“You Push Us Forward”: MNPS Celebrates Its Teachers of the Year and Other Top Leaders

MNPS honored its very best teachers, principals, and support employees Monday night at a celebratory dinner with awards, photos, music, and gifts.  

More than 130 building-level Teacher of the Year winners, along with Support Employee of the Year and Principal of the Year finalists, gathered at Music City Center with their family members, principals, and district leaders for the event. 

Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle praised the award recipients for helping make Nashville’s public schools “not just places of learning, but places of hope, growth, and possibility.” 

“Our honorees represent the excellence that lives across all of Metro Nashville Public Schools. You innovate, you inspire, and you push us forward,” Battle said. “What you do every day – fiercely and consistently – shapes the future of Nashville. You are building the next generation of creators, leaders, dreamers, and problem-solvers who will define what this city becomes.” 

Event Photo Gallery

MNPS Teacher of the Year

Erinn McGee, who teaches English Language Arts to third graders at John B. Whitsitt Elementary School, was named the overall MNPS Teacher of the Year. Along with other gifts, McGee will receive a complimentary night at the J.W. Marriott Nashville with free breakfast and parking.  

Teacher of the Year Finalists

The other eight finalists for 2025-26 Teacher of the Year were: 

Elementary School Teachers 

• Katie Traxler, Gateway Elementary 
• Crisma Carter, Shwab Elementary 

Middle School Teachers 

• Kevin Stevens, Head Middle 
• Janiah Sandifer, Jere Baxter Middle 
• Lisa Quinn, Meigs Middle  

High School Teachers 

• Hank Cardwell, Glencliff High School 
• John Skinner, Hume-Fogg High School 
• Ellie Drennan, John Overton High School 

Support Employees of the Year 

• The district also celebrated its Support Employees of the Year:  
• Kristopher Summa, Advocacy Coach, Dan Mills Elementary 
• Kevin Boston, Paraprofessional, Goodlettsville Middle 
• Jackie Taylor, Purchasing Manager, Procurement 

Principal of the Year 

Dr. Frederick Hewitt, principal of DuPont Tyler Middle School, was named the district’s overall Principal of the Year as well as Middle School Principal of the Year.  

MNPS also named a Principal of the Year for each of the other tiers:  

• Cheryl Bowman, Shwab Elementary 
• Dr. Michael Pratt, Stratford STEM Magnet High School 

The other finalists for Principal of the Year were:   

Elementary School Principals 

• Chad Hedgepath, Cole Elementary 
• Ashley Jackson, Gateway Elementary 

Middle School Principals 

• Stephanie Adams, Apollo Middle 
• Dr. Sharada Deaton, Wright Middle 

High School Principals 

• Myra Taylor, East Nashville Magnet High School 
• Myron Franklin, Johnson Alternative Learning Center 

As an extra show of appreciation, the district and event sponsors gave each Teacher of the Year recipient a “swag bag” containing an MNPS-branded computer backpack, an MNPS-branded Bluetooth speaker, an MNPS-branded journal book, and a special gift from Trevecca Nazarene University. 

The Frist Art Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, Hattie B’s, Chick Fil A, Cornerstone Financial, and Nashville Soccer Club also donated guest vouchers, merchandise, gift cards, special recognition at events, and other gifts for building-level and/or district-level winners.

