Friday, February 10, 2023

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Y. Davis

Dear MNPS & Community Member:

Using the metaphor of baseball, it is evident that life occasionally throws at us certain curve balls that leave us startled at best, or demoralized and defeated at worst. And when adversity continues to strike, the natural reaction for many is to succumb to the faulty belief of accepting the status quo as the norm.

The good news is that, throughout history, we have seen individuals and communities of every walk of life who have shocked the world by overcoming insurmountable obstacles.They have undoubtedly inspired others to pursue their highest ideals.

As we continue celebrating Black History Month, please join me in reflecting on the great contributions and sacrifices this community has made toward the betterment of humanity.

Until next time!

Throughout the month of February this year, we’re celebrating MNPS Black Excellence again, this time through the lens of some of our graduates who are now working for the district: teachers, administrators, a coach, a bus driver, and more. Listen as they share what Black Excellence means to them – and how their years in Nashville's public schools helped them along the way. Oh, and don’t worry: You’ll get to hear from a few of today's brilliant and beautiful students, too.   

                                        See who has been featured to date       

Join the Nashville Public Library throughout February to celebrate Black History Month. Read on for some event highlights!

Story Time Friends: In honor of Black History Month, Madison Branch Library features guest readers for each of their story times. Check out the full list to see who is reading!

Puppet Truck Presents Anansi the Spider: This colorful marionette and hand-and-rod puppet play is based on African tales of a tricky spider who uses his cleverness to achieve his wishes. Happening throughout February at various branch locations.

                                  MORE HISTORY BLACK MONTH EVENTS

Kindergarten enrollment at Metro Nashville Public Schools is open for the 2023-2024 school year and we hope all Davidson County parents and guardians with children turning five years old on or before Aug. 15, 2023, will choose an MNPS school.

Glencliff High School, one of the most diverse schools in the state of Tennessee, has students from about 30 different countries who speak about 25 different languages – and each of these students is part of an Academy.

Educators and business partners at Glencliff are helping students learn important life skills as they see what’s possible after graduation.

District leaders visited the nine finalists for the top Teacher of the Year prize on Tuesday, bringing signs, flowers, and cookies to surprised, joyful, and sometimes tearful educators, who were cheered on by their principals and students.

The district will celebrate the Teacher of the Year winners from all schools in April.

This proud educator helps provide services to support MNPS students and families and remove barriers to education. McKinney not only works full-time for the district’s Community Achieves initiative but also started a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Black students see more of themselves in the books they read.

The Grow Together with MNPS website is now live! Grow Together with MNPS, is a birth to three initiative that will provide information, strategies, and tips for parents/caregivers to provide the ultimate early development experience for each child. In its first program phase, MNPS is launching the Grow Together with MNPS website to provide families with information to support their child’s development from birth to three years of age.

Information featured on the site will be provided by MNPS, Community Partners & State/Federal agencies. Future program initiatives will include family care bags, community play dates, text messaging tips/information, and home/virtual visits.

Visit the Grow Together with MNPS website: https://earlylearning.mnps.org/birth_to_three.

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Facebook en español: @MNPSSpanish  | Twitter en español: @MNPS_Spanish

Rubén E. De Peña

Equity & Diversity Coordinator | MNPS Communications Department

2601 Bransford Avenue, Nashville, TN 37204

 629-999-7005 | ruben.depena@mnps.org | linkedin.com/in/ruben-e-depena