Meet the Team at the New LEAD Southeast Elementary School
As LEAD Southeast Elementary prepares to open its doors in August 2025, we’re proud to introduce the exceptional leadership team guiding our newest South Nashville school. Our carefully selected administrators and instructional leaders bring a wealth of local knowledge and educational expertise to this exciting venture.
With deep roots in the Nashville community and diverse experiences across elementary education, this homegrown team embodies the commitment to excellence that defines the LEAD Public Schools network. Their combined experience and passion for nurturing young minds will establish LEAD Southeast Elementary as a vibrant learning community from day one.
Our principal and assistant principals are Nashville elementary leaders who know what students in our community need to succeed. Principal Stephanie Jarrett-Thorpe brings 21 years of experience, Assistant Principal Jamie Jenkins brings 16 years of experience, and Assistant Principal Carlos Comer brings 26 years of experience.
Three other critical members of our team include Justice Riddle, director of elementary literacy; Rebekah Schott, our family and community engagement (FACE coordinator); and Ashmal Steele, our social-emotional learning (SEL) manager and BeWell coach.
“This team is special because of its deep commitment to students and its collaborative spirit. Everyone is dedicated to ensuring that Nashville’s kids receive the best possible education, and we bring a shared passion for innovation, equity, and excellence in teaching.”
–Justice Riddle, Director of Elementary Literacy, LEAD Southeast Elementary
More About Principal Jarrett-Thorpe
Principal Jarrett-Thorpe brings 21 years of experience in education, where she has served as a coach, assistant principal, and principal at schools in both Nashville and Washington, D.C. Most recently, she served as a managing associate at CT3 Education, where she delivered dynamic executive leadership and instructional coaching to school leaders in various regions of the U.S., leading principals to drive growth on state accountability metrics throughout Washington, D.C., Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio.
“What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to build a strong foundation for LEADership and excellence as a part of a strong LEAD Southeast ‘pack’”, said Jarrett-Thorpe. “I hope for LSEE to be an example for unifying diverse communities around the education and holistic development of our children as an investment in our collective future.”
More About Assistant Principal Jenkins
Assistant Principal Jenkins has been working in the Nashville educational community since 1998 as an educator and administrator. He holds a doctorate of education from Tennessee State University and is passionate about the students we serve because of his roots here: “I am a Nashvillian. I believe in the power of our kids to rise above challenges and excel academically and socially.”
He currently serves as assistant principal at LEAD Southeast High School, and he is excited to transition to pouring into our youngest learners in the same area. “Learning starts early,” he said. “Reaching students at this early age allows us to mold them into amazing learners and inspire them to greatness.”
More About Assistant Principal Comer
Assistant Principal Carlos Comer brings a wealth of experience in both teaching elementary grades and leading elementary schools across Nashville as assistant principal and executive principal. He has also taught at the college level and holds a doctor of education degree from Trevecca Nazarene University. Assistant Principal Comer was nominated for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Elementary Principal of the Year several years in a row.
“I am excited about the many opportunities that we will have to propel teaching and learning in the Southeast Nashville community!” he said.
More About Justice Riddle
Our director of elementary literacy, Justice Riddle, has a passion for creating a strong foundation for our youngest learners, and ensuring they have access to high-quality, engaging instruction from the very beginning.
Riddle has served grades kindergarten through third grade throughout her career as an educator, with a special emphasis on English learners. “I’m passionate about making sure every child, no matter their background, has access to the kind of education that helps them grow into confident, capable individuals,” she said.
More About Rebekah Schott
At LEAD Southeast Elementary, our family and community engagement (FACE) coordinator, Rebekah Schott, plays an integral role in ensuring families are involved every step of the way in their child’s educational experience and creates a true partnership between family and school.
Schott is a bi-lingual professional and graduate of Auburn University with vast experience engaging Spanish-speaking communities, specifically. “My favorite part of working for LEAD Southeast Elementary so far has been talking to our future students and their parents,” she said. “Even though the school hasn’t opened, it already feels like a real and supportive community and I am excited to see that continue to grow.”
More About Ashmal Steele
Our SEL manager and BeWell coach, Ashmal Steele, plays a significant role in how we support our elementary students in their social and emotional development. The BeWell in School initiative is a critical component of the school culture at LEAD Southeast Elementary that will ensure that we provide an educational environment where everyone feels supported to learn, grow, and be themselves.
Steele currently serves as a student support coordinator at LEAD Neely’s Bend Middle School and has previously worked as a family specialist with Metro Nashville Public Schools. He holds a master of education degree from Tennessee State University and said, “I want my children and any other kids that I serve to have what I had, and also to have what I didn’t have.”
He also noted that the well-equipped team at LEAD Southeast Elementary School is ready to bring their expertise to the table to ensure student success: “Leadership in education is vital in ensuring student and institutional success. My current team is the best when it comes to these standards.”
Learn more about enrolling at LEAD Southeast Elementary School.
