Press Releases

NASHVILLE – Tennesseans for Student Success is excited to announce the fourth cohort of Teachers for Student Success, a year-long education advocacy and policy leadership development program designed to empower educators from around the state with the knowledge and tools necessary to enact education policy change at the school, community, and state levels.

Fellows attend professional development on public policy, legislation, advocacy, leadership, and community engagement. Throughout the program, fellows engage with leaders from the General Assembly, Department of Education, Board of Education, nonprofit partners, and local schools, ultimately completing a Fellowship Impact Project highlighting an area of policy and action steps that can be taken to support students through their chosen policy area.

Join us in congratulating the following members of the 2025 Teachers for Student Success Cohort:

• Mrs. Kathleen Bray Rice – 5-8th grade social studies teacher at Compass
  Community Charter School Hickory Hill (Memphis-Shelby County Schools).
• Dr. Trent McManus – economics teacher at Chester County High School (Chester County Schools).
• Ms. Cynthia Brewer – K-5th grade instructional coach at Rozelle Arts Magnet
  Elementary (Memphis-Shelby County Schools).
• Mrs. Jody Hatler – 8th grade science teacher at Martin Middle School
  (Weakley County Schools).
• Ms. Arika Spivey – 6-8th grade SPED teacher at Macon County Jr. High School (Macon County Schools).
• Mrs. Marty LeBlanc – 9-12th grade CTE STEM engineering at Lincoln
  County High School (Lincoln County Schools).
• Mrs. Wendy Williams – 9-12th grade teaching as a profession instructor at
  Cascade High School (Bedford County Schools).
• Ms. Heather Gates – English I and II teacher at Cookeville High School (Putnam
  County School System).
• Dr. Sheree Wheat – 6-8th grade computer science teacher at Tyner Magnet
  Middle School (Hamilton County Schools).
• Dr. Emily Astor – 3rd-5th grade math teacher at Samuel Everett School of
  Innovation (Blount County Schools).
• Ms. Elizabeth Evans – K-5th grade counselor at Norwood Elementary
  (Anderson County Schools).
• Ms. Leah Murray – K-5th grade reading intervention instructor at Surgoinsville
  Elementary (Hawkins County School District).

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the diversity of backgrounds and expertise this year’s participants will bring to our Teachers for Student Success cohort,” said TSS Director of Policy and Outreach Meredith McGann. “Providing educators with an avenue to learn about policy and amplify their voice through advocacy is crucially important to Tennesseans for Student Success’s mission of championing high-quality educational opportunities and working to ensure every Tennessee student has access to a great public education.”

Over the years, Teachers for Student Success cohorts have participated in the State Board of Education’s Advisory Team for English Language Arts (ELA) Standards and the Department of Education’s Tennessee Teacher Advisory Council. Last year’s cohort members additionally advocated in support of career and technical education (CTE) grants for rural middle schools and the implementation of a district-wide attendance accountability program to support student growth and achievement.

Contact Meredith McGann at meredith@tnsuccess.org to learn when you can apply for the next cohort or to discuss partnership opportunities.

Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of parents, guardians, teachers and community leaders that champions economic freedom and mobility for all Tennesseans by supporting high-quality educational opportunities and working to ensure every Tennessee student has access to a great public education.