From the Director
Get to Know Director Amani Reed
Amani Reed has joined University School of Nashville as its 11th Director and the first person of color to lead the K-12 educational institution founded as Peabody Demonstration School in 1915.
He formally assumes the 107-year-old Director’s Office at 2000 Edgehill on July 1, 2022. In a full circle moment, he comes to USN after serving as Head of The School at Columbia University and studying at Teachers College, where Peabody Demonstration School Founder Thomas Alexander created a progressive undergraduate experience to shape future educators. Columbia blue is the surviving tie of PDS/USN to the old University of Nashville.
Reed brings to Nashville strong experience, having worked in academic and administrative roles at highly regarded independent schools across the country. During his decade at The School at Columbia University, he expanded the school’s student enrollment, recruited and supported teachers, led curricular change and innovation, managed the renovation of facilities, and stewarded its relationship with Columbia University. In his career as an educator, Reed taught history to middle and high school students, led in several administrative capacities, drove equity and justice initiatives, served on accreditation teams, worked as a facilitator at national conferences, and managed an academic enrichment program for middle school students facing limited opportunities.
He earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at University of Portland.
A former Division I athlete, Reed has coached high school varsity soccer and was named Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Coach of the Year. He also served on the board of the New York State Association of Independent Schools, the International Association of Laboratory Schools, and two independent schools in the northeast.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Reed is married to Jules, and they share a son, Taye. The Reed family enjoys cooking and baking together as well as the arts, including music, fashion, photography, and film.
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Student Roundtable
Lower, Middle, and High Schoolers helped Amani get oriented with USN traditions and how to survive the first day of school as well as share the importance of student expression and voice at University School of Nashville.
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Director Amani Reed
USN Announces Next Director
PDS & USN Directors
Dr. Richard Thomas Alexander
1915 – 1924
Dr. William Henry Yarbrough
1924 – 1937
Dr. John Edwin Windrow
1937 – 1947
Dr. T. Ross Fink
1947 – 1951
Dr. William Knox McCharen
1951 – 1968
L. Edward Pratt
1968 – 1977
Harold Snedcof
1977 – 1978
Heber Rogers*
1978 – 1979
1978 – 1979
Harvey B. Sperling
1979 – 1990
Kay Simmons*
1990 – 1991
Edward R. Costello
1991 – 1999
Dr. Jean Gray Litterer*
1999 – 2000
Dr. Vincent W. Durnan Jr.
2000 – 2022
Amani Reed
July 1, 2022 – present
*Interim Director
University School of Nashville
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