The Nashville Public Education Foundation (NPEF) announced today Project RESET, a citywide education conversation to promote cooperation and innovation in supporting and improving our public schools.
Project RESET, which stands for Reimagining Education Starts with Everyone at the Table, takes a public approach to strengthening our public schools. The process will rely on input from those who care about Nashville’s schools around the county and across the country.
“Great schools happen when everyone is at the table, and when everything is on the table,” said Shannon Hunt, NPEF president and CEO. “Project RESET will combine the best ideas from around the nation with local approaches that make the most sense for Nashville. Every voice needs to be heard in order to determine where we want to go as a city.”
Led by the NPEF, with support from Nashville’s Agenda and other community leaders, Project RESET will lay the foundation for the city’s education dialogue as Nashville welcomes a new director of schools and a new mayor this year. The initiative will offer the opportunity for education, civic, faith, business and parent leaders from across Nashville to discuss how we ensure kids achieve at every step, from cradle to career.
“Nashville’s long-term success is inextricably connected to how we confront the challenges of education,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said. “There is no issue more important to our future. I appreciate the Project RESET initiative adding its voice to the conversation.”
Nashvillians are being asked to weigh in now on a range of important topics and ideas through Take 10 for Kids, an online survey about Nashville’s schools. Residents can participate in this citywide exercise by visiting www.resetnashville.org.
“Part of the current frustration surrounding education is that we’re arguing over a handful of issues instead of discussing big-picture improvements,” said Tom Sherrard, chairman of the NPEF and Nashville’s Agenda. “We can change that, starting with Take 10 for Kids. This is a chance to focus on what is possible for our kids and where we go from here.”
While these early discussions are underway, an internationally recognized management consulting firm will provide an independent assessment of where Nashville stands relative to similar cities across the state and country. Their findings and recommendations will be shared with community stakeholders this spring.
These efforts will converge on May 30 with RESET Saturday, an unprecedented, daylong idea festival designed to bring Nashvillians together to focus on the next chapter in Nashville’s quest for public school excellence. Co-hosted by Lipscomb University President Randy Lowry, Conexión Américas Executive Director Renata Soto and Vanderbilt University Vice Chancellor David Williams, the event will include nationally recognized speakers, lots of hands-on activities and opportunities to weigh in on a range of innovative ideas for action.
As a result, the city will be equipped to turn the page to a new, exciting chapter that will accelerate improvements to the public school system and marshal philanthropic and private-sector resources.
Many other community leaders have expressed support for the project (see “What People Are Saying” attached). To learn more about Project RESET, visit www.resetnashville.org.
