From the Director: Looking ‘Forward’ to 2024-2025

When the USN community returns to the Edgehill Campus this fall, students, families, and faculty will learn about the Board of Trustee-approved strategic plan, meet three new administrators, and find a newly renovated Health Room in the Sperling Center.
By Amani Reed, Director

Over the last few days, I have watched our students in all grades mark the end of this academic year with culminating projects, independent study presentations, and celebratory events bringing the Kona Ice Truck, inflatables, a tent, and 2,000 chairs to our Back Lawn. The end of the school year is a time when we recognize the hard work and achievements of our students. We also should reflect on the accomplishments of the University School of Nashville community.

During 2023-2024, we have thoughtfully examined our school at its core today and the school we want to become. We asked more than 6,000 members of the USN community to share their perspectives on myriad issues multiple times to help inform the future of our school. While I have shared my appreciation for your feedback, I want to be sure you know how this information is being used.

The strategic planning process has been inclusive of the entire USN community and data-driven, using an unprecedented amount of comments from our enthusiastic families, educators, students, and even alumni and parents of alumni. Since our initial invitation to participate in October, three surveys and multiple focus groups have yielded nearly 4,000 comments, which the Strategic Planning Committee analyzed and used to shape priorities and goals. The Board of Trustees approved the strategic plan during its May meeting. I will begin working with the Administrative Team this summer on implementing the strategic approach, determining desired outcomes, and defining success metrics. I look "Forward" to sharing our strategic plan will be shared with the entire USN community during a launch event this fall.

Our November listening sessions and surveys for the three Administrative Team positions were also instrumental in writing the opportunity statements for our new Head of Lower School, Head of High School, and Chief Financial Officer as were your attendance and input during their on-campus interviews in February and March. As we welcome three new administrators this summer, I will determine the individual strengths and collective organizational capacity of the reshaped Administrative Team, which has seen the retirements of eight administrators in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

In February, we asked faculty, families, and students to share their thoughts on health needs and health care measures within our school walls. What echoed loudest was that the Health Room located on the third floor of the West Wing was insufficiently meeting school needs. This summer, our Operations Department will retrofit underutilized spaces on the second floor of the Sperling Center to become our new Health Room. The new location puts our health services in a quieter area with more privacy yet also closer to the Fitness Center, gyms, playground, and an elevator. The former PE Office will become the Health Room administrative office and intake space where students can wait to be seen. The visiting team girls’ locker room will be renovated into two treatment rooms that meet health codes and provide adequate medication storage. The visiting team boys’ locker room will be subdivided into two locker rooms to handle guests.

We also will hire a new Health Team Director, a position created during the COVID-19 pandemic that has been vacant since fall 2022. This full-time medical professional will bring our health services policies and procedures into best practices and handle the administrative tasks of directing a clinic. With improved facilities to address health issues and foster the well-being of our students, they can better focus on their academic success.

Best wishes for your Summer Break.
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More USN News

List of 3 news stories.

  • Spring sports season ends with podium finishes, trophies

    The girls lacrosse team ended its season in overtime to become state runner-up. Tennis players Carter Kojetin '29 finished as a state quarterfinalist, Sophie Oliver '26 and Mary Kate Adler '28 finished as state semifinalists, and Veer Kodali '29 and Max Parker '29 finished as state champions. Meanwhile, eight runners competed at the state track and field meet in Knoxville, where Griffin Davidson '27, Caleb Freifeld '28, Drew Zwerner '28, and Jack Fruin '27, sprinted to first in the 4x800m relay and Jack also placed first in the 800m dash.
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  • Interim Director Juliet Douglas roars with laughter as students hold photos of her on sticks during the High School Awards Assembly on Friday, May 8 in Durnan Auditorium.

    USN creates the Juliet Douglas Endowed Fund for Student Success

    For the entire USN community: an invitation to give in gratitude, in celebration, and in honor of the woman who has given so much to our school. Make a gift at usn.org/giving to support students with needs beyond tuition and honor Interim Director Juliet Douglas.
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  • The team poses for a photo after competing in the Middle School Quiz Bowl National Championships.

    Middle School Quiz Bowl competes at national championship

    The Middle School Quiz Bowl finished off another successful season with a trip to the Middle School National Championship Tournament in Chicago. The team fought hard and ended the season as a top-100 program in the country, finishing 75th overall. Congratulations to the team on a great performance and to Lucas Lupu ’31, named an All Star for being the fifth-highest scorer nationwide.
    Read More
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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

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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.