Meet Lower School's new faculty

Join us in welcoming LS Learning Specialist Caitlyn Tisch and Red Door Kindergarten Teacher Jennifer Lefkovitz.
Caitlyn Tisch joins USN after spending time in the Chicago area where she worked for 10 years as a special education teacher. While attending Indiana University and earning her bachelor's in elementary education, Tisch competed on IU's swim team also. She holds a master's in special education and a certification in autism spectrum disorders. As the new LS Learning Specialist, Tisch will be an invaluable member of the division's student support team. 
 
Jennifer Lefkovitz joins the kindergarten team in the Red Door classroom. Lefkovitz holds a bachelor's in elementary education from Indiana University as well. She has a master's of education as a reading specialist and additional hours studying educational practice. Lefkovitz brings 16 years of teaching experience in first grade to the West Wing and looks forward to welcoming the Class of 2035. 

In addition to new full-time faculty, the Lower School will be supported by a few long-term substitutes due to extended leave. 

In the Blue Door classroom, we are happy to share that Megan Collins is joining the kindergarten team in late November when lead teacher Lynn Welliver begins her maternity leave. Collins will join Blue Door before Welliver departs to ensure a smooth transition. Prior to moving to Nashville, Collins was a kindergarten teacher and team leader at the Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, California for eight years. She earned a B.F.A. in art history and an M.A. in teaching elementary education from the University of South Florida. Collins enjoys painting and swimming, and loves to go on hikes with her husband Joseph and their 9-month-old daughter Hazel. 
 
In second grade, we are delighted to welcome Molly Darr '92 back to Lower School as the maternity leave substitute for Megan Peterson. Darr will be with the class for the first half of the school year. A skilled and experienced teacher, she has taught for a total of 25 years, 17 of those years being in second grade at USN. Prior to joining the faculty at USN, Darr was a special education teacher in a variety of settings, having received her bachelor's in special education and her teacher certification from Middle Tennessee State University. Interestingly, Darr came to USN as a second-grader herself when her mother, Doni Princehorn, became the Lower School Music Teacher. She and her husband Brad have two teenage children, Hannah and Carson '25. Darr’s hobbies include spending time with her senior dog Charlie Newman, volunteer work with dogs at the Williamson County animal shelter, travel baseball, and gardening. She is thrilled to be back in her "home" of second grade. 

Get to know other new faces at USN: Meet new Middle School faculty here. Meet new High School faculty here. Meet the new Counseling Office here. Meet new administrators and staff here.
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School News

List of 3 news stories.

  •  University School of Nashville students Eleanor Mixon '27 and Dylan Omary '27 voted first the first time on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at the Scarritt Bennett.

    Seniors take field trip to cast first ballot

    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.
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  • The ballot box and beyond: USN Seniors civically engaged

    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.
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  • An evening of erudition: 22 seniors enter Cum Laude Society

    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.
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Archive

Athletics News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Mountain Bike Team Takes on “Electric" State Champs Trails, Dehner Snags Overall Podium Medal

    Steve Smail & MTB Team Coaches
    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.
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  • Mountain Bike Team Takes on Winged Deer Trails, HS Makes Podium Appearance

    Steve Smail
    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.
     
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  • HS athletics recaps for September 11-17

    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.
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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.