Starr Herrman, Ford NGL Coach, is recognized for her work with high school transformation, and particularly, the academy model. She was instrumental in planning, directing and implementing the smaller learning communities/academies model (The Academies of Nashville) for the Metro Nashville Public School system from 2006 to 2012. She is a former high school teacher, CTE Director, Director of The Academies of Nashville and IT manager.
Since retirement in 2012, Starr remains active in the school system, working on contract to help support educational transformation, She has also served as director of the Nashville Ford Next Generation Learning (NGL) Hub, serves on the Ford NGL Leadership Council, is a Ford NGL coach and transformation specialist. Starr also consults with many districts across the U.S. in high school transformation. The academies are her professional passion because she has seen it impact all types of students in a positive way. As Director of the Hub, she has been instrumental in hosting the many study visits, VIP Tours, and helped orchestrate the Hub as a stellar professional development center that supports NGL and non-NGL communities implementing the academy model with fidelity.
Some of her “starrisms” are: “Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast”, “Implement with Fidelity”, “We have a moral and economic imperative to allow students to explore, experience and plan for life after high school through rigorous, relevant classes, while interacting and building relationships with professionals in the real world so that they are ready for success”.
