We celebrate their leadership and commitment to students.

Meet the 50 outstanding teachers who are changing lives through their excellence in teaching in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Megan Archer

Dupont Hadley Middle

EQUITY

"I have always had coworkers that are great models of growth. We inspire each other to always keep learning and to be open to new opportunities, leadership roles, and best practices."

Stefani Basilavecchio

Norman Binkley Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"Other educators have inspired me to always be a reflective teacher. This plays out when looking at lessons, data and best practices. The world of education is always changing, but the willingness to examine ourselves and push to become greater than we currently are makes us the best teachers we can be. I have countless coaches, co workers, and administrators that encourage me to keep growing every day."

Celia Bowman-Jeffries

Thomas Edison Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"The support form the Nashville community that makes the biggest impact on me and my students is when local organizations and businesses get involved in our school. Whether it's through mentorship programs, involvement shows our students that the community cares about their education and success. It's truly inspiring."

Jeff Clark

Goodlettsville Middle

EQUITY

"I believe I've learned to appreciate where many different kinds of people (both young and old) are coming from. I came from a very rural, sparsely populated community. Since teaching I've come to meet and know so many people from many socioeconomic backgrounds. I'm a more well rounded, more empathetic person than I was before becoming a teacher."

Shelby Crandall

James Lawson High

INSTRUCTION

"The best professional development I've received is from visiting other teachers' classrooms. Every year, I spend one PD visiting teachers at another school. I gain new ideas for structuring lessons, providing feedback to students, and facilitating discussions."

Abby Day

Lockeland Design Center

INSTRUCTION

"Our community impacts students with continuous care, encouragement, and support. When the community supports schools with time, service, and resources, students are able to have more meaningful connections with the world around them."

Elise DeTrude

Westmeade Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"Having so many members of our community desire to be involved helps my students understand how everyone in a community works together and shows them the possibilities they have for their future."

Catherine Dominy

Hattie Cotton Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"Thriving students are excited to be in school learning with their peers! They are pumped and invested in their learning! A challenge becomes something they look forward to. My excitement to teach feeds their excitement to learn which in turn fuels my excitement!"

Zuri Egbuji

Exceptional Education Homebound

EQUITY

"I count my blessings and lean into an attitude of gratitude for the lessons that come from doing hard things."

Jordan Fairback

Tusculum Elementary

EQUITY

"Our biggest support comes from our families! We have wonderful parents who are eager to help and make a difference. We also have generous community partners who give their time, money, and energy to meet whatever needs we have!"

Katherine Fitzpatrick

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

EQUITY

"I've always been surrounded by teachers who see professional and personal growth as a constant, necessary part of teaching, and thanks to them, my practice has become more nuanced, more equitable, more pedagogically sound, and just...better."

Jessica Garcia

McGavock Elementary

EQUITY

"My co-teachers have always been extremely supportive of our side- by- side teaching model. We have built real relationships and use each other's strengths to provide the best lesson for our students!"

Kayla Gartung

John Overton High

INSTRUCTION

"I am fortunate enough to work with incredible students and coworkers at Overton. Even if a day is especially tough, I can always count on a student to say something funny or do something kind for a classmate. My coworkers are the most compassionate, thoughtful, and dedicated people I know, and I am grateful to call many of them my closest friends. They keep me striving to be my best self."

April Greene

Alex Green Elementary

EQUITY

"I have learned patience and empathy from my students. The most important lesson I have learned from students is to be patient with the process. Understanding that every student comes from a different background and brings a different level of knowledge to the classroom, helps me as an educator to learn from each experience."

Kaitlyn Haag

May Werthan Shayne Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"I know that a child is thriving in my classroom when I see that they are comfortable enough to be themselves and are not afraid to share their feelings with others, including myself. At the end of the day, what matters most is that my kiddos know that they are loved and cared for just the way they are."

Courtney Haley

Park Avenue Elementary

EQUITY

"The educators who support me to be the best teacher answer my requests for help, model best practices and routines, collaborate, listen, advise and check on my well being. The educators who challenge me to be the best teacher exemplify high professional expectations, implement new instructional practices and consistently do what is best for the student."

Leigh Ann Harbort

Harris-Hillman

EQUITY

"Thriving students are engaged in the material, have opportunities to experience innovative technologies and concepts and use communication tools to meaningfully participate and contribute to their learning. Engagement looks different in my classroom that is adapted for students with disabilities, but as with every classroom, students who are given opportunities to actively participate have a deeper understanding of the world around them."

