Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam Thursday announced the participants selected for the 2019 Governor’s Academy for School Leadership, a one-year fellowship program to cultivate and develop future school leaders across Tennessee and improve school effectiveness and student performance, said officials.
This marks the fourth year of the academy, a unique partnership between the state of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and local school districts, providing an opportunity for assistant principals to increase their leadership skills.
“The success of our students and our schools starts at the top, so it’s critical to identify and build future school leaders ready to guide our students and teachers to greatness in the classroom,” Governor Haslam said. “We've made record investments in K-12 education, raised our standards, and increased accountability, and, while our students and teachers are rising to the challenge, we must have strong principals to support them and continue the momentum.”
The performance of Tennessee’s students in math and reading remains among the fastest improving in the nation, and they have demonstrated historic gains in science, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the Nation’s Report Card. Additionally, for the fifth year in a row, Tennessee had a record high school graduation rate – 89.1 percent in the 2017-18 school year.
A total of 29 participants from the first three cohorts have been promoted to principal. The academy’s goal is for all participants to be promoted to principal within three years of completion. The program has impacted 32 partnering school districts representing all regions of the state.
Each assistant principal selected for the 2019 GASL class will be paired with an experienced principal mentor, will attend monthly group training sessions and a week-long summer institute at Vanderbilt, and will intern three days a month at his or her mentor’s school. Upon completion of the academy, participants will be expected to pursue placement as a school principal in their districts or regions.
Participants were nominated by their district’s director of schools and selected through an application and interview process conducted by representatives from Governor Haslam’s office, the Tennessee Department of Education and Vanderbilt University.
2019 GASL Participants
Aaron Christian, Boones Creek Elementary School, Washington County
Ben Foust, Campbell County High School, Campbell County
Trina Bruns, Pond Gap Elementary School, Knox County
Trae Weiss, Dickson County High School, Dickson County
Trikelle Salvant, Germanshire Elementary School, Shelby County
Christopher Enix, Lake City Elementary School, Anderson County
Matthew Cowan, Aspire Hanley Middle School, Achievement School District
Brandye Williams, Downtown Elementary School, Shelby County
Jessica Rittenhouse, Cherokee Middle School, Roane County
Nancy Parker, Sullivan South High School, Sullivan County
Shannon Bryant, Montgomery Central Middle School, Montgomery County
Kyle Craighead, White House High School, Sumner County
Theowauna Hatchett, Stewarts Creek High School, Rutherford County
Michelle Howell, Bolivar Elementary School, Hardeman County
Amber Ryan, Dorothy and Noble Harrelson School, Henry County
Mark Gonyea, Smyrna Primary School, Rutherford County
Meghan Stowe, Neely's Bend College Prep, Achievement School District
Farrah Cope, Austin Peay Elementary School, Tipton County
Kyle Loudermilk, John Sevier Middle School, Kingsport City
Meghen Sanders, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School, Davidson County
Rachel Cook, West Elementary School, Wilson County
Jamelie Johns, Nolan Elementary School, Hamilton County
Jessica Bigham, Mayfield Elementary School, Cleveland City
Kaytee Jones, Fairmont Elementary School, Johnson City
Lain Hinson, Summertown Elementary School, Lawrence County
Derica Griggs, Napier Elementary School, Davidson County
Tera Brooks, Northeast Elementary School, Putnam Count
Jed West, Heritage High School, Blount County