Twice a year (March and October), hundreds of educators and community members from across the country attend the 2.5-day Academies of Nashville Study visit to learn about Nashville’s 15+ year transformation of its zoned high schools to wall-to-walk career academies. This study visit is the best way to do a “deep dive” into the academy model.
But experience also tells us there are many community and school district leaders who can benefit greatly from seeing the academy model firsthand, but don’t need all the implementation details and can’t find 3 consecutive days for travel in their packed calendar.
So Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), Alignment Nashville, and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) partnered to organize a “Leadership Track” version of the Academies Study Visit on March 22, 2024. Forty leaders from five Ford NGL communities immersed themselves in a one-day, 12-hour exploration of the community-connected strategy and transformation.
MNPS director of schools, Dr. Adrienne Battle, and Director of Academies Dan Phillips shared their insights as school district leaders.
Leadership Track participants heard speakers from Alignment Nashville, PENCIL, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Nashville State Community College talk about their role as strategic thought partners.
They heard Senator Brenda Gilmore, Judge Sheila Calloway, and MNPS board members Cheryl Mayes and Christiane Buggs discuss how elected officials can help support academy transformation.
And they learned how business leaders from Deloitte, HCA Healthcare, Stantec, and Holloman Solutions are working with students in their partner academies, but also advising the district on CTE pathways and industry certification by serving on industry councils convened by the Nashville Chamber.
A tour of the academies at Henry Lawson High School in Bellevue and a dinner panel featuring Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell rounded out the day.
Thank you to all of our Leadership Track speakers and participants for an inspiring day in Nashville!
For more information on the Academies of Nashville Study Visit and/or the Leadership Track please reach out to [email protected]
