SCORE, The Hunt Institute Partner To Support Learning Experience as SCORE Announces Fourth Cohort Of Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute

September 5, 2019

NASHVILLE – The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) has selected 28 leaders from higher education, K-12 education, government, business and industry, and nonprofits for the next cohort of the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute (CTLI).

Since 2016, the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute has been strengthening leadership capacity to increase higher education completion rates, fostering partnerships to build actionable coalitions, and exploring innovative solutions to local and statewide collaboration and student success. SCORE, which recently merged with nonprofit Complete Tennessee and expanded its mission to focus on driving the transformation needed in education to deliver success for all students in school, college, career, and life, is continuing CTLI for the 2019-20 academic year.

To build on the foundation of the program, SCORE will partner with The Hunt Institute. The Hunt Institute, recognized as a national leader in the movement to transform public education, will assist in designing learning opportunities, facilitating sessions as an expert out-of-state voice and developing strategies to help participants translate their learning into action.

“The Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute is focused on educating and engaging Tennessee leaders about education opportunities and challenges in Tennessee postsecondary education,” SCORE President and CEO David Mansouri said. “SCORE is excited to build on the program’s foundation and explore with the new cohort how we can push for quality and equity in education so all Tennessee students are able to earn the postsecondary credentials and degrees needed for successful careers.”

The leaders in the fourth cohort represent their regions, communities, and industries while learning from national and statewide experts and developing a richer understanding of higher education access, persistence, and success and the effect on the Tennessee workforce. Over the course of a year, they will explore higher education and economic issues at the local level, witness best practices and policies to tackle real challenges, and build professional relationships with a group of strong leaders advocating for change across Tennessee.

The Tennesseans selected for CTLI are:

  • Julie Allen Burke, Executive Director, Milan Chamber of Commerce
  • Jake Bynum, Weakley County Mayor
  • Linda W. Calvert, Assistant Vice President, Grant Development, and Chief Diversity Officer, Northeast State Community College
  • Vrondelia Chandler, Executive Director and CEO, Project GRAD Knoxville
  • Juandale Cooper, FastTrack Program Director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
  • Bobby Cox, Director of Schools, Warren County Schools
  • Aleah Guthrie, Director of Policy, Tennessee Department of Education
  • Dr. Allana (Lana) R. Hamilton, President, Jackson State Community College
  • Ginger Hausser, Vice President of Economic and Community Development Nashville State Community College
  • Katie Hazelwood, Program Associate, Scarlett Family Foundation
  • Candy C. Johnson, Senior Advisor to the Mayor, City of Chattanooga
  • Youlanda Jones, President, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Covington/Ripley/Newbern
  • Dr. Nancy KingSanders, Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, Austin Peay State University
  • Kris Krautkremer, Advanced Placement biology teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport City Schools
  • Mary Laphen, Navigate Reconnect Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
  • Natalie J. McKinney, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Whole Child Strategies, Inc.
  • Dr. Amy Moreland, Director of Policy, TBR – The College System of Tennessee
  • Dr. Sherica Nelms, Advise TN Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
  • Dr. Samantha Perez, Vice President of Education Initiatives, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Pat Sheehy, President, Tennessee Business Roundtable
  • Ben Sterling, Director of Outreach, tnAchieves
  • Tiffany Bellafant Steward, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Tennessee State University
  • Ashley Warrington, Tennessee Manager, Save the Children Action Network
  • Cliff Wightman, President, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crossville
  • Joseph Williams, Director of External Affairs, Office of Governor Bill Lee
  • Scott Wilson, Director of Community Relations and BlueCross Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
  • Gen. Kurt Winstead, Assistant Adjutant General, Army, Tennessee National Guard
  • Joe T. Wood, Special Projects Coordinator, Collierville Schools

“The Hunt Institute is honored to partner with SCORE to elevate the work of CTLI,” said The Hunt Institute President and CEO Dr. Javaid Siddiqi. “We need leaders from all sectors to understand the unique challenges we all face in ensuring every student has access to and graduates from postsecondary institutions. That is exactly what CTLI will accomplish and we are excited to get to work.”

SCORE Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Samantha Gutter is leading CTLI for SCORE and previously participated in the program. “We will move forward with the values that the Complete Tennessee Leadership Institute has developed over the past three years,” Gutter said. “We ask leaders to remember that students come first and to view challenges through the lens of what is best for students. We also ask them to take ownership of addressing challenges with a sense of urgency and an openness to innovation. Finally, we emphasize the importance of developing and maintaining a network of like-minded leaders to address educational equity issues at the local, regional, and state levels.”

SCORE Press Release: https://tnscore.org/score-announces-fourth-cohort-of-complete-tennessee-leadership-institute/

About SCORE: The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) believes all Tennessee students deserve success in college, career, and life. SCORE supports a unified and coordinated approach to education – from kindergarten through postsecondary – focused on helping all students complete high school and postsecondary education, earning the diplomas and credentials needed for a rewarding career. An independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan advocacy and research institution, SCORE was founded in 2009 by Senator Bill Frist, MD, former US Senate Majority Leader. SCORE measures success by the academic growth and achievement of Tennessee’s students. Learn more at tnscore.org.

About The Hunt Institute: An affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, The Hunt Institute is a recognized leader in the movement to transform public education. Marshaling expertise from a nationwide partner network since it was established in 2001, The Institute brings together people and resources that help build and nurture visionary leadership and mobilize strategic action for greater educational outcomes and student success. Learn more at hunt-institute.org.

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