Last night, the accomplishments of our outstanding public schools, teachers, administrators and business partnerships took center stage at the fifth annual Academies of Nashville Awards, sponsored by Altria, Interior Design Services, Deloitte, Dollar General and the Memorial Foundation. More than 300 educators and business partners attended the awards show to celebrate the progress and success in Metro’s 12 zoned high schools and MNPS Virtual School.

MNPS launched the Academies of Nashville in 2006; the program has been instrumental in improving attendance and graduation rates. Academies programs have developed partnerships with more than 375 area businesses, and those partners have donated in excess of $9.2 million and more than 100,000 volunteer hours to work with students since 2010.

A committee composed of school district, Nashville Area Chamber and PENCIL Foundation leadership selected nominees for each of the 15 categories. More than 300 educators and business partners voted for a nominee in each category through an online ballot.

Congratulations to our 2015 winners!

Academy Partnership of the Year: Media & Communications Partnership Council – Audio Engineering Society and the Academy of Entertainment Communications, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School

Academy Partnership of the Year: Marketing & IT Partnership Council – Fifth Third Bank and the Academy of Business and Consumer Services, Maplewood High School

Academy Partnership of the Year: Engineering, Manufacturing & Industrial Technology – Hands On Nashville and the Academy of Environmental and Urban Planning, Glencliff High School

Academy Partnership of the Year: Health & Public Services Partnership Council – Lipscomb University, College of Pharmacy and the Academy of Health Sciences, Overton High School

Academy Partnership of the Year: Hospitality & Tourism Partnership Council – Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center and the Gaylord Entertainment Academy of Hospitality, McGavock High School

Externship Project of the Year – sponsored by The Memorial FoundationSt. Thomas Health Services, American Cancer Society, Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia, Red Cross of Middle Tennessee and the Academy of Sports Medicine & Wellness, Maplewood High School

Freshman Academy of the Year – Glencliff Freshman Academy

Academy of the Year – Presented by IDS Stratford STEM Magnet, Academy of Science and Engineering

Teacher of the Year (CTE or Thematic Pathway) – Presented by Deloitte – Todd Young, Academy of Entertainment Communication, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet

Teacher of the Year (General & Global Education) – Elijah Ammen, STEM Magnet Academy of National Safety & Security Technologies, Stratford STEM Magnet

Team Leader of the Year – Danette McMillan, Academy of Business & Customer Services, Maplewood High School

Counselor of the Year – Amanda Springer, CMT Academy of Digital Design & Communication, McGavock High School

Coach of the Year – Jennifer Berry, Stratford STEM Magnet

Assistant Principal of the Year – Presented by Altria – Janet Wallace, Academy of Science & Engineering, Stratford STEM Magnet

Executive Principal of the Year – Presented by Altria – Adrienne Koger, Antioch High School


Educators celebrate at the 2015 Academies of Nashville Awards. For more photos from the event, click here.