From the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF):
This week, the Teacherpreneur 2026 cohort members will pitch their challenge-facing, solution-bringing ideas before a panel of judges on Pitch Night. Three of the 12 cohort members will claim first, second, and third place, based on their pitches. And one cohort member will receive the Community Favorite Award–that’s where you come in!
Voting is now open for the Community Favorite Award! Based on your votes, this winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500 to reward their dedication to addressing challenges and increasing opportunities for student success.
An email from the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) offers the following information about the 2026 Public Schools Hall of Fame:
The Nashville Public Education Foundation invites you to save the date for the 22nd Public Schools Hall of Famecelebration on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the Music City Center!
Chaired by Gini-Pupo-Walker and Hal Cato, the signature event recognizes Metro Nashville Public School educators and alumni who exemplify the best of public education through their personal and professional endeavors. This chairing duo embodies the values of the celebration in their respective personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to Nashville.
Pupo-Walker is the Director of National Education Strategy for the Raikes Foundation, where she leads the development and implementation of their grantmaking strategy for their K-12 and higher education portfolios. She was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award at the 2020 Public Schools Hall of Fame.
Cato is the CEO of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, the region’s leader in philanthropic activity and civic connection that cultivate strong communities. He received the Nelson C. Andrews Distinguished Service Award at the 2023 Public Schools Hall of Fame.
The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announced via newsletter that public voting for the 2026 Teacherpreneur awards will be March 2-3.
Teacherpreneur harnesses educator innovation to remove barriers to success, enabling all students to thrive. The cohort-based learning opportunity helps teachers identify an issue, research its root causes, and create innovative solutions.
The program culminates with cohort members pitching their ideas to a panel of judges. This will result in the chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes and access to seed funding to implement their idea as a pilot program.
Public voting for the Community Favorite Award will take place online March 2-3, 2026, and during the March 4, 2026, Pitch Night. The winner will receive a $2,500 prize.
A media release from the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announces the 2026 class of Nashville Teacherpreneurs and explains more about the program:
The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announced the latest cohort of the Teacherpreneur program, marking its fifth year and continuing its partnership with founding supporter Amazon. Since 2021, the Teacherpreneur program has supported over 40 educators to develop their innovative solutions for removing barriers to student success, with winners receiving cash prizes and access to seed funding for implementation.
Some of the issues being considered by cohort members include creating employment certification pathways for multilingual students, increasing resources for family engagement programs, building support for first year teachers, and facilitating stronger connections to magnet school opportunities. The cohort experience will culminate in a pitch event in March 2026, where educators will present their ideas to a panel of community judges for a chance to win a share of $25,000, as well as funding to support the implementation of their ideas. The fifth Teacherpreneur cohort includes:
The Nashville Public Education Foundation’s (NPEF) Teacherpreneur applications close soon – from an email:
Teacherpreneur is a professional learning experience for Nashville public school educators designed to harness teacher expertise and innovation. Teacherpreneurs participate in 5 sessions over January and February to build out ideas that help advance positive outcomes for students.
Teacherpreneurs will identify an issue they want to address, research root causes of the issue, learn about change management theory, and use design thinking strategies to create solutions that help students thrive. In March, Teacherpreneurs will pitch their ideas for a chance to win cash prizes and seed funding to pilot their idea.
A press release from the Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) highlights Nashville’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Teachers:
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) designated 25 educators as new Blue Ribbon Teachers at a ceremony hosted by Vanderbilt University on October 30. Each Blue Ribbon teacher received a $2,000 cash prize, professional headshots, a trophy, media mentions and two round-trip airline tickets, courtesy of Southwest Airlines. Since 2014, the Blue Ribbon Teacher awards have recognized and celebrated more than 475 of Nashville’s top teachers.