Nikki Hendricks-Bolling

Shwab Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"I have learned so many things from my students but the lesson that immediately comes to mind is to never stop learning. Students are constantly growing and changing; discovering new parts of themselves along the way as their ideas about the world are challenged, questioned, and shaped by new experiences. I am encouraged to remain a child at heart by their bravery."

Catherine Herrera

John Trotwood Moore Middle

EQUITY

"When things begin to get challenging and overwhelming, I look back at letters, emails and text from parents that have been able to share successes with me. More often than not some situation arises that fuels me to meet the next day head on."

Kellee Hill

Whites Creek High

LEADERSHIP

"The most important lesson I have learned from my students is the power of authenticity. To lean into who I am, celebrate my uniqueness's, and champion diversity because greatness does not dwell in assimilation."

Kelly Ise

John Overton High

INSTRUCTION

"I am supported and challenged by simply being surrounded by colleagues with piercing intellect and wit, keen understanding of human relationships, unwavering and incomparable camaraderie, and a shared passion for our craft."

Kim Janecek

Smith Springs Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"It takes a village to have successful students. When community members volunteer their time and talents it makes a huge impact on students. Students are able to see other adults beyond just their family and teachers and can see what options are there for them. Also, students are excited when other adults join them in the building. They feel seen and loved!"

Rebecca Katsetos

Andrew Jackson Elementary

EQUITY

"The most important lesson I have learned from my students is to live in the moment. It's so easy to get caught up in "What if" that we can forget about the joy around us. When teaching younger students, you see pure joy on their faces when they are line leader, calendar/meteorologist, door holder, etc. They may be those helpers for one day, but it means the world to them! So often in our job we worry about "What if..." and we forget about the amazing things happening right before our eyes."

Sharon Kelley

Granbery Elementary

EQUITY

"The most important lesson I've learned from my students over the years is to believe in them. Give them the tools they need to be successful and they will be. Success may look different for every student, but we should always celebrate those successes."

Ashley Kessler

Lockeland Design Center

INSTRUCTION

"My students have taught me the significance of empathy and understanding. Each student comes with their own unique experiences and struggles, and by listening to their stories and perspectives, I have gained a deeper understanding of their needs and how to support them effectively."

Chelsea King

Cambridge Early Learning Center

INSTRUCTION

"I've learned that being childlike is something to be admired. My students are fast to forgive, inclusive of others who are different from them, and confident in who they are. They have taught me more lessons about life than they know."

Philip Lovell

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

INSTRUCTION

"My students are the best at applying concepts to the real world. We exist as different generations, so I don't always see how things are related the same way they do. They are able to show me new ways of connecting the material to better reach their peers."

Dietrich May

Donelson Middle

EQUITY

"My thriving students are engaging with the materials and energized to learn. Since I work with multilingual learners, they are excited to immerse themselves in English while still developing their home language and finding creative ways to communicate with students who are coming from all other the world. These students are happy to rise to the challenge and learn the content and a new language."

Patrice Mayes

Old Center Elementary

EQUITY

"The most important lesson I have learned from my students is to never give up. When outcomes are not favorable, never give up. Resiliency is an option. A change in thinking can change an entire situation around."

Cecily McKibben

Eagle View Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"I have been fortunate to be surrounded by so many inspiring educators. I have been encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone and reflect on my educational practices and philosophy to be the best teacher that I can be for my students."

Tori Miley

Julia Green Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"Teachers are a diverse group of people! It is that very diversity of talent, thought, personality, background, and style that other teachers bring to the school environment, that challenges and inspires me to adapt and grow my craft."

Holly Mulvey

J.E. Moss Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"The ah-ha moments keep me going! The moment when you see the lightbulb go off in a child's brain is the best feeling in the world."

Natalie Nikitas

Valor College Prep

INSTRUCTION

"We never know the moment that will reach a kid, so be aware that everything we do should be in service of celebrating and seeing students so that we can have the lasting impact that every teacher wants."

Tiffani Norman

Eakin Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"Believe it or not, rainbows are a focal point for me when I feel challenged. To me, rainbows represent promises, possibility, and potential. Even a rainbow, in all of its splendor, is a remnant of rainy days. Just as we are in awe each time a rainbow is revealed, we should adopt the same attitude when experiencing adversity and challenging days. Being reminded that after the rain, the sun will shine again and produce a lovely rainbow, motivates me to focus on the whole picture and not just the current circumstance."

Dwanna Ogan

Madison Middle

LEADERSHIP

"Reflecting on my 30+ years as an educator, I see many lessons learned from students. These incredible humans have taught me invaluable lessons by simply "being." You think of educators as teachers, but in reality, all students teach. Their teachings have impacted me. They have manifested themselves in my teaching practice. I have learned from students that if I invest in them, they will invest in me and be willing to listen and learn."

