Donna serves as a Ford NGL Community Coach, bringing more than 30 years of experience in education leadership, workforce development, strategic planning, and cross-sector partnership building. Throughout her career as a teacher, Career and Technical Education leader, Director of the Academies of Nashville, and now national coach and consultant, she has helped school systems and communities redesign the student experience by aligning education with workforce and community needs.
As the former Director of the Academies of Nashville and Career and Technical Education for Metro Nashville Public Schools, Donna led the implementation of wall-to-wall career academies across 12 zoned high schools. She worked closely with business and industry leaders, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, post-secondary institutions, and education foundations to develop a shared vision for student success and create strategic plans to bring that vision to life. Donna also built strong relationships with hundreds of business and community partners, helping them better understand how to effectively engage with schools, educators, and students through meaningful partnerships and real-world learning experiences.
Over the past five years as a Ford NGL Community Coach, Donna has supported both large and small school districts across the country and internationally, as they bring together educators, employers, and community organizations to develop systems that prepare students for college, career, and life. She has also served on numerous boards and committees, further strengthening her expertise in community engagement, workforce partnerships, and collaborative leadership.
Donna holds a Business Degree and an MBA from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.