The Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship develops and supports a diverse cohort of future school leaders to expand educational equity for children in Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Your experience leading classrooms has transformed you.
You are passionate about expanding opportunities for children, and now you want to continue your impact as a school leader pursuing equity and accelerating change.

TFA Alumni have demonstrated what is possible for Nashville.
For the past 10 years, TFA alumni educators have been rated among the most effective in the state
10
10
Alumni leading schools across middle Tennessee and Chattanooga.
31
31
8 out of 10 of the non-selective highest performing schools in Nashville were led by a Teach For America alumnus
8
8
Fellows in new mid-level leadership roles after joining the program.
100%
100%
Today in Nashville, only 15% of students attend a school considered high performing, but Teach For America alumni are working with our community to reimagine opportunity.

We believe that when kids have great teachers positive outcomes follow.
But that is just the start. In order to enact true, lasting change, we must address the systemic problems with systemic solutions.

Entire schools and school systems have proven it’s possible to dramatically alter student outcomes when the right leaders are in place. The Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship aims to continue that legacy.
Build your leadership to expand your impact.
Through the 2 year fellowship you will:
-
Earn your administrator credentials and M.Ed. or E.Ds. through Lipscomb University, one of the Tennessee’s top-rated educator preparation programs.
-
Gain hands-on leadership experience developing teachers and driving student outcomes at Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga’s pre-service teacher training.
-
Receive ongoing mentorship from experienced, effective school leaders, and receive career and job placement support in pursuit of leadership roles within Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Program Timeline
January
March
April
2022
Year 1
May
August
March
Application Opens
Application Closes
Final Interviews
Cohort 2022 Announced
Lipscomb Courses Begin
Summer Training Planning Begins
July
August
2023
Year 2
Lead at Summer Teacher Training
Begin Lipscomb Year 2
December
May
Earn ILL-B & EdS
Fellowship Complete
Eligibility & Requirements
Candidates for the Fellowship should be eligible for hire by Metro Nashville Public Schools. Additionally, to be considered for the 2021 cohort of the Nashville Aspiring School Leader Fellowship, you must:
-
Have at least 4 full years of certificated teaching experience in Pre-k – 12 by Fall 2022.
-
Provide demonstrated evidence of educator effectiveness (i.e. TEAM, LOE, TVAAS or other state or nationally normed evidence).
-
Meet requirements for admission to Lipscomb University M.Ed. or E.Ds. programs.
-
Commit to working at the Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga pre-service training in 2022.
-
Commit to pursue a full time mid-level leadership or an administrative position with Metro Nashville Public Schools for the 2023 - 2024 school year.

David Lewis
Assistant Principal, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet
"Children need to see themselves represented in the school building and throughout the curriculum in order to be prepared to succeed in college and/
or career. Cultural representation coupled with experiential learning works as a catalyst for children of diverse backgrounds and promotes interest, engagement, and common ground for all."

Meet the 2021 Cohort

Alex Ball
Mississippi Delta 2007

Patrice Briscoe
Nashville-Chattanooga 2018

Brittany Crawford
Indianapolis 2014
Meet the 2020 Cohort

Bryan Kariuki
Nashville-Chattanooga 2014

Rachel Burley
Nashville-Chattanooga 2015

Gerron Hurt
Nashville Teacher Residency

Ryan Olivia MacDonald
Mississippi 2013