Sarai Ovalle

Antioch Middle

EQUITY

"In my classroom, thriving students look like engaged learners. Students who aren't afraid to ask questions who are curious and want to learn. Students who aren't afraid to use their voices and are motivated to succeed."

Edwina Ovbiebo

KIPP Academy Nashville

INSTRUCTION

"The most important lesson I have learned from my students is that every one has a story. Each student brings with them into the classroom their faith, language, culture, identity, interests, and experiences. As an educator, my role is to help cultivate their minds and provide them with the necessary tools to reach their full potential. It is important to recognize and embrace the diversity that each student brings and create a safe and inclusive learning environment where they can thrive."

Alice Pieschel

LEAD Academy High

EQUITY

"When work gets challenging, I try to focus on all of the positive interactions I have with students and staff every day. It is wonderful to look around and see a community that is working together towards a shared goal."

Tiffany Pridy

Crieve Hall Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"I have learned laughing really is a cure all sometimes. The days can be long and often stressful, so finding joy in the little moments throughout my days helps me so much, both as a teacher and a person."

Chriseni Pulse

Cumberland Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"I am motivated to see my kids in the future. The future being the next semester, grade levels, and adulthood. I know what kind of world is waiting for my students and I want them to be prepared for it. Whether they choose college or career, I want them to have a choice. Education can never be taken away and it can take you far in life. I want to see my students succeed. And I love when kids come back to share with me, give hugs, or recognize me as an adult when I taught them in kindergarten!"

Lisa Lame Quinn

Meigs Middle Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"Thriving students are thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and laughing in class daily. For me it is all about connections. Students who feel connected to their teachers and classmates have a greater sense of belonging. In a classroom where we are spending much of our time working together, feeling like you belong is an essential part of being successful academically and socially."

Brett Rackoff

Waverly Belmont Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"When work gets challenging, I look to small successes in my students for motivation. When a student masters a skill that they have been struggling with for a long time or tells me how excited they are for school when they first arrive, I am reminded of why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place."

Tim Russell

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

INSTRUCTION

"My fantastic fellows in the Hume-Fogg world language department have provided no end of marvelous ideas and methodologies for my own teaching. Their persistence, ingenuity, and insight have refined my own instruction immeasurably!"

Michelle Sadler

Carter Lawrence Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"My students have taught me so many things over the years! The most important lesson I have learned is that the impact we make on students is life-long. Seeing a student that is all grown up who remembers what you did when they were in elementary and middle school is the greatest joy!"

MacKenzie Sample

Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"Teenagers are some of the coolest people, and I get to be a part of their story. Teaching can get really difficult, quickly at that. But when a student comes by to just to tell me that they got a good grade on a test in another class, or that their soccer team is going to the next level of tournament, or to invite me to go to their choir concert or to the musical that they are in, it makes my day. Its knowing that my students trust me enough (and are excited) to share their lives with me that brings me joy."

Lisa Shaffer

Meigs Middle Magnet

LEADERSHIP

"I have learned that it is important to be compassionate and show empathy to all of my students. It is the greatest gift to teach children, and I feel it is important to always let these two attributes guide me so that trust is ultimately built between us."

Kaci Bolls Scott

Lockeland Design Center

INSTRUCTION

"Thriving students in my class will of course be working hard, engaged in productive struggle, learning and growing, but MOST importantly they will also be laughing, smiling, and feeling so comfortable in these four walls. Growing a respectful and close-knit community within the classroom is the key to allowing students to get to a place where they can thrive."

Stacey Vandrasik

Whitsitt Elementary

EQUITY

"My students have taught me that tomorrow is a fresh start. Days and lessons don't always go the way we plan, but we always have the next day to start over and try again. I am always inspired by their resilience."

Toni White

McKissack Middle

LEADERSHIP

"My students keep me motivated when work gets challenging and overwhelming. My students are my WHY? The ole cliche " When the light bulb goes off" is really true. When my students walk out of my room confident and know that they are brilliant is truly my motivation."

Michael Williams

John F. Kennedy Middle

EQUITY

"Thriving students in my class are energetic, engaged, and excited. Thriving students see connections and concepts that may not be overtly apparent. They are having fun while mastering content."

Metro Nashville Public Schools, the Nashville’s Agenda Steering Committee, and the Nashville Public Education Foundation created the Blue Ribbon Teacher Awards to recognize top teaching talent in our public schools.

Thank you to our program sponsors

Johanna A. Favrot Fund