The 2025 winners are:
Courtney Antonello, H. G. Hill Middle
Brooke Adler, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
Tony Berg, Wright Middle
Deanna Boorsma, Meigs Middle Magnet
Hudson Christian, Stratford STEM Magnet High
Christopher Collins, Hume-Fogg Magnet High
Sarah Diaz, Maplewood High
Abbie Gunkel, Charlotte Park Elementary
Manda Hackney, Tusculum Elementary
Heather Hall, East Nashville Magnet High
Samira Hardcastle, John F. Kennedy Middle
Dr. Brittany Harrington, Cockrill ES
Maegan Hickey, Cambridge Early Learning Center
Joshua Latham, Republic High
Matthew Laurence, Hume-Fogg Magnet High
Valerie McAnally, Cole Elementary
Jennifer Murray, Hume-Fogg Magnet High
Meredith Musgrove, Paragon Mills Elementary
Marti Profitt, Nashville School of the Arts
Likisha Rhodes, Cane Ridge High
Alex Robinson, John Overton High
Zakeisha Appleton Smith, Tusculum Elementary
Mary Alice Strickler, KIPP High School
Debbie West, Waverly-Belmont Elementary
Courtney Williams, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
“Teaching is an admirably tough profession that requires creativity, patience and unwavering commitment. We are so proud to honor the top teaching talent in our city each year and show Nashville how educational excellence can help students thrive, said Dr. Diarese George, NPEF President & CEO. “The Blue Ribbon Teacher designation recognizes the hard work of these teachers and shines a spotlight on the innovation and leadership that happens daily in MNPS classrooms.”
NPEF Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards held at the Wyatt Rotunda
The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) offers the following professional learning opportunities:
Teacherpreneur
Are you a Nashville public school educator with an innovative idea for improving student outcomes? Teacherpreneur is a unique opportunity to focus on an issue you are passionate about, research the root causes of the issue, and develop a solution and implementation plan to help advance the positive change you wish to see. Teacherpreneur is a professional learning cohort experience for educators who are looking to grow as teacher leaders, expand their networks, and learn how to make changes that last.
At the end of the 5-session experience, Teacherpreneurs will present their ideas at a pitch event to a panel of judges. Top concepts are awarded a collective $25,000 in cash prizes ($10,000 for first place, $7,500 for second place, $5,000 for third place, and $2,500 for the community favorite award). The top three concepts receive access to additional seed funding to implement their ideas.
Are you passionate about supporting public schools and are looking for ways to get involved? Leadership Public Education is a leadership development cohort experience over the course of six months designed to grow participants’ knowledge and skills as public schools advocates. Cohort members will learn from experts about key topics related to Metro Nashville Public Schools, including school funding, education policy, and talent pipelines.
The Leadership Public Education program, in partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, is designed to help participants learn more about the unique challenges and opportunities facing our public schools and position them to serve in community leadership roles that benefit our students, schools, and district.
What I notice most in Nashville’s public schools is the resilience, creativity and excellence that shines through every day from teachers and students. At its core, the story of Metro schools is the story of who we are as a city, and the story of who we are becoming.
Public schools are where possibility meets empowerment — the kind of hope, connection and work that can change generations.
Public education belongs to the whole city. It is the heartbeat of a thriving, just and equitable Nashville that ensures our children are seen, supported and set up to lead lives of purpose and impact.
It represents the promise that every child, no matter their neighborhood, language, race or background, has the opportunity to dream boldly, learn deeply and step into a powerful future full of possibility.
On September 30, hundreds of Nashvillians joined us to celebrate our city’s public school excellence and induct nine new honorees into the Public Schools Hall of Fame. This year’s event recognized one visionary business leader, three outstanding Metro Nashville Public Schools alumni, two transformational high school teachers, one inspiring school leader, and two local nonprofits improving opportunities and resources for students.
According to an NPEF media release:
Nine remarkable honorees were inducted, including Janet Miller, Martesha Johnson Moore, Marlene Eskind Moses, Tom Parrish, Addison Barrack and Montrell Williams, Chris Plummer, Ed.D, as well as the Adroit and Nashville Tools for Schools organizations.
The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) makes the following announcement:
The Leadership Public Education application is open now through November 14! This opportunity is for anyone looking to gain knowledge about our public schools, grow a network of fellow public schools advocates, and share their experiences and voice in support of the students, teachers, and schools in our community. NPEF believes in order to advance positive outcomes for students, we all have a role to play; Leadership Public Education is a great way to engage in the community to help ensure all students thrive.
In partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Public Education is a 6-month public education leadership development program that empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills to serve in community leadership roles at all levels of Metro Nashville Public Schools.
