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:
- Courtney Antonello, H.G. Hill Middle School
- Ashley Bolan, Hunters Lane High School
- Mary Jo Cramb, Academy at Old Cockrill
- Nakia Edwards, Oliver Middle School
- Katie Fitzpatrick, Hume Fogg Magnet High School
- Molly Goss, Cane Ridge High School
- Heather Hall, East Nashville Magnet High School
- Leigh Ann Harbort, Harris Hillman School
- Madison Reeb, Valor College Prep
- Likisha Rhodes, Cane Ridge High School
- Louisa Saylor, Goodlettsville Elementary School
- Debbie West, Waverly-Belmont Elementary School
