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.
All 40 eligible University School of Nashville students in the Class of 2037 registered to vote ahead of the voter registration deadline, and Eleanor Mixon '27 and Dylan Omary '27 walked across the street from USN to the Scarritt Bennett Center to cast their first ballots on the final day of early voting.
Students in High School History Teacher Cameron Parsons' Advanced Topics: American Government and Politics Class have been working diligently on civic engagement projects that required them to participate in the democratic process.
Congratulations to the Class of 2027 inductees of the USN Cum Laude Society: Jack Barrett, Charlie Blau, Alder Brandon, Olivia Brown, Elisabeth Crane, Alexandra Drewry, Lucia Gellert, Melis Kurtulus, Abigail Manoukian, Lily Margalit, Eleanor Mixon, Louisa Nordberg, Mia Orefice, Karsen Puzniak, Ruchika Ramachandran, Jacqueline Seale, Elliott Spiller, Laine Theobald, Alexander Truss, Yifan Wang, Madeleine Wiseman, and Julia Young.
With trail names like Megawatt, Electric Avenue, High Voltage and Livewire, the mountain bike team knew it was time to pedal out some extra watts for their NICA/TICL State Championships at Raccoon Mountain, and survive the technical trails above Chattanooga full of boulder gardens, rock drops and sandy rubble.
Winged Deer Park and trails in Johnson City hosted our 4th race on Sunday October 11th, and despite a bit of hurricane outwash winds and showers - and reduced team numbers due to fall break and distance from Nashville - our racers utilized all available skills and speed which helped “wing" Sophomore Claire Dehner to a 4th place podium spot, our first podium appearance and medal for the season.
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.
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.