Tag Archives: Nashville schools

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NPEF Announces Nashville Blue Ribbon Teachers

The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announced the 2026 Blue Ribbon Teachers:

The Nashville Public Education Foundation proudly congratulates the 2026 Blue Ribbon Teacher award winners! In partnership between NPEF and Metro Nashville Public Schools, 25 educators will be recognized at a reception hosted by Vanderbilt University this evening. Award winners will be honored across three categories of impact:

  • Excellence in Student Success and Opportunity
  • Excellence in Instruction
  • Excellence in Leadership 

Since its inception in 2014, the Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards has honored over 500 educators. This year’s winners will receive a $2,000 prize and round-trip airline tickets generously provided by Southwest Airlines.

The 2026 Blue Ribbon Teacher award winners:

  • Lesley Baxter, Tulip Grove Elementary School
  • Melisa Brown, Neely’s Bend K-8 School
  • Chris Dickerson, Norman Binkley Elementary School    
  • Natalie Elliott, Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School    
  • Stephanie Ellis, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
  • Briana Evans, Cambridge Early Learning Center
  • Elmer Feliciano, McMurray Middle School    
  • Lacey Galbraith, John Overton High School    
  • Brenda Gauss, Amqui Global Communications K-8 Magnet School    
  • Magdi Girgis, Glencliff High School
  • Thelma Guzman Ardon, Hume-Fogg Magnet High School
  • Dr. Jenna Hagengruber Neal, John Overton High School
  • Ashley January-Reed, Isaiah T. Creswell Arts Magnet Middle School    
  • Marlon Jones, William Henry Oliver Middle School
  • Shasta Lee, McGavock High School
  • Ashley Lehenbauer, Apollo Middle School
  • Erinn McGee, John B. Whitsitt Elementary School    
  • Kirsten McGlone, Apollo Middle School    
  • Darcy Muller, Cane Ridge High School
  • Frank Norris, Meigs Magnet Middle School
  • Rebecca Pearson, Norman Binkley Elementary School    
  • Christopher Reid, J.T. Moore Middle School    
  • Jesi Seifert, Stratford STEM Magnet High School    
  • Dr. Deerre’ll Taylor, Cane Ridge High School
  • Hannah Younker, Haywood Elementary School

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Nashville Blue Ribbon Teachers

From the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF):

Metro Nashville Public Schools, in partnership with the Nashville Public Education Foundation, will celebrate the 2026 Blue Ribbon Teacher award winners on  Thursday, October 29, 2026. The evening reception will recognize 25 honorees across three award categories: Excellence in Student Success and Opportunity, Excellence in Instruction, and Excellence in Leadership.

The Blue Ribbon Teacher award is a prestigious award that honors and uplifts the incredible work of teachers and educators within Metro Nashville Public Schools. The winners were selected by a panel of judges through a rigorous application review process. In addition to the remarkable honor, each winner will receive a $2,000 prize in recognition of their dynamic impact.

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Are Nashville Schools Thriving?

The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) has compiled data into what the organization is calling the “Thriving Schools Dashboard.”

From an NPEF email:

Our Thriving Schools Dashboard brings together data across four domains — student enrollment and attendance, academic achievement, student experience, and teacher experience. This data speaks to many of the conditions within the Thriving Schools Framework, offering a fuller picture of what it takes to create an environment where all students thrive.

The dashboard shares data for all schools in Metro Nashville Public Schools, including district-authorized charter schools, as well as charter schools in Davidson County authorized by the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

The information is drawn from and updated annually based on publicly available state and district sources, including the following: 

  • Tennessee State Report Card Data
  • Panorama Student and Teacher Experience Surveys
  •  TN2030 Data on statewide goals from Tennessee SCORE’S TN2030 Initiative

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Cepicky Sets Sights on State Takeover of Nashville Schools

State Rep. Scott Cepicky, a state education policy leader who helped lead Tennessee to the bottom in the nation in school funding, now wants to push the state’s failed policies onto Nashville’s schools.

Cepicky is pushing for a state takeover of Nashville schools similar to what’s happening now in Memphis.

State Rep. Scott Cepicky of Maury County, who chairs one of two Education Committees in the Tennessee House of Representatives, told WKRN in Nashville that he’s looking at an effort to have the state take over Nashville schools.

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Teacherpreneur Applications Open

The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) is now accepting applications for Teacherpreneur:

Teacherpreneur is one of our signature programs that guides participants in developing their big idea through five impactful professional learning sessions. Ideas are explored, honed, and strengthened to become pitch night-ready. That’s when the top ideas will be awarded a total of $25,000 in cash prizes in addition to seed funding to implement a pilot program.

The application will close on Sunday, November 15, 2026. Eligible educators in Nashville’s public schools, including teachers, librarians, and counselors, are welcome to apply. For questions about Teacherpreneur, email Colleen Gilligan, Director of Strategic Initiatives.

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Is Something Going on with Credit Recovery in Nashville Schools?

TC Weber raises questions:

This week The Tennessean‘s Andrea Williams reported that the Tennessee Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating allegations involving the use of credit recovery in MNPS.

Wade, a former counselor at Stratford High School, has questioned whether MNPS has been following those rules.

Among the examples she has raised is a student who reportedly entered senior year with only 3.5 high school credits but managed to work through Integrated Math I, II and III, along with pre-calculus, in a single year.

Read that again.

Integrated Math I.

