We celebrate their leadership and commitment to students.

Meet the 25 outstanding teachers who are changing lives through their excellence in teaching in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Allison Argo

Thomas Edison Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"My students are, without question, my motivation. They make me laugh, they are honest, they are incredibly insightful, they are kind when it is most needed. All that we do as educators comes back to a focus on our students and keeping that in mind during those challenging times motivates me to keep going."

Ramona Bryant

I. T. Creswell Middle School of the Arts

INSTRUCTION

"My students have strengthened my resilience. Despite facing numerous challenges both in and out of school, they return to the classroom each day with hopeful spirits. Their determination inspires me to stay focused on my goals, regardless of the obstacles I encounter."

Saul Calzadilla

John B. Whitsitt Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"An outsider visiting my STEAM Classroom might encounter barely controlled chaos of first graders have a flashlight dance party, or second graders launching marbles from dubiously engineered rollercoasters made of pool noodles and tape, or even 3rd graders performing magic tricks with magnets much to their own delight. In each case you will find truly engaged students in an environment that has enabled them to thrive on their own."

Jennifer Caudle Williams

Thomas Edison Elementary

EQUITY

"Acknowledging and celebrating even small achievements helps boost morale and motivate continued effort. Getting constructive feedback from peers offers new perspectives and helps to shape a new approach to teaching."

Saige Connor

Cameron College Prep

EQUITY

"I teach because I believe that all students can, will, and want to learn and experience success and growth and I love being a part of that journey...Helping students to experience the joy and connections within math and see that we are all capable of learning it to a high level is one of my favorite parts of my job."

Tara Coogan

Glengarry Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"Community support for MNPS schools is vital to student success! Between partnerships with the local colleges, Nashville SC, the titans and the local libraries students get to learn about their city and the opportunities available to them...Without community supports schools would miss out on a lot of amazing opportunities!"

Mackenzie Coveney

Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"The support from the Nashville community that has the greatest impact on my students and I is parental support. When I partner with parents to improve student's education, it enriches my experience as a teacher and is the most effective way to motivate students to succeed."

Madeline Frohrip

Valor Voyager Academy

EQUITY

"Thriving students in my special education classroom can easily be spotted by the bright sounds of belonging, groans from completing rigorous and meaningful work, and the celebration of growth in every from!"

Christopher Hedglin

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

EQUITY

"I believe that for students to thrive in my history class, all students must hear their own stories in the narrative of U.S. History that we are telling, and each student must have opportunities to share their own individual stories with others. If students are able to do this, they will be more invested in the class. This will allow them to be active, engaged learners who are able to thrive."

Sheila Hubbard

Ida B. Wells Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"Someone saw potential in me and took the time to mentor me, and now I want to do the same for my little ones. Their confidence in learning means everything to me. When I'm with them, I strive to create the most positive and empowering experiences possible."

Ian Isom

Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"Two words keep me motivated when the work gets challenging: empathy and humility. It reminds me that teaching ultimately isn’t about me. It’s about the success and failures that my students experience daily, and how they can grow from where they are today through co-laboring together."

Benjamin Keil

Rose Park Middle

INSTRUCTION

"I teach because I want to see my students become deep thinkers about the world around them, feel heard and understood, and ultimately use their talents to become the best versions of themselves that they can be."

Jeremy Kellem

Antioch High

LEADERSHIP

"My thriving students are risk-takers, recognizing that failure is a crucial part of success. They also maintain an optimistic mindset, always seeing the glass as half full, which helps them approach challenges with confidence and resilience."

Allen Kennedy

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

INSTRUCTION

"I believe in creating a safe and enthusiastic environment where my students feel free to expand their minds through creativity and self-expression, discovering their own musical identities, enabling students to access their inner expression--passion, that allows them to grow as a musician and a person."

Teneice Kirby

DuPont Tyler Middle

EQUITY

"Thriving scholars in my classroom look like children who were once told what they could not do and now they not only do it, but they do it in a spirit of excellence."

Paige La Grone Babcock

Apollo Middle

LEADERSHIP

"Feeling connected makes my heart sing. I love walking down the hallways of my school and seeing children I've taught in prior years smile and reach out for hugs and high fives. I'm so happy to know that not only do I make an impact on these kids, but they imprint lessons about how to be a better a human on ME."

