Following Thanksgiving Break, all exterior doors will remain locked when school is in session — as per state law (Tennessee Code § 49-6-817). All families, vendors, and other guests must ring the doorbell at the 19th Avenue entrance and present an ID to enter USN. We also will welcome Sgt. Anthony Jones and Cpl. Robert Gibson as School Resource Officers patrolling the Edgehill Campus and the River Campus.
By Capt. Aerin Washington, Director of Safety and Security
In accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-817 and effective Monday, November 27, we will lock the 19th Avenue Lobby entrance and require identification for everyone entering the USN building. Everyone will be required to show either their state-issued or USN ID via the camera at the main entrance. If the individual does not have a USN ID, they can have a visitor badge printed at the reception desk. Visitors who park on 21st Avenue and do not have a USN ID will be directed to enter through the 19th Avenue entrance for a visitor ID badge.
Another exciting announcement is the arrival of our new School Resource Officers here on USN's campuses. School Resource Officers are certified police officers who are primarily assigned to a school and provide safety and security-related functions, including emergency response, safety training, traffic direction, and patrol functions. Sergeant Anthony Jones and Corporal Robert Gibson will join the Office of Safety and Security on Monday, November 27. Sgt. Jones will work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cpl. Gibson will work from 2 to 10 p.m. Both will be present on the Edgehill Campus as well as the River Campus. If you see them in the hallways, do stop them and say "hello."
Sgt. Jones has been with the Vanderbilt University Police Department since 2001. He has served in various roles within the department, most recently as a Sergeant with One Hundred Oaks, where he also worked as a bike officer. Sgt. Jones loves helping people and has worked at USN for various events in the past. He is excited to join the USN community officially.
Cpl. Gibson has been with VUPD since 2014. He started at VUPD as a Community Service Officer and transitioned into a police officer role in 2022. He enjoys spending time with his family and biking. Cpl. Gibson is excited to join the team and dive into various campus activities.
Allison Van Konynenburg returns to USN as Interim HS Dean of Teaching and Learning. Taking on additional responsibilities this academic year, Justin Fitzpatrick is now Interim HS Dean for Academic Affairs and Laura Snow is the High School Academic Operations Manager.
Please join us in welcoming to USN: LS Spanish Teacher Connor Mitchell, LS Music Teacher Marisa Frank, LS Learning Support Specialist MacKenzie Grant, Fourth Grade Teacher Alexis Novotny, Second Grade Teachers Cara Bishop and Lindsay Moates, First Grade Teachers Marisa Depke and Molly Roth '10, and Kindergarten Teacher Ellen Haber '00. Also, Naturalist Carrie Riley transitions to LS from the HS Science Department.
Learning Specialist Rachel Harley has over a decade in middle school education. Her office is located in room 1171 on the first floor of the Gordon Wing, in the former Middle School conference room.
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.