On Monday, 300 educators and business volunteers gathered at Rocketown to recognize excellence within the Academies of Nashville. The Academies are Metro Schools’ effort to prepare every Nashville student for college and career in the district’s 12 zoned high schools. This concept, which has become a national model, enables students to choose a theme by which their core academic subjects are taught in order to help them think about their futures, see the reason for their education and apply their academic knowledge to real-world situations for deeper learning.

The Academies of Nashville Awards recognized distinction in the following categories: Academy Teacher of the Year (CTE/Thematic Pathway), Academy Teacher of the Year (General Education), Academy Team Leader of the Year, Academy Partnership of the Year in six industry areas, Academy Students of the Year, Academy Coach of the Year, Externship Project of the Year, Academy Assistant Principal of the Year, Executive Principal of the Year, Counselor of the Year, Freshman Academy of the Year and Academy of the Year.

Nominees were selected for each of the categories by a committee composed of school district, Nashville Area Chamber and PENCIL Foundation leadership. Hundreds of educators and business partners then voted for a nominee in each of the categories through an online secret ballot managed by Deloitte.

Congratulations to all this year's nominees and winners, and special thanks to Altria and Deloitte, the presenting sponsors who made the evening possible.

2012 Academies of Nashville Award Winners

Academy Teacher of the Year (CTE or Thematic Pathway)
Barclay Randall, Electronic Media, CMT Academy of Digital Design and Communication, McGavock High School

Academy Teacher of the Year (General Education)
Jason Bihler, US History, Academy of Teaching and Service, Antioch High School

Academy Team Leader of the Year
Jane Fetters, English, Tennessee Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance, Antioch High School

Academy Partnership of the Year, Arts, Media and Communications Partnership Council
Stones River National Battlefield and the CMT Academy of Digital Design and Communication, McGavock High School

Academy Partnership of the Year, Business, Marketing and IT Partnership Council
Deloitte and The Tennessee Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance, Antioch High School

Academy Partnership of the Year, Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Technology Partnership Council
Nashville Electric Service and the Academy of Energy & Power at Maplewood High School

Academy Partnership of the Year, Health Partnership Council
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. and the Academy of Medical Science and Research at Glencliff High School

Academy Partnership of the Year, Hospitality and Tourism Partnership Council
Just Cruisin’ Plus and the Academy of Hospitality at Antioch High School

Academy Partnership of the Year, Human and Public Services Partnership Council
Nashville State Community College and the Academy of Teaching and Service at Antioch High School

Academy Coach of the Year
Paula Barkley, McGavock High School

Externship Project of the Year
CMT, Rocketown, Stones River National Battlefield and the CMT Academy of Digital Design and Communication at McGavock High School

Academy Assistant Principal of the Year
Lisa Bonelli, the Gaylord Entertainment Academy of Hospitality and the US Community Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance at McGavock High School

Executive Principal of the Year
Steve Chauncey, Hillwood High School

Counselor of the Year
Carla Robinson, Academy of Health Sciences, Hillwood High School

Freshman Academy of the Year
Stratford High School Freshman Academy

Academy of the Year
CMT Academy of Digital Design and Communication, McGavock High School

To view photos from the "blue carpet" at the event, click here. For photos from the awards ceremony, click here.


Assistant principal Kodi Kimmel thanks McGavock High School educators and business partners as the CMT Academy of Digital Design and Communication wins Academy of the Year.


Steve Turner presents the 2012 CEO Champions award to longtime Metro Schools educator Starr Herrman.