New faces join USN hallways, offices

Staff joining USN for the 2025-2026 academic year are K-12 Director of Experiential Learning Kalee Barbis, Head Basketball Coach and PE Teacher Gregory Eubanks, Library Assistant Sydney Shansey, and Health Room Aide William Ward. Meet new faculty through the division publications on Friday, August 8.
Compiled by the Administrative Team

Serving in the newly created role of K-12 Director of Experiential Learning, Kalee Barbis brings her experience and expertise to deepen the connections between classroom learning and the world beyond USN by providing students with hands-on, authentic learning experiences that are imbued with an ethic of inclusion and community engagement through the core academic program of the school. She will provide leadership and vision in the ongoing planning, implementation, development, direction, review, and evaluation of global experiences, community engagement, and curricular partnerships. Barbis is an experienced educational leader with 16 years in the field, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in adolescent health from the University of Tennessee, Master of Public Policy from Vanderbilt University, and Master of Education from Lipscomb University. She has a deep focus on community and student-centered education, with a passion for creating real-world learning experiences that leave lasting impacts. Throughout her career, Barbis has worked to foster cross-divisional collaboration, creating cohesive, project-based learning pathways that engage students at every grade level. Her work spans both startup and established school environments, including launching Templeton Academy's Nashville location as the Head of School and Explore! Community School, where she led the development of honors programs, aligned K-8 experiential curriculum, and integrated standards-based PBL.

Gregory Eubanks is a PE Teacher and the Head Basketball Coach.

Sydney Shansey joins the Hassenfeld Library as the Library Assistant. Shansey grew up on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, just across from St. Louis, Missouri. She originally made a home in Nashville while attending Belmont University studying commercial music but has since travelled across the Pacific Ocean, pursuing a master’s in Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai’i and volunteering as a teacher in the Federated States of Micronesia. She said she is happy to be back in Nashville, pursuing her newfound passion for education and investing in the local community.

Relocating from Houston, Texas, Health Room Aide William Ward brings valuable experience from his time in a pediatric hospital setting. Ward received his National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification from Houston Community College. When he's not at USN, he works as an Emergency Medical Technician, continuing to serve the broader community. Ward began this summer as a Health Aide, supporting our Summer Camps at the River Campus. Serving as an extension of USN’s Health Room, he provided assistance with minor first aid and day-to-day care for campers. He will continue supporting the Health Room and nurses as an aide during the school year.

Among recent promotions, Ben Cates is now Director of Technology and Lindsay Barrera is now Facilities Manager.

Meet new faculty through the division publications on Friday, August 8.
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
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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.