Blog Post

Tennessee School Leaders Selected for '19-20 Innovative Leaders Institute

TSIN announced today the 2019-2020 cohort for the Innovative Leaders Institute – a year-long professional learning opportunity designed to train highly effective principals, assistant principals, and school leaders to infuse a STEM culture in their school through innovative leadership and instructional strategies. School leaders were selected to participate in the program through a competitive application process.

“The Institute provides a unique opportunity for leaders to convene and learn from one another, as well as experienced STEM school faculty, with the goal of transforming the STEM culture in each participating school” said Brandi Stroecker, Director of Education Strategy for the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network. “We are pleased that this cohort includes educators from all regions of the state, an indication that the momentum for STEM in Tennessee remains strong.”

The Institute is led by faculty from several Tennessee STEM Designated Schools. The instructors include Tony Donen, Principal of STEM School Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN; Andy Demster, Principal of Maxine Smith STEAM Academy in Memphis, TN; Tommy Elliott, Principal of Whitehaven Elementary School in Memphis, TN; Shanna Hensley, Principal of D-B Excel in Kingsport, TN; Catherine Jones, Principal of Prescott South Elementary School in Cookeville, TN; and Jeremy Lewis, Principal of Croft Middle School in Nashville, TN.

Innovative Leaders Institute participants apply as a team of two or three faculty members from the same school. The team must consist of a school principal or assistant principal and another building-level school leader. The Institute is free and participants earn 32 hours of Tennessee Association of School Leaders (TASL) credit for participating.

Innovative Leaders Institute 2019-2020 Cohort:

District	School	Participants
Bradley County Schools	Charleston Elementary	Dr. Candice Belt Allison Bynum
Cheatham County Schools	Ashland City Elementary	Dr. Melinda Broyles Kristin McQueen
Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools	Glenellen Elementary	Tonilynn Mosley Jennifer Menees
Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools	Kenwood Middle School	Dr. Marlon Heaston Brooke Kristina Karen Harper
Diocese of Nashville	Pope John Paul II High School	Abby Newby Jennifer Dye
Franklin County Schools	Decherd Elementary	Amber Steele Chris Hawersmith
Hamilton County Schools	Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy	Dr. Maryo Beck Christel Young
Hamilton County Schools	Normal Park Museum Magnet	Carrie Wilmore Kara Rogers
Knox County Schools	Carter Middle School	Joey Ramsey Robert Winter
Knox County Schools	Hardin Valley Academy	Meshon Crateau Ken Dunlap Amanda Wash
Knox County Schools	Hardin Valley Elementary	Dr. Stephanie Taylor Jessica Everitt
Knox County Schools	L&N STEM Academy	Jason Colby Melissa Walsh
Maury County Schools	Battle Creek Elementary	Ena Reaves Suzie Estes
Maury County Schools	J.E. Woodard Elementary	Carol Jent Dovie MacPherson
Maury County Schools	McDowell Elementary	Dr. Breckon Pennell Tonjia Potts
Maury County Schools	Mt. Pleasant Middle School	Dr. Tim Drinkwine Audrey Bryant
Maury County Schools	Randolph Howell Elementary	Dr. Michael Ford Beth Hamilton
Metro Nashville Public Schools	Croft Middle Design Center	Jeremy Lewis Greta Knudson
Murfreesboro City Schools	Discovery School	Kristina Maddux Charlotte Young
Paris Special School District	Inman Middle	Todd Latta Brian Webb
Putnam County Schools	Capshaw Elementary	Diana Wood Eric Demeri
Roane County Schools	Oliver Springs High School	Justin Nivens Amy Haney
Shelby County Schools	Millington Middle School	Selina Sparkman Malcolm Sanders Amy Smith
Shelby County Schools	Dr. William H. Brewster Elementary	Dr. Angela Askew Iris Myers
Wilson County Schools	Gladeville Middle School	Kelly Vallas Kristy Johnson
Wilson County Schools	Wilson County Central Office	Kristi Dragan Jill Gilbert