Teachers of the Year by Tier

Elementary

• A. Z. Kelley Elementary: Samuel Cummins
• Alex Green Elementary: Dawn Swift
• Amqui K-8 School: Christian Williams
• Andrew Jackson Elementary: May Beasley
• Bellshire Elementary: Martha Littles
• Cambridge Early Learning Center: Patricia Plemmons
• Cane Ridge Elementary: Samantha Martinez
• Carter-Lawrence Elementary: Yolanda Cornelius
• Casa Azafrán Early Learning Center: Stephanie Kirby
• Chadwell Elementary: Kimberly Stevens
• Charlotte Park Elementary: Emily Whittemore
• Cockrill Elementary: Amber Walsh
• Cole Elementary: Carleen Stephenson
• Cora Howe School: Jacquelyn Day
• Crieve Hall Elementary: Amy Noon
• Cumberland Elementary: Braden Brown
• Dan Mills Elementary: Laura Judd
• Dodson Elementary: Heather Blankenship
• DuPont Elementary: Tracy Bates
• Eagle View Elementary: Antoinette Edmonds
• Eakin Elementary: Marvetta Smith
• Fall-Hamilton Elementary: Kelsey Rich Inniss
• Gateway Elementary: Katie Traxler
• Glencliff Elementary: Dianna Gutierrez
• Glendale Elementary: Fabiola Edwards
• Glengarry Elementary: Amanda Geile
• Glenview Elementary: Treniscia Murrell
• Goodlettsville Elementary: Tempest Covington
• Gower Elementary: Sarah Jones
• Granbery Elementary: Gretchen Campbell
• Harpeth Valley Elementary: Heather Light
• Harris-Hillman Special Education: Sally Tidball
• Hattie Cotton Elementary: Kate Rattner
• Haywood Elementary: Emily Pasko
• Henry C. Maxwell Elementary: Kendall Thompson
• Hermitage Elementary: Terria Holleman
• Hickman Elementary: Cathy Cambron
• Hull-Jackson Elementary: Shawn Blackwell
• Ida B. Wells Elementary: Merlene Barlow
• Inglewood Elementary: Anne-Thomas Donnelly
• Ivanetta H. Davis Early Learning Center: Carrie Koedyker
• J. E. Moss Elementary: Lyndsey Thomas
• Joelton Elementary: Misty Ethridge
• John B. Whitsitt Elementary: Erinn McGee
• Jones Elementary: Regina Duncan
• Julia Green Elementary: Shannon Meadows
• Lakeview Elementary: Pamela Hoffmeyer
• Lockeland Elementary: Emily Wall
• May Werthan Shayne Elementary: Angenetta Grimes
• McGavock Elementary: Elizabeth Herseth
• Mt. View Elementary: Brenda Carey
• Murrell at Glenn School: Jessica Moses
• Napier Elementary: Amy Holt
• Neely’s Bend K-8 School: Rebecca Harvey
• Norman Binkley Elementary: LaJuana Baltimore
• Old Center Elementary: Michelle Cobb
• Paragon Mills Elementary: Katherine Hernandez
• Park Avenue Elementary: Eric Trussell
• Pennington Elementary: Melanie Spence
• Percy Priest Elementary: Emily Cary
• Robert Churchwell Elementary: Melanie White
• Rosebank Elementary: Christine Coelho
• Ross Early Learning Center: Kristin Rama
• Ruby Major Elementary: Sijuwola Oyewumi
• Shwab Elementary: Crisma Carter
• Smith Springs Elementary: Chelsea Navarre
• Stanford Elementary: Susan McClain
• Stratton Elementary: Anethia Norris
• Sylvan Park Elementary: Kelly Bulbulkaya
• Thomas A. Edison Elementary: Denise Lancaster
• Tom Joy Elementary: Demetrius Thomas
• Tulip Grove Elementary: Melissa Foster
• Tusculum Elementary: Erin King
• Una Elementary: Vanessa Martin
• Warner Elementary: Ishaya Marsh
• Waverly-Belmont Elementary: Amy Gammenthaler
• Westmeade Elementary: Cynthia Kleinrock

Middle School

• Antioch Middle: Jasmine Whitmire
• Apollo Middle: Ashley Lehenbauer
• Bellevue Middle: Ann Martin
• Croft Middle: Betty Dozier
• Donelson Middle: Stephen Kosch
• DuPont Hadley Middle: Ivy Franklin
• DuPont Tyler Middle: Donna Snow
• East Nashville Middle: Lori Jennings
• Goodlettsville Middle: Jaleesa Jackson
• H. G. Hill Middle: Courtney Antonello
• Haynes Middle: Kimberly Brown
• Head Middle: Kevin Stevens
• Isaac Litton Middle: Briana Higdon
• Isaiah T. Creswell Middle School of the Arts: Alison Foster
• Jere Baxter Middle: Janiah Sandifer
• John Early Middle: Carolyn Fitzgerald
• John F. Kennedy Middle: Samira Hardcastle
• John Trotwood Moore Middle: Alex Lute
• Johnson Alternative Learning Center: Janet King
• Madison Middle: Britanie Ferreras
• Margaret Allen Middle: Katrina Fernandez
• Martin Luther King Jr. School (Middle): Cami Townsel
• McMurray Middle: Jefferson Davis
• Meigs Middle: Lisa Quinn
• Moses McKissack Middle: Samantha Lowe
• Richard H. Dinkins Middle: Leeann White
• Rose Park Middle: Mia Johnson
• Stratford STEM Magnet School (Lower Campus): Sharisse Dye
• Thurgood Marshall Middle: Denzel Brown
• Two Rivers Middle: Hannah Tapp
• West End Middle: Benjamin Jenkins
• William Henry Oliver Middle: Shalanda Buchanan
• Wright Middle: Maikel Rodriguez

High School

• Antioch High: Cynthia Thomas
• Cane Ridge High: Robert Clifton
• Early College High: Frances Baugh
• East Nashville Magnet High: Gloria Daniels
• Glencliff High: Hank Cardwell
• Hillsboro High: Lesa Banks
• Hume-Fogg High: John Skinner
• Hunters Lane High: Mercy Kasuku Aluoch
• James Lawson High: Kathryn Rosa
• John Overton High: Ellie Drennan
• Maplewood High: Chad Atkinson
• Martin Luther King Jr. School (High): Mackenzie Sample
• McGavock High: Shasta Lee
• MNPS Virtual School: Lillian Romero
• Nashville Big Picture High: Jada Frank
• Nashville School of the Arts: Angie Venable
• Pearl-Cohn High: Benjamin Pomerantz
• Stratford STEM Magnet School (Upper Campus): Quanita Adams
• The Academy at Hickory Hollow: Tamika Reed
• The Academy at Old Cockrill: Mary Cramb
• The Academy at Opry Mills: Carolina Gruber
• W. A. Bass Learning Center: Sonya Mansfield
• Whites Creek High: Kendall Billingslea