Community Leaders Turn Out In Force To Support Public Schools

Mayor Megan Barry, Director of Schools Dr. Shawn Joseph and other community leaders are coming together to host the Nashville Public Education Foundation’s (NPEF) 13th annual Public Schools Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel. The members of the host committee represent diverse backgrounds and industries, but share a passion for improving public education in Nashville.

“I’m honored to join this exceptional group of community leaders uniting the city around our public schools,” said Mayor Barry. “The NPEF’s Public Schools Hall of Fame is a great opportunity to recognize those who are truly making a difference in public education and to galvanize support for this work in the future.”

The Hall of Fame event is co-chaired by Wanda and Jerry Lyle, joined by honorary co-chairs Mayor Barry and Dr. Joseph. Wanda Lyle, general manager of Nashville’s UBS Business Solutions Center, serves as vice chairwoman of the NPEF’s board of directors, and Jerry Lyle is retired from Indoff Inc. of St. Louis. Community volunteer Caroline and Rob McNeilly, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank and an NPEF board member, are the table host chairs for the event. Other host committee members include business executives, civic leaders, elected officials, educators, faith leaders, philanthropists, sports figures and other stalwarts of the community.

“As we accelerate improvement efforts, it is critical for the city to come together in an unprecedented way to support our public schools,” said Dr. Joseph. “I’m happy to be joining Mayor Barry and this esteemed group of community leaders to host this important event.”

Host committee members include:

- - Sheila & James Bearden
  - Jeff Bradford
  - JoAnn Brannon
  - Phil Bredesen
  - Vice Mayor David Briley
  - Barbara & Gregory Burns
  - Daphne & Rawls Butler
  - Pamela & Michael Carter
  - Krystal Clark
  - Ashley & Joe Cook
  - Martha & Jim Cooper
  - Brenda & Ron Corbin
  - Maggie & Tim Corbin
  - Dr. Judy Cummings
  - Jana & Ansel Davis
  - Suann & Ralph Davis
  - Anne Davis & Karl Dean
  - Donna & Chuck Denny
  - H. “Sonnye” Dixon
  - Margaret & Steve Dolan
  - Shani & Randy Dowell
  - Tara & Bryce Drew
  - Annette Eskind
  - Donna & Jeffrey Eskind
  - Molly Boyd & Chris Ferrell
  - Judy & Bob Fisher
  - Christina & Dana Ford
  - Mignon Francois
  - Ashley & Ben Freeland
  - Gloria & Darrell Freeman
  - Jennifer & Billy Frist
  - Julie & Tommy Frist
  - Senator & Mrs. William H. Frist
  - Howard Gentry
  - Sharon Gentry
  - Tamara & Eddie George
  - Glenda Glover
  - Katy Varney & Dave Goetz
  - Max R. Goldberg
  - Jose D. Gonzalez
  - Jamie & Jimmy Granbery
  - Margaret & Tony Heard
  - Carrie & Damon Hininger
  - Dan Hogan
  - Laura & John Hollingsworth
  - Karen & Sam Howard
  - Tyese Hunter

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Lee Ann & Orrin Ingram
Marion & Decosta Jenkins
Denice & R. Milton Johnson
Tracy & Jeremy Kane
Beverly Keel
Attorney & Mrs. Edward T. Kindall
Marcia & Lewis Lavine
Candice & Sean Lee
Sandra & Larry Lipman
Rhonda & Randy Lowry
Debby Dale Mason
LeighAnne & Derek Mason
Mary Roskilly & Chuck Miller
Rita P. Mitchell
Dana Elizabeth Moore
Laura Moore
Juli & Ralph Mosley
LaVoe Mulgrew
Anna Page
Tara Scarlett & Michael Peacock
Mary & Mark Pierce
Debbie Miller & Bill Purcell
Richard Riebeling
Sharon K. Roberson
Anna Shepherd
Tom & Dana Sherrard
Stephanie & Tracy Silverman
Holly & Clint Smith
Frances & Jimmy Spradley
Sunny & Butch Spyridon
Brenda & Joe N. Steakley
James R. Threalkill
Byron Trauger
Abby Trotter
Judy & Steve Turner
Christina & Tom Ward
Michelle Fletcher & Stephanie White
Rachel & Marcus Whitney
Gail & David Williams
Jerry & Ernie Williams
Jamie & Bill Woodson
Renata Soto & Pete Wooten
Allison & D.J. Wootson
Pam & Tom Wylly
Brenda & Emmett Wynn
Alecia & Victor Wynn
Nicholas S. Zeppos

“Jerry and I are honored to chair this year’s Hall of Fame,” said Wanda Lyle. “From the launch of the Literacy Collaborative to the formation of the largest educator discount program in the Southeast through the Show Your Love for Teachers campaign, the NPEF’s work to promote public school excellence continues to ramp up. The funds raised at this event will ensure the organization can continue its work to develop the greatest public school system in the nation here in Nashville.”

The NPEF launched its Hall of Fame in 2005. The event raises funds to support public schools and the Foundation’s work to improve literacy in the district, to recruit and retain great teachers, to turn around underperforming schools, and to increase Nashville’s college-going rate. In total, 59 Nashvillians have been inducted into the Public Schools Hall of Fame. This year, three awards will be presented: the Inspiring Innovation Award, presented by NISSAN, the Nelson C. Andrews Distinguished Service Award, presented by Education Networks of America, and the Distinguished Alumni Award, presented by Ingram Industries.

This year’s honorees will be announced later this month, and finalists for the Inspiring Innovation Award will be publicly unveiled in July.

For tickets or sponsorship opportunities, call 615-727-1515 or visit http://nashvillepef.org/hall-of-fame/.

About the Nashville Public Education Foundation

The Nashville Public Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to pulling together the vast intellectual, creative and financial resources of the Nashville community to create a shared vision of the city’s education system and provide the needed targeted resources to make it a reality. More information is available at www.nashvillepef.org.

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