I could be!” 

Scott has two sons, Matthew, who is forty-four years old and Jonathan who is thirty-four years old. Matthew is married and has two children. Scott adores her grandchildren, Ethan and Pearl, and loves spending time with them when she visits Marietta, Georgia. Jonathan is a current student in the electrician school and plans to continue a career in that field.  

When asked about her career journey, Scott shares that she has always been referred to as “Ms. Donna.” She began babysitting children at the age of eighteen to pick up extra money while in college. She fell in love with the idea of spending time with young children. This led her to become a preschool teacher for the local school in Cumming, Georgia shortly after she moved in 1992. In 2004, Scott moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and began looking for several job opportunities. At the time, Scott had just gone through a divorce and was looking for a fresh start. She was informed that Carmel needed a secretary receptionist and pursued an interest in the school. She began her first day on campus on July 7, 2004. She shares, “I’ve seen a lot of children walk through the doors of CCS all of these years.”

Scott has been serving CCS for twenty years. Mrs. Gross, Mrs. Barkley and Mrs. Lee are the final three women who have worked since the beginning of her journey. Scott recalls, “When I came we had two of each grade K-8 and around 250 students, so I’ve seen a lot of growth and change throughout the years.”

When asked about her favorite part of her job, she shares that she loves the interactions she gets to have with parents and students. She describes her time at CCS by stating that the campus is a family, and she is so thankful to be a part of it. She treasures watching students grow from kindergarten to seniors and especially values the partnership with parents. Scott is appreciative of the faculty and staff members that she gets to work alongside as well.

Not only has Scott been working on campus, she also has been attending Carmel Baptist for the past twenty years. She has had opportunities to grow in her faith in the church, but also through serving at the front desk. Scott shares that her faith is the most important aspect of her life. Although she took a profession of faith at nine years old, it wasn’t until the hardship of divorce that she truly relied on the Lord’s presence in her life. “I started to understand the difference between Jesus as a Savior and Jesus as the Lord of my life.” She acknowledged who He was and allowed Jesus to have complete rule over her life. “Carmel Baptist has allowed me to experience so many different opportunities to grow my faith.” Scott has experienced multiple mission trips to Kenya, The Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. She is also thankful for her involvement in Women’s Bible studies, and being able to grow in relationships with others in the church.

While on campus, Scott has formed close relationships with different colleagues throughout the years. Development and alumni coordinator, Sonya Nestor, describes Scott by stating, “She is the protector of all things: paper, yellow stickers, envelopes and most importantly, she protects everyone on campus. She will not let anyone pass through the glass doors who is not supposed to.” Advancement assistant, Laura Ezzell, has worked with Scott for the past ten years. She shares that Scott is “one of the most faithful friends and employees that you can ever wish for. She knows something about everything in this school. She is so smart and quick-witted, she loves things done the right way (her way)!”

Whether you are a staff member passing by the front desk, or a student checking out for the day, make sure to take time to thank Ms. Donna for all her hard work and dedication to the protection and preservation of the Carmel community!