Becky McGee

Cole Elementary

EQUITY

"Thriving students in my classroom are engaged, happy, curious and excited to learn because they know they are cared for and loved just the way that they are."

Maggie Moran

LEAD Southeast High School

INSTRUCTION

"The thing that keeps me most motivated when work gets challenging is knowing that I am my students' BIGGEST advocate. Students with disabilities deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. I know that I am given the opportunity to really impact these student’s lives on a deeper level that will help them succeed outside of school."

Kari Myers

Cane Ridge High

EQUITY

"I teach because I want to share my own curiosity about the world and my love of learning with my students. I want to inspire them to ask questions and and get the tools they will need to have a successful and fulfilling life."

Sarah Padgett

Smith Springs Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"The tight-knit relationships of our local families and schools working together to choose every student every day makes the biggest impact on me and, most importantly, my students."

Robyn Prescott

Hermitage Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"I teach because what else would I do? I was born to teach! I'm a third generatation teacher who has it in her blood. I came to teaching after two other careers that just didn't have me feeling like I was doing something I was passionate about. I wasn't where I felt like I was supposed to be. When I came to teaching I found my passion and calling in life."

Nichole Prophater

Meigs Middle Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"Students have taught me what it is to be resilient. The change that I have seen in students helps me to believe that growth is truly possible."

Felicia Taylor

DuPont Hadley Middle

INSTRUCTION

"My students have taught me the importance of vulnerability. Being vulnerable fosters more authentic and genuine discussions and learning experiences in the classroom. Students thrive when they feel that you truly care about them, maintain high expectations, and genuinely want the best for them."

Alice Weber

John B. Whitsitt Elementary

EQUITY

"Community partners make the biggest impact on my students and me. They have buoyed up the morale of our teachers, broadened the vision of our students, supplemented our instruction with supplies and resources, and generally, have been solidly behind our efforts."

Tiffany Wilkerson

John F. Kennedy Middle

EQUITY

"I teach because I know that I am igniting the torch of the innovators of tomorrow. I believe it is my gift to stir up each students' gifts and abilities, to expose them to options and opportunities outside of their current environments, and help them to develop the skills to access limitless outcomes."

Allison Argo

Thomas Edison Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"My students are, without question, my motivation. They make me laugh, they are honest, they are incredibly insightful, they are kind when it is most needed. All that we do as educators comes back to a focus on our students and keeping that in mind during those challenging times motivates me to keep going."

Ramona Bryant

I. T. Creswell Middle School of the Arts

INSTRUCTION

"My students have strengthened my resilience. Despite facing numerous challenges both in and out of school, they return to the classroom each day with hopeful spirits. Their determination inspires me to stay focused on my goals, regardless of the obstacles I encounter."

Saul Calzadilla

John B. Whitsitt Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"An outsider visiting my STEAM Classroom might encounter barely controlled chaos of first graders have a flashlight dance party, or second graders launching marbles from dubiously engineered rollercoasters made of pool noodles and tape, or even 3rd graders performing magic tricks with magnets much to their own delight. In each case you will find truly engaged students in an environment that has enabled them to thrive on their own."

Jennifer Caudle Williams

Thomas Edison Elementary

EQUITY

"Acknowledging and celebrating even small achievements helps boost morale and motivate continued effort. Getting constructive feedback from peers offers new perspectives and helps to shape a new approach to teaching."

Saige Connor

Cameron College Prep

EQUITY

"I teach because I believe that all students can, will, and want to learn and experience success and growth and I love being a part of that journey...Helping students to experience the joy and connections within math and see that we are all capable of learning it to a high level is one of my favorite parts of my job."

Tara Coogan

Glengarry Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"Community support for MNPS schools is vital to student success! Between partnerships with the local colleges, Nashville SC, the titans and the local libraries students get to learn about their city and the opportunities available to them...Without community supports schools would miss out on a lot of amazing opportunities!"

Mackenzie Coveney

Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"The support from the Nashville community that has the greatest impact on my students and I is parental support. When I partner with parents to improve student's education, it enriches my experience as a teacher and is the most effective way to motivate students to succeed."

Madeline Frohrip

Valor Voyager Academy

EQUITY

"Thriving students in my special education classroom can easily be spotted by the bright sounds of belonging, groans from completing rigorous and meaningful work, and the celebration of growth in every from!"

