Metro Nashville Public Schools has 18 new principals for 2023-24. Here's the full list.
As Metro Nashville Public Schools gears up for the first day of school next week, 18 newly-placed principals are also preparing to take on their roles.
From Antioch to Joelton and everywhere in between, here's the rundown of each new leader, based on information shared by MNPS.
Deante’ Alexander, Cane Ridge High School
Deante’ Alexander is returning to MNPS after serving as a principal in Wilson County. Previously, he taught business, marketing, and career and technical education at MNPS, and served as an academy lead teacher at Pearl-Cohn High School. He was also the dean of students at Glencliff High School and an academy principal at Antioch High School.
He holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s and master's in education, Middle Tennessee State University
Educational specialist and doctorate in educational leadership from Union University
Janelle Brooks, Warner Elementary School
Janelle Brooks most recently worked as the assistant principal for Madison Middle School. In her 13-year education career, she's also worked as a teacher, numeracy coach, and instructional coach. Brooks is on track to finish a doctorate this fall at Lipscomb University.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in secondary education mathematics, Vanderbilt University
Master’s in educational leadership, Lipscomb University (Ayers Fellow)
Nekesha Burnette, Antioch High School
Nekesha Burnett has served a variety of educational and administrative roles at MNPS, including a previous role as a teacher and academy coach at Antioch High School and her most recent role as an assistant principal at Maplewood High School. She's previously taught science at Stratford STEM Magnet School, Glencliff High School, and Antioch High School. At Maplewood, she also worked as an academy coach and freshman academy principal.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in biology, Tennessee State University
Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, Tennessee State University
Educational specialist degree in instructional leadership, Tennessee Tech University
Tonya Dennis, Haynes Middle School
Tonya Dennis has been a teacher, assistant principal and principal at different MNPS schools, including a previous stint from 2012 to 2015 as the principal at Haynes Middle School. She's also worked as an adjunct professor at Tennessee State University, an educational consultant for other schools and districts, and a presenter for professional development and training programs.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in English from Tennessee State University
Master’s in public administration, University of Akron (Ohio)
Doctorate in educational administration, University of Akron (Ohio)
Brenda Diaz, MNPS Virtual School
Alongside her new role, Diaz will continue to work as the executive principal at Nashville Big Picture High School. Her nearly 30-year education career includes multiple honors. Most recently, she was honored as the 2022-23 MNPS High School Principal of the year and the 2022 Big Picture Learning Ted Sizer School Leader of the Year.
She holds the following degrees and endorsements:
Bachelor’s in English, Rust College
Master’s in curriculum and instruction, University of Mississippi
Educational leadership endorsement, University of Memphis
Doctorate in education, Union University
Matthew Earls, Tusculum Elementary School
Matthew Earls, an MNPS graduate, has most recently served as the academy principal and principal of curriculum and instruction for seven years at Overton High School. He also worked as an English teacher and dean of students at Apollo Middle School.
He holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s, Middle Tennessee State University
Master’s, Bethel University
No additional details on his degrees were included in a news release from MNPS.
Kelby Garner, Overton High School
Kelby Garner first has a background in psychology, counseling and mental health, working with adults at the Mental Health Cooperative. She went on to roles as a professional school counselor, dean of student affairs, dean of instruction, assistant principal and executive principal. She also worked as a literacy tutor at Isaac Litton Middle School and a school counselor in Cheatham County before becoming the executive principal for MNPS Virtual School.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor's in psychology, Tennessee State University
Educational specialist degree, Carson-Newman University
Doctorate of education, Carson-Newman University
Raquel González, Pennington Elementary School
Raquel González has been in education for 28 years. In Chicago, she worked as a teacher, science coordinator, assistant principal and principal.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in elementary and secondary education, Northeastern Illinois University
Master’s in school leadership, Concordia University
Bruce Jackson, McGavock High School
Bruce Jackson comes to McGavock High School after spending five years as the executive principal at East Magnet Middle School. He previously worked at McGavock as a freshman academy principal for seven years. He has also worked as a teacher and held assistant principal roles at Stratford High School and MNPS Middle Alternative Learning Center.
He holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in political science, Tennessee State University
Master’s in educational leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University
Amanda Keeley, Joelton Elementary School
Amanda Keeley has spent the majority of her 19 years in education at Joelton Elementary. She's worked as a teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor's in English, with a minor in elementary education, Merrimack College
Master’s degree in educational leadership, American College of Education
Nae’Shara Neal, Meigs Middle School
Nae’Shara Neal most recently served as the curriculum and instruction principal and Cambridge coordinator at McGavock High School. Before that, she was a biology teacher and instructional coach. She was also the master teacher for the MNPS Demonstration School, where her classroom served as a model for other principals and teachers.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor's in biology, with a minor in military science, Western Kentucky University
Master's in teaching, Trevecca Nazarene University
Master's in education leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University
Doctorate, concertation in curriculum and instruction, Argosy University
Kamilah Mathews, A.Z. Kelley Elementary School
Kamilah Mathews brings 17 years of experience as a teacher, coach and leader to her new role. Most recently, she was the assistant principal at Inglewood Elementary.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, University of Evansville
Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, Concordia University-Portland
Educational specialist degree in accountability and instructional leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University
Nia Perry, Mt. View Elementary School
Nia Perry has worked as the assistant principal at Cane Ridge Elementary School for the last six years. An MNPS graduate, she has more than 17 years of elementary education experience that includes teaching, instructional coaching and serving as a dean of instruction. She is also pursuing a doctorate at Lipscomb University.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in elementary education, Alabama State University
Master’s in curriculum and instruction, Columbia University
Master’s in public administration, Tennessee State University
Educational specialist degree in administration and supervision, Middle Tennessee State University
Shelly Robinson, Tom Joy Elementary School
Shelly Robinson's education career spans the last 16 years. She served as the executive principal of Two Rivers Middle School. She was also a teacher and assistant principal in Montgomery County.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor's in English, Austin Peay State University
Master's in educational leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University
Education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, Austin Peay State University
Doctorate in educational leadership, Trevecca Nazarene University
Ashley Roby, East Middle School
Ashley Roby has been with MNPS since 2005 and has served in both elementary and middle school roles. Most recently, she served as the assistant principal at Eakin Elementary. An MNPS graduate, she has also worked as a teacher, a numeracy coach and a Title I facilitator, and has earned numerous awards.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s and master’s degree in education, Tennessee State University
Doctorate, Trevecca Nazarene University
Doniethia Williams, JFK Middle School
Doniethia Williams graduated from Antioch High School and has worked with MNPS for 15 years. Most recently, she was the assistant principal at Wright Middle School for the last five years. She's also worked as the dean of instruction at Wright, a numeracy coach and algebra teacher at Antioch High School, and an algebra teacher at Glencliff High School.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in middle grades mathematics education, UT Chattanooga
Master's and educational specialist degrees in administration and supervision, Tennessee State University
Doctorate in educational leadership, Tennessee State University
Lauren Hurley Wilson, Andrew Jackson Elementary School
Lauren Hurley Wilson brings more than 13 years of experience to her new role at Andrew Jackson Elementary. Along with a background as an assistant principal, she's also worked as a kindergarten teacher, special education teacher and literacy coach.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor’s in education, Tennessee State University
Master’s degree in special education, Vanderbilt University
Doctorate and educational specialist degrees in administration and leadership, Carson-Newman University
Clarissa Zellars, Academy at Old Cockrill (high school)
Clarissa Zellars started as a math teacher in 2000 at MNPS. She's held a variety of jobs within the district over the last 23 years, including assistant principal roles at both Hillwood High School and Antioch High School. She also worked in the district's curriculum and instruction department, and its federal programs and grants department.
She holds the following degrees:
Bachelor's in mathematics, Florida A&M University
Master's in mathematics education, Alabama A&M University
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Who are the 18 new principals for 2023-24?
