USN remembers Betty Werthan
A noted and long revered parent of alumni who shepherded the school through its transition from Peabody Demonstration School to University School of Nashville died on May 18, 2020.
In 1974, when Betty Werthan learned of Peabody College’s plans to close its Dem School, she and husband Bernard Werthan Jr. gathered like-minded parents around their dining room table on a Saturday morning. This Transition Committee of parents later leveraged their homes to purchase the school and shape it as a new entity yet still connected to its educational roots.
“Their humility should continue to inspire our steps, but it carries the risk of their signal accomplishment being lost in the mists of time and current day urgency,” Director Vince Durnan wrote in a 2017 column. “When the Werthans and their compatriots came back to USN for visits, I could not help asking if we’d become what they hoped we would, and they invariably answered that they could not have imagined where we are today—deftly turning the spotlight away from them and toward us.”
Betty remained connected with the school over decades since the graduation of her children (Betsy Werthan Schwartz '75, Kay Werthan '78, Tim Werthan '80, Tony Werthan '83) as an Emeritus Honorary Member of the Board of Trustees and generous benefactor, even after her last breath. Click here to read her obituary in The Tennessean.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Ava ’26 recognized by National Council of Teachers of English
Congratulations to the rising senior, who has been selected for a 2025 Achievement Award in Writing by the National Council of Teachers of English.Read More -
Retired faculty, staff return to USN
As part of a longstanding tradition, retired teachers and professionals from USN over the years came together to celebrate, connect, and reminisce during their annual luncheon in Durnan Auditorium.Read More -
Athletes beyond Edgehill
Read MoreIt is common to have five or more University School of Nashville student-athletes sign college athletic commitment letters each year, and this year, USN saw eight more student-athletes commit to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. USN has several alumni participating in their chosen sport at the collegiate level from the Classes of 2021 through 2025. Continue reading to learn more about where Tigers are competing beyond Edgehill.
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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.
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.