Kingsport School District Accepts Ballad Health Donation for Reset Rooms

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The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen has accepted a $4,500 donation from Ballad Health to create a 'reset room' at John Adams Elementary School. Reset rooms are designed to support positive mental health and reduce stress, and may include items like coloring books, Play-Doh, and fidget toys. Ballad Health has also donated funds for similar reset rooms at Sevier Middle School, Robinson Middle School, and Andrew Jackson Elementary School.

Why it matters

The creation of reset rooms in local schools reflects a growing emphasis on student and staff mental health and wellbeing. These calming spaces provide an outlet for students and teachers to take a break, recharge, and manage stress in a healthy way, which can have positive impacts on academic performance, behavior, and overall school climate.

The details

The reset rooms will be outfitted with a variety of therapeutic items, such as coloring books, Play-Doh, and fidget toys, to help students and staff find ways to self-regulate and reduce feelings of anxiety or overwhelm. The donation from Ballad Health will cover the costs of setting up these reset rooms at the four Kingsport schools.

• On Tuesday, February 18, 2026, the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen accepted the $4,500 donation from Ballad Health.

What’s next

The Kingsport school district will work with Ballad Health to design and equip the reset rooms at the four schools, with the goal of having them operational by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.