Tessa Gonce serves as the Impact and Education Manager for United Way of Greater Kingsport. A former English teacher and Miss Kingsport, Tessa has built her career around education, mentorship, and meaningful community engagement.
A lifelong advocate for literacy, she earned both her B.A. in English and M.Ed. in Secondary English from Milligan University before spending five years shaping young lives as an English teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School. During her tenure, she was recognized as WJHL’s Educator of the Week and served in several leadership roles, including student council sponsor and SEL Building Lead.
Tessa’s deep love for Kingsport was sparked early and grew even stronger during her year as Miss Kingsport in 2015, when she participated in more than 300 community events. Through that service, she discovered the heart of the “Kingsport Spirit” and developed a passion for volunteerism that continues to guide her work today.
Driven by a desire to uplift others, Tessa is excited to bring her skills and heart for service to United WE READ and AveNew. Outside of work, she enjoys life with her energetic one‑year‑old, cheering on Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney with her fiancé Nick, and unwinding with reading, coloring, Greenbelt walks, and her favorite shows—Survivor, The Traitors, and Monday Night RAW.