CSO Larita Kent joined USN in 2024, while CSO Stephanie McCracken joined USN in 2021. CSOs provide safety and security-related functions, including perimeter and parking lot security, traffic direction, access control, and special event staffing.
Q: Tell us about your training. Kent: Before receiving my certification as a CSO, I spent eight years working in a women’s correctional facility. McCracken: I am a former correctional officer. I've also worked in security at Walt Disney World and have served as a CSO for the past eight years.
Q: What do you love about your job? Kent: I love interacting with the students and parents. I am proud to be part of a team that is dedicated to the safety of USN’s community. McCracken: I love that I can make a difference, no matter how big or small the situation is. I decided to go into this profession to help others.
Q: What is your favorite thing about USN? Kent: The best part of my day is greeting everyone who comes through the door with a smile. You never know what someone is going through. McCracken: My favorite thing about USN is the people. Building rapport with students, parents, and staff has made my experience here that much more meaningful.
Q: What is something people may not know about you? Kent: I love to crack jokes and sing carpool karaoke. My go-to song is "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner. I also enjoy painting, working in my garden, and spending time with my 11-year-old granddaughter. McCracken: I love anime and going to comic cons with my wife and 15-month-old. I also have a soft spot for '80s music.
Artclectic Patrons Party early-bird tickets are $125 each and can be purchased here through Thursday, October 1. The price increases to $150 per person on Friday, October 2. For more than 30 years, Artclectic has been one of Nashville's premier juried art shows, welcoming nationally recognized artists and visitors from across the city to USN's Sperling Gym turned art gallery. The weekend features exceptional artwork, artist demonstrations, student experiences, family activities, and special events that celebrate creativity, with proceeds benefiting USN.
USN Evening Classes, our one-night classes that benefit our need-based scholarship endowment, were recently featured on the City Cast Nashville podcast. Visit usneveningclasses.org to view the fall catalog.
The Helen Meador Summer International Fellowship funded a summer of professional development in South America for Lower School Naturalist Carrie Riley. Through this profound experience, she said she plans to bring these lessons into her teaching, grounding her voice in wonder, joy, and a commitment to protecting the natural world, which she loves.
Tiger golfers have officially qualified for the region tournament, and our other teams are not far behind. Volleyball sits near the top of the district, finishing up regular season play next week with Senior Night. Girls soccer continues to hold first place in the district after another 9-0 win, and our cross country runners are chasing after some school records. To round it all out, our mountain bike team traveled to Oakfield to continue to improve on their times for the season. There’s plenty more where that came from- so be sure to come out to the River Campus, Sperling Gym, or out on the road to cheer on our Tigers before their seasons end.
Middle School volleyball and tennis teams are nearing the final games of their seasons, with the competition heating up while the Tigers play to determine their HVAC rankings. Cross country was finally able to race at the River Campus despite the heat, and our mountain biking team traveled to Oakfield, Tennessee, for a high-temperature race weekend.
The MTB team returned to the the twisty trails of tranquil Oakfield, TN on Sept 13th to take part in the second race of the season, as part of the 5-race series hosted by the NICA/TICL League.
USN Mission: University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.