From 92 Students to a Movement: The Story of LEAD Public Schools in Nashville

As a Nashville Event Photographer, I have had the privilege of documenting some of the most powerful moments this city has to offer. Few organizations create moments quite like LEAD Public Schools. When founder Jeremy Kane opened LEAD Academy’s doors in 2007, he carried one conviction: where a child grows up should never determine the quality of their education. Starting with just 92 fifth and sixth graders in North Nashville, Kane built what would become one of Tennessee’s most recognized school networks. Each year, that founding vision comes to life at Senior Signing Day, where graduating seniors publicly declare their readiness for the next chapter. Their path may mean college, a trade program, or another path forward.

Turning Schools Around from the Inside Out

LEAD’s growth has always been about changing what is possible for students already in the system. In 2011, Metro Nashville Public Schools invited LEAD to help transform Cameron Middle School, a school sitting in the bottom five percent statewide. Rather than starting fresh, LEAD worked from within — and Cameron became the first successful turnaround partnership in Tennessee history. It has since earned recognition as a Reward School for student growth multiple consecutive years. That same partnership model carried over to the state-run Achievement School District, where LEAD Neely’s Bend became the fastest-improving school in the ASD in 2018.

In 2013, LEAD expanded into Southeast Nashville with the opening of LEAD Southeast in Antioch, a campus where students speak more than 20 languages and the majority are bilingual learners. The school has grown to serve high schoolers as well, with its first graduating class in 2020 and consistently above-average academic growth across grade levels.

Raising the Bar: LEAD’s First Teacher of the Year

This year, LEAD launched its first-ever network-wide Teacher of the Year Award, honoring educators who embody the organization’s five core pillars. Allison Arth of LEAD Southeast Middle School was named the inaugural winner, chosen by her own peers. Her Algebra I students achieved a 100% pass rate on the state math assessment last year, and her current class is on track to match it. More than the numbers, Arth is known for the confidence she builds in students who arrive uncertain and leave believing in themselves.

Moments like these are worth preserving. As a Nashville Event Photographer, I am proud to document the milestones, ceremonies, and celebrations that define communities like LEAD. If your organization is planning an awards event or graduation, a Nashville Event Photographer can help capture every moment that matters.