The 2015-2016 Annual Report is now available online. Please continue reading for the welcome message from CEO Chris Reynolds and Dwayne Tucker, the chairman of LEAD’s Board of Directors.

Greetings from LEAD Public Schools,

As we begin our 10th year of educational service to our city, we are honored to share our success in the 2015–2016 Annual Report. Our LEAD Academy Class of 2016 is the third consecutive senior class to earn 100 percent acceptance to college — the hallmark of a LEAD college preparatory education pursued at all five of our schools. This means, in short, that every single LEAD graduate has been accepted to college, a true testament to our mission: we prepare all of our students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in college and in life.

The 2015–2016 school year began with the news that three LEAD campuses: LEAD Academy High School and Middle School, as well as LEAD Southeast, were all named Reward Schools for Growth. It ended with the news that one of our high school teachers, Melissa Martens, was named a Blue Ribbon teacher; less than 1% of Davidson County teachers earn this honor. We also saw our first graduate earn a full athletic scholarship when DeMarco Jackson ’16 committed to Coker College.

As Nashville’s largest non-profit charter management organization, we serve the needs of more than 2,100 students across the city at five distinct schools: Brick Church, Cameron, LEAD Southeast, Neely’s Bend and LEAD Academy. It is a true honor and privilege to do our part in service to Nashville and the greater Davidson County community. For the 2016–2017 school year, we’ve continued our commitment to families to the north of the city in Madison by adding a sixth-grade at Neely’s Bend as part of our partnership with the Achievement School District. To the south of the city, we are pleased that LEAD Southeast is now a fully-grown middle school serving the needs of students in grades 5-8. Our flagship school, LEAD Academy, now has a long-term home in a truly historic building on First Avenue South that is also home to Cameron.

Combining an academic program at Cameron (2014 Reward School) and LEAD Academy (2015 Reward School) allows students in South Nashville to have a seamless pathway from fifth grade to high school graduation. That is the impact LEAD continues to make on our community. The work we do across the city, alongside our families, is impossible without your support. We are thankful you are part of the extended LEAD family.

Sincerely,

Chris Reynolds, CEO

Dwayne Tucker, Chairman of the Board of Directors