Christopher Hedglin

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

EQUITY

"I believe that for students to thrive in my history class, all students must hear their own stories in the narrative of U.S. History that we are telling, and each student must have opportunities to share their own individual stories with others. If students are able to do this, they will be more invested in the class. This will allow them to be active, engaged learners who are able to thrive."

Sheila Hubbard

Ida B. Wells Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"Someone saw potential in me and took the time to mentor me, and now I want to do the same for my little ones. Their confidence in learning means everything to me. When I'm with them, I strive to create the most positive and empowering experiences possible."

Ian Isom

Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"Two words keep me motivated when the work gets challenging: empathy and humility. It reminds me that teaching ultimately isn’t about me. It’s about the success and failures that my students experience daily, and how they can grow from where they are today through co-laboring together."

Benjamin Keil

Rose Park Middle

INSTRUCTION

"I teach because I want to see my students become deep thinkers about the world around them, feel heard and understood, and ultimately use their talents to become the best versions of themselves that they can be."

Jeremy Kellem

Antioch High

LEADERSHIP

"My thriving students are risk-takers, recognizing that failure is a crucial part of success. They also maintain an optimistic mindset, always seeing the glass as half full, which helps them approach challenges with confidence and resilience."

Allen Kennedy

Hume-Fogg Magnet High

INSTRUCTION

"I believe in creating a safe and enthusiastic environment where my students feel free to expand their minds through creativity and self-expression, discovering their own musical identities, enabling students to access their inner expression--passion, that allows them to grow as a musician and a person."

Teneice Kirby

DuPont Tyler Middle

EQUITY

"Thriving scholars in my classroom look like children who were once told what they could not do and now they not only do it, but they do it in a spirit of excellence."

Paige La Grone Babcock

Apollo Middle

LEADERSHIP

"Feeling connected makes my heart sing. I love walking down the hallways of my school and seeing children I've taught in prior years smile and reach out for hugs and high fives. I'm so happy to know that not only do I make an impact on these kids, but they imprint lessons about how to be a better a human on ME."

Becky McGee

Cole Elementary

EQUITY

"Thriving students in my classroom are engaged, happy, curious and excited to learn because they know they are cared for and loved just the way that they are."

Maggie Moran

LEAD Southeast High School

INSTRUCTION

"The thing that keeps me most motivated when work gets challenging is knowing that I am my students' BIGGEST advocate. Students with disabilities deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. I know that I am given the opportunity to really impact these student’s lives on a deeper level that will help them succeed outside of school."

Kari Myers

Cane Ridge High

EQUITY

"I teach because I want to share my own curiosity about the world and my love of learning with my students. I want to inspire them to ask questions and and get the tools they will need to have a successful and fulfilling life."

Sarah Padgett

Smith Springs Elementary

INSTRUCTION

"The tight-knit relationships of our local families and schools working together to choose every student every day makes the biggest impact on me and, most importantly, my students."

Robyn Prescott

Hermitage Elementary

LEADERSHIP

"I teach because what else would I do? I was born to teach! I'm a third generatation teacher who has it in her blood. I came to teaching after two other careers that just didn't have me feeling like I was doing something I was passionate about. I wasn't where I felt like I was supposed to be. When I came to teaching I found my passion and calling in life."

Nichole Prophater

Meigs Middle Magnet

INSTRUCTION

"Students have taught me what it is to be resilient. The change that I have seen in students helps me to believe that growth is truly possible."

Felicia Taylor

DuPont Hadley Middle

INSTRUCTION

"My students have taught me the importance of vulnerability. Being vulnerable fosters more authentic and genuine discussions and learning experiences in the classroom. Students thrive when they feel that you truly care about them, maintain high expectations, and genuinely want the best for them."

Alice Weber

John B. Whitsitt Elementary

EQUITY

"Community partners make the biggest impact on my students and me. They have buoyed up the morale of our teachers, broadened the vision of our students, supplemented our instruction with supplies and resources, and generally, have been solidly behind our efforts."

Tiffany Wilkerson

John F. Kennedy Middle

EQUITY

"I teach because I know that I am igniting the torch of the innovators of tomorrow. I believe it is my gift to stir up each students' gifts and abilities, to expose them to options and opportunities outside of their current environments, and help them to develop the skills to access limitless outcomes."

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