Monroe Made: Krystalene (Murphy) Clough

Monroe County Schools is proud to highlight another outstanding graduate in our Monroe Made series, Krystalene (Murphy) Clough, a 2008 graduate of Tellico Plains High School who is making a difference in healthcare while giving back to the community that helped shape her.

Krystalene began her educational journey at Coker Creek Elementary School and later graduated as Valedictorian of the Tellico Plains High School Class of 2008. Today, she serves as a Physical Therapist at Prisma Health Total Rehabilitation, where she recently helped open the Madisonville physical therapy clinic and now helps lead it.

When reflecting on her time in Monroe County Schools, Krystalene says it is the people who stand out most. “When I look back on my education at Coker Creek Elementary School and Tellico Plains High School, I think about the people. Some people think that attending a rural county school means your education might be lacking, but my teachers taught me so much more than academics. Even after almost 20 years, my former teachers still know me by name and genuinely care about how I’m doing. I don’t think you will find that anywhere else.”

Athletics were a big part of Krystalene’s high school experience, as she played basketball, volleyball, and softball at Tellico Plains High School. “One of my greatest mentors was our athletic trainer, Candace Yates. Not only did Candace spend extra time training the athletes, but she also supported us off the court and field. She was a big part of my decision to go to Carson-Newman and pursue physical therapy.”

After graduating from TPHS, Krystalene attended Carson-Newman University, where she earned her degree in Exercise Science in 2011. She then completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2014. She began her career with Blount Memorial Hospital, now Prisma Health. In 2022, Krystalene returned to serve Monroe County, and in February 2025, she helped open the new Prisma Health Total Rehabilitation clinic in Madisonville.

Krystalene is especially passionate about supporting local youth and student-athletes. She helped bring an athlete injury clinic to Monroe County, providing free athletic trainers to Tellico Plains High School and Sweetwater High School. She is also helping launch a new VolunTeens program, which will allow high school students to volunteer or observe in healthcare settings at local clinics and hospitals this summer. Outside of work, Krystalene enjoys life with her family. She is married to Sonny Clough, also a TPHS Class of 2008 graduate, and they have two energetic red-headed children, with another on the way in May.

Krystalene’s story is a powerful example of what it means to be Monroe Made, using the foundation built in Monroe County Schools to succeed while giving back to the community that helped shape her journey.