萝莉网

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Award Presented During AASA鈥檚 National Conference on Education

New Orleans, LA 鈥� March 8, 2025 鈥� Dr. Adrienne Battle of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, TN, is the 2025 recipient of the (STM) 20th Annual Administrator Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education.

This prestigious award was presented at the , hosted by AASA, 萝莉网.

This award recognizes one superintendent or school district CEO who has exhibited outstanding commitment to restoring music education in his or her district. Dr. Battle was chosen for her unwavering devotion to providing students across the Nashville community with a well-rounded education that includes music.

鈥淢usic education is so important to a high-quality education, and I鈥檓 grateful for everything Save the Music has done to help us grow and improve our instructional program and resources,鈥� Dr. Battle said. 鈥淥ur forward-looking Visual and Performing Arts team and our brilliant teachers across the district are so good at helping students see and develop their own musical talents, which fits right into our larger work of making sure every student is known, supported and on a path to success. Thank you to Save the Music for its generous support and for this recognition of our collective efforts.鈥�

Over the past 26 years, STM has supported Nashville鈥檚 investment in K-12 comprehensive music education across the district with musical instrument and technology grants, music teacher professional development, and ongoing program support, totaling more than $1,700,000 to date. This project is fueled by a strategic partnership with Dr. Battle, who has pledged to ensure every student in the district has equitable access to music education taught by qualified teachers as part of the regular school day.

鈥淭hrough Superintendent Battle鈥檚 leadership, all students across music city have the opportunity to express themselves through music making in school,鈥� said Jaclyn Rudderow, senior director of school programs for Save The Music Foundation. 鈥淲e are thrilled to celebrate her with this national honor and look forward to our continued partnership.鈥�

Through the Save The Music Foundation grants, 70 MNPS schools have been able to expand their music programs. Students now have access to new instruments and music technology without the worry of financial burden being a barrier to them participating in the arts.

Past recipients of this award include: Dr. Amy J Carter, superintendent, Meridian Public School District (MS); Christopher Downing, superintendent, Anaheim Elementary School District (Calif.); Elizabeth Lolli, superintendent, Dayton Public Schools (Ohio); Leon Rogers, superintendent, Newark Public Schools (N.J.); Keely Roberts, superintendent, Zion Elementary District 6 (Ill.); Francisco Escobedo, superintendent, Chula Vista Elementary School District (Calif.); Nancy Sarra, superintendent, Consolidated School District of New Britain (Conn.); Kevin George, superintendent, St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools (La.); Russell Freitas, superintendent, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District (Calif.); Kristi Wilson, superintendent, Buckeye Elementary School District (Ariz.); Reginald Mayo, retired superintendent, New Haven Public Schools (Conn.); Rita Bishop, superintendent, Roanoke City Public Schools (Va.); Kathy L. Kelly, superintendent, Columbia Heights Public Schools (Minn.); Duncan N. P. 鈥淧at鈥� Pritchett Jr., former superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools (Ind.); John Lange, former superintendent, Adams County School District 14 (Colo.); Carol Johnson, former superintendent, Memphis City Schools (Tenn.) and current superintendent, Boston Public Schools (Mass.); Richard Kaplan, superintendent, New Brunswick Public Schools (N.J.); Eugene White, retired superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools (Ind.); and James A. Williams, former superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools (N.Y.).

Regarded as the most comprehensive professional learning and networking event for school superintendents and administrators, AASA鈥檚 National Conference on Education addresses the most critical issues affecting public education today and in 2025 will focus on what school system leaders can do to prepare America鈥檚 students for bright futures they cannot yet even imagine; from digital literacy and embracing new tech and AI, to ensuring students graduate with the necessary skills they need to thrive in the real world.

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About Save The Music Foundation:

Save The Music Foundation is the leading U.S. nonprofit dedicated to helping students, schools, and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music. Almost 30 years after its founding as 鈥淰H1 Save The Music,鈥� Save The Music is now a completely independent 501c3, focused on supporting its culturally rich partner communities by investing in music education. Since 1997, the organization has donated over $75M in instruments and resources to more than 2800 schools, impacting millions of students nationwide and counting! Learn more at .

About 萝莉网

AASA, 萝莉网, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA鈥檚 mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.

About Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

Metro Nashville Public Schools is one of the nation鈥檚 top 50 largest school districts, preparing more than 80,000 students for higher education, work and life. With the goal of being the premier large urban school district in Tennessee and beyond, MNPS wants to ensure Every Student is Known by meeting focused outcomes that will help each child achieve growth from an academic and social-emotional perspective. The governing body for Metro Schools is the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education, a nine-member elected body. For more information, visit MNPS.org, or follow us on Twitter @MetroSchools or Facebook/MetroSchools.

 

Press Contact:

Save The Music Foundation 鈥� Zack Flores, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
(210) 279-6334, zack.flores@savethemusic.org

AASA, The School Superintendent Association - Lara Wade
Director of Communications, 813.833.1498,  lwade@aasa.org

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools 鈥� Michael Cass - Michael.Cass@mnps.org