NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 12, 2011) – The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce announced the 2011 Academies of Nashville Awards winners on Thursday evening, May 12, at an awards ceremony held at the Pinnacle at Symphony Place. Presenting sponsors were Altria and Deloitte.
“The Chamber is committed to improving public education and has made this our top priority,” said Bert Mathews, president of The Mathews Company and chair of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “The Academies of Nashville are an essential part of the Chamber’s involvement in improving Metro Schools.”
Since 2006, in partnership with civic and business engagement, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools has been redesigning its zoned high schools into smaller learning communities, collectively known as the Academies of Nashville. The Academies enable students to learn through the lens of a career or academic theme in a highly personalized learning community, preparing them for college and an eventual career.
“It takes great leadership in Metro Schools to be successful,” said Steve Turner, CEO of Butler’s Run and co-chair of the Chamber’s CEO Champions. “But we also know that it takes a mayor dedicated to improving education, a business community willing to get involved, and a city that is eager for change. In Nashville, we have all of that.”
“Nashville is making great strides in improving public education,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, co-chair of the Chamber’s CEO Champions. “Through smaller learning communities and the Academies of Nashville, our students are learning critical skills that they will need to succeed in college and a 21st-century career.”
“Our vision is to make Nashville Public Schools the first choice for families,” said Dr. Jesse Register, director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. “The growing level of involvement of our community, including our business community, universities, and others, will greatly benefit our students for years to come.”
Rigorous academics and applied learning are key concepts behind the Academies of Nashville in Metro’s 12 zoned high schools. Through the Academies, students get 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. Academies also align with the new Tennessee graduation policy that requires three credits in a focused area and the courses needed to attend four-year colleges. The five-year vision for the Academies of Nashville calls for each student to graduate high school with college credit or a professional certification as well as complete a capstone research project or work-based learning experience.
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, Chamber of Commerce, 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.
In addition, one student from each of the twelve zoned high schools received an award for Academy Student of the Year. The student winners were selected by the executive principal of each school and were recognized at the PENCIL Foundation Bravo lunch on May 4.
Academies partner with area businesses, community agencies and postsecondary schools to provide an enriched experience in and out of the classroom. More than 300 business and community leaders support the Academies of Nashville through their participation and leadership on a regular basis.
“These awards recognize the important work Nashville’s public schools are doing to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed,” said Paul Coakley from Altria Client Services on behalf of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company. “We are proud to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative.”
“Improving public education is critical to the future prosperity of our region,” said Tom Aaron, Tennessee Managing Partner for Deloitte. “That is why the business community’s involvement in our schools’ success is so important.”
For more information on the Academies of Nashville, visit
www.academiesofnashville.com.
2011 Academies of Nashville Award Winners Teacher of the Year (CTE/Thematic Pathway)
John Marshall, Engineering, Overton’s Academy of Engineering
Teacher of the Year (General Education)
Naomi Williams, Math, Antioch’s Freshman Academy
Team Leader of the Year
Tara Baker, English, Glencliff’s Freshman Academy
Academy Partnership of the Year: Arts, Media, and Communications Partnership Council
CMT and McGavock’s Academy of Digital Design and Communication
Academy Partnership of the Year: Business, Marketing, and IT Partnership Council
The Tennessee Credit Union and Antioch’s The Tennessee Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance
Academy Partnership of the Year: Engineering, Manufacturing, and Industrial Technology Partnership Council
LP Corporation and Overton’s Academy of Engineering
Academy Partnership of the Year: Health Partnership Council
HCA and Hillwood’s Academy of Health
Academy Partnership of the Year: Hospitality and Tourism Partnership Council
Gaylord Entertainment and McGavock’s Academy of Hospitality and Finance
Academy Partnership of the Year: Human and Public Services Partnership Council
YMCA and Cane Ridge’s Academy of Wellness and Healthy Living
Externship Project of the Year
LP Corporation and Overton’s Academy of Engineering
Academy Coach of the Year
Pam Appleton, Antioch
Academy Assistant Principal of the Year
Jennifer Bell, McGavock’s Academy of Aviation and Transportation
Executive Principal of the Year
Tony Majors, Executive Principal, Glencliff
Counselor of the Year
Jennifer Marciano, Glencliff’s Academy of Hospitality and Marketing
Freshman Academy of the Year
Glencliff’s Freshman Academy
Academy of the Year
Antioch’s The Tennessee Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance
Chamber’s Choice Award (for being a difference maker in supporting high school reform in Nashville)
Cheryl Carrier, Ford Motor Company Fund
CEO Champions Awards (for extraordinary leadership and initiative in launching high school reform in Nashville)
Margaret Bess, former principal, Antioch High School
Brenda Elliott, former principal, Stratford High School
Lora Hall, former principal, Glencliff High School
Alvin Jones, former principal, Whites Creek High School
Karl Lang, former principal, Hillwood High School
Darwin Mason, former principal, Maplewood High School
Clay Myers, former principal, Hunters Lane High School
Jim Overstreet, former Director of High Schools
Michael Tribue, former principal, McGavock High School
Academy Students of the Year
Tyreke Ansah, Glencliff High School’s Ford Academy of Business
Edgar Bolivar, Overton High School’s Academy of Engineering
Ashley Brown, Hillwood High School’s Academy of Art, Design, and Communication
Kaitlyn Carter, Whites Creek High School’s Academy of Community Health
Cody Dawson, Cane Ridge High School’s Academy of Architecture and Construction
Diamond Grimes, Antioch High School’s Tennessee Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance
Gerald Harris, Pearl Cohn High School’s Academy of Entertainment Communication
Emma Loyer, Hillsboro High School’s Academy of International Fine Arts
Elliott Martin, McGavock High School’s Academy of Aviation and Transportation
Megan Watson, Stratford High School’s Academy of Science and Engineering
Diamond Wright, Hunters Lane High School’s Academy of Design and Technology
Kareem Wright, Maplewood High School’s Academy of Energy and Power
About the Academies of Nashville
Since 2006, in partnership with civic and business engagement, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools has been redesigning its zoned high schools into smaller learning communities, collectively known as the Academies of Nashville. The Academies enable students to learn through the lens of a career or academic theme in a highly personalized learning community. Through their academy, students are exposed to a multitude of careers and opportunities, industry skills, and potential employers by way of classroom speakers, site visits, job shadowing and internships. For more information, visit
www.academiesofnashville.com.
About the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is Middle Tennessee’s largest business federation, representing more than 2,000 member companies. Belong, engage, lead, prosper embodies what the Chamber focuses on for its members. Together with its affiliates, the Nashville Chamber works to strengthen the region’s business climate and enhance Nashville’s position as a desirable place to live, work and visit. For more information, visit
www.nashvillechamber.com.