Mayor Megan Barry and the Nashville Public Education Foundation announced the second class of their citywide Parent Cabinet. This year’s cabinet includes a diverse group of Metro Nashville Public School parents who will work with the Mayor’s Office and the NPEF to insure parents have a more decisive seat at the table in discussions around how to best support and improve Nashville’s public schools.
The idea for the cabinet first began last year, with the inaugural Parent Cabinet weighing in on a host of issues including feedback on MNPS’ new strategic plan, ways to improve school culture and parent engagement, and how best to arm parents with the tools they need to make school choice decisions.
“Last year’s Parent Cabinet played a pivotal role in shaping and informing policy conversations around our public schools,” said Mayor Barry. “I believe strongly that parents and teachers need to be at the forefront of discussions about our schools. They are on the front lines and have a keen understanding for what the needs and opportunities are.”
The 28-member cabinet represents a diversity of schools and grade levels. Its members live in different neighborhoods across the county and will bring varying perspectives to the discussion for a holistic approach to strengthening Nashville’s public education system.
“The Parent Cabinet ensures that solutions and innovation in education policymaking in our city not only include, but are shaped by the opinions and concerns of parents,” said Shannon Hunt, NPEF president and CEO. “Their insights will help guide the NPEF’s work and provide policymakers and others with ideas to accelerate the drive for public school excellence.”
Members of the 2017 Parent Cabinet and neighborhoods/clusters represented include:
- Monica Barba, Pearl-Cohn
- Lillian Boeskool, Overton
- Keri Cannon, Hillwood
- Ebony Cole, Whites Creek
- Kim Darnell, Hunters Lane
- Monica Davila, Glencliff
- LaToya Dudley, Stratford
- William Durkin, Hillsboro
- Kevin Edwards, Hillsboro
- Amber Hammond, Overton
- Candi Henry, Stratford
- LaKecia Hudson, Antioch
- Tiffany Israel, Hillsboro
- Kelvin T. Jones, Whites Creek
- Robert Layman, Cane Ridge
- Angelica Lucas, Stratford
- Hasina Mohyuddin, Pearl-Cohn
- Kelli Morell, McGavock
- Jami Oakley, Hillsboro
- Jennifer Oldham, Antioch
- Loren Russell, Whites Creek
- Aaron Sands, Stratford
- Kimberly Sasser Hayden, Hillwood
- Allison Simpson, Stratford
- Angel Sloss, Maplewood
- Ramon Smith, Maplewood
- Sonata Stanton, Hillsboro
Members serve one-year terms. The cabinet will meet with staff from the NPEF and the Mayor’s Office as well as district and community leaders throughout the year to discuss a range of topics.
The Mayor’s Office and the NPEF also formed their second Teacher Cabinet earlier this year. This 24-member group provides critical feedback on important education initiatives to the Mayor’s Office, the NPEF, and other city, philanthropic and private-sector leaders.
