November 2, 2026: Dr. Adrienne Battle, Metro Nashville Public Schools
Dr. Adrienne Battle has served as Superintendent of Nashville Public Schools since 2019, leading one of the nation’s largest urban school districts, with more than 80,000 students, 160 schools, 11,000 employees.
A Nashville native and proud MNPS graduate, Dr. Battle has dedicated nearly her entire career to public education, serving as a teacher, principal, turnaround coach, and district leader. Her leadership is anchored in a commitment to Every Student Known, ensuring every student is supported, valued, and positioned for success.
Under her leadership, MNPS has achieved historic academic milestones, including four consecutive years of Level 5 student academic growth, with a fifth year on the horizon (2022–2025), the highest graduation rates in district history, and national recognition from Harvard and Stanford researchers as a Top 10 large urban district for post-pandemic academic recovery in reading and mathematics.
Dr. Battle’s leadership has earned numerous honors, including the 2026 Mid-Cumberland Superintendent of the Year, the AASA and National PTA Excellence in Family Engagement Award, and,