Integrated Math II.

Integrated Math III.

Pre-calculus.

One year.

Maybe that’s possible.

But if we’re going to tout graduation rates as evidence of academic success, somebody ought to be willing to explain how that works.

Wade alleges students were routinely pushed into credit recovery even when they weren’t eligible.

Even more troubling, she alleges administrators instructed teachers monitoring test-for-credit exams to advise students to revisit incorrect answers until they reached the required 60-percent benchmark.

Weber is careful to note these are allegations – an investigation is happening.

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Nashville Schools and Numbers

TC Weber takes a look at MNPS and allegations that the numbers just aren’t adding up:

For years, Metro Nashville Public Schools has increasingly relied on data to tell its story. Graduation rates. Test scores. Growth numbers. Attendance. College readiness. Career readiness. Dashboards. Strategic plans. PowerPoints.

Numbers everywhere.

And when the numbers look good, we are repeatedly told they are evidence that the strategies are working.

Fair enough.

But here’s the problem with building your success story almost entirely around numbers:

Eventually people start looking closely at the numbers.

And lately, more people seem to be looking.

By now, many Nashville education watchers have seen videos of former Teacher of the Year Samira Hardcastle accusing Metro Nashville Public Schools of forcing teachers to change grades and passing students she believes should not have passed.

READ MORE>

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Nashville’s Battle Among Handful of Pre-Pandemic Superintendents Still in Their Roles

An analysis of school district leadership in the nation’s 500 largest school districts reveals that Superintendent turnover is slowing:

In 2025-26, 87 of the nation’s 500 largest school districts (17.4%) changed superintendents, the lowest annual turnover ILO Group has recorded since before the pandemic and returning to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the pandemic has taken a meaningful toll on leadership in the top 500 districts: only 78 leaders who were in their seats in March of 2020 remain in their position today. 

Since March 13, 2020, these 500 districts have changed superintendents 745 times and only 78 have not changed at all.

One of the 78 “remainers” is Nashville’s Adrienne Battle, who assumed her role in 2019.

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Nashville Public Schools Hall of Fame

The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) will hold an event on Thursday, August 27th to honor this year’s inductees into the Public Schools Hall of Fame.

More from a media release:

The Nashville Public Education Foundation will host its 22nd Public Schools Hall of Fame luncheon on Thursday, August 27, 2026, to recognize nine honorees and garner support for the city’s public education system.

2026 Public Schools Hall of Fame Honorees:

Nelson C. Andrews Distinguished Service Award presented by Vanderbilt University

  • Rodger Dinwiddie is the Co-CEO of STARS Nashville, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization addressing substance misuse, school-based mental health supports, violence and bullying prevention training, and adolescent intensive outpatient treatment services.

MNPS Distinguished Alumni Award presented by Belmont University

  • Johari Matthews, graduate of Glencliff High School, is the Vice President and Executive Director of ONE Community and the Tennessee Titans Foundation, where she leads the way in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.  
  • Rod McDaniel, graduate of McGavock High School, is the CEO of S3 Recycling Solutions, a nationally lauded IT asset disposition company serving clients across North America.
  • Evette White, graduate of Hillwood High School (now called James Lawson High School), is the Executive Director of Leadership Nashville, an executive program that strengthens Nashville through deep connections formed among diverse leaders.

Annette Eskind Inspiring Educator Award presented by UBS

  • Quanita Adams is a Computer Science and Mathematics educator at Stratford STEM Magnet High School, where she advances equitable access to high-quality STEM education.
  • Kevin Stevens is a 6th and 7th grade Math teacher and Instructional Leader at Head

Magnet Middle School (recently renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet Middle at Head Campus).

Ronald L. Corbin Inspiring Leader Award presented by Lipscomb University

  • Dr. Michael Pratt is the Executive Principal of Stratford STEM Magnet High School and the 2025 MNPS High School Principal of the Year.

Thomas J. Sherrard Inspiring Innovation Award presented by Nissan

  • DYMON In The Rough (Dynamic Young Minorities of Nashville) is a trusted, community model, youth development nonprofit organization that has empowered girls, equipped leaders, and elevated communities across Nashville and Middle Tennessee for 14 years.
  • Girls Write Nashville is a creative youth development program that empowers teen artists through songwriting, music production, mentorship, and community.

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MNPS and Not-So-Secret Secrets

Nashville education blogger TC Weber highlights what some say are significant challenges around student discipline in MNPS.

It is one of the worst-kept secrets in MNPS that the district does not want to suspend students. Every teacher with any experience has a story about a serious discipline issue that went unresolved, was sent back to the classroom or somehow disappeared from the official narrative.

Weber also calls out a cozy political relationship between the Mayor and Director of Schools:

The hidden agenda doesn’t stop at the boardroom. Hardcastle questioned Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s loyalty to MNPS Superintendent Adrienne Battle. She wonders why he hasn’t spoken publicly about the district’s obvious problems or demanded greater accountability from its leadership. Referring to Battle’s relationship with O’Connell—and to the superintendent’s “friends” working in roles across the district—Hardcastle said it seems really “cliquey.”

It seems that way because it is.

As he heads toward reelection mode, Mayor O’Connell probably needs to follow the same advice as MNPS. A prime example would be his claims of “fixing” school start times. Don’t think for one minute the public doesn’t recognize that maneuver for what it is: a political solution designed to sound larger than the actual change.

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