T. Nakia Towns, Ed.D. | | | linkedin.com/in/TNTEdD Professional References

The Honorable Jim Coppinger Mayor, Hamilton County

The Honorable Kathy Lennon District 2, Hamilton County Board of Education

Dr. Bryan Johnson Superintendent, Hamilton County Schools

Dr. Candice McQueen Chief Executive Officer, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Former Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education

Dr. James P. McIntyre Director, University of Tennessee Center for Educational Leadership Former Superintendent, Knox County Schools

Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw Superintendent, Richmond County Schools

Dr. Elizabeth Alves Executive Director, Curriculum & Instruction, Collier County Schools Former Deputy Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education

Stephanie Hinton Executive Director, Opportunity Zone, Hamilton County Schools

Mary Batiwalla Mary Batiwalla Consulting Former Assistant Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education

Elizabeth Fiveash Program Director, ACT Former Assistant Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education

April 29, 2020

HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE O FFICE oF TIIE Cot r;\TI" M AYOR

JIM M. C OPPINGER

East Baton Rouge Parish School Board:

I am writing to provide a professional reference on behalf of Dr. Nakia Towns. Dr. Towns is the Chief

of Staff in Hamilton County Schools, serving as the Superintendent's designee. As County Mayor, I

have had the pleasure of working closely with her regarding district funding and key strategic

initiatives.

Dr. Towns was a valuable contributor in developing the district's budget and helping promote my

proposal to raise additional revenue for schools. I witnessed first hand her abi lity to breakdown

complex issues in a way that our community could more readily understand. Dr. Towns supported

me in several townhall sessions, where we answered questions about the details of the proposal.

Even when the crowd wasn't especially friendly, she was always personable, poised, and persuasive.

She is a skilled communicator who is quick on her feet and able to connect w ith a wide range of

stakeholders- including business, elected, and civic leaders from across the political spectrum.

Dr. Towns shares my passion for seeing all children in Hamilton County succeed. To that end, she

led the district to join the By All Means Consortium in partnership with Harvard University. This

work resulted in my formation of the Children's Cabinet, which brings together agencies that serve

children and youth to create shared goals and accountability around student outcomes. Dr. Towns

facilitates the work of the Cabinet and has overseen the launch of student success plans to match

children with needed wrap-around services.

The current district leadership team, with Dr. Towns functioning as the Superintendent's right-hand,

achieved historic results for students. Our district is the fastest improving in Tennessee based on

student academic growth, and we have attained the highest graduation rates since 2013. I can't remember a time in recent history that our community has felt so much pride and optimism

towards the school system.

I credit much of the change in the district's culture and trajectory to the work of Dr. Towns. I believe

that her experience in both public education and the private sector has contributed to her

significant impact in Hamilton County. I am impressed by her polit ical savvy, business acumen, and

leadership presence. I am confident that she would be an excellent superintendent because I have

seen her step into the role seamlessly when called upon to do so.

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It would be an understatement to say that her exceptional talent would be sorely missed in our

community. However, I have no doubt that Dr. Towns is eminently qualified to be your next

Superintendent and that, if selected, she would lead East Baton Rouge Parish School System to

reach new heights for students and families.

Sincerely,

J_:_ ~' ~<p .,. ;y-Jim Coppinger

Mayor, Hamilton County

Hamilton County Board of Education • 3074 Hickory Valley Road • Chattanooga, TN 37421 • Tel: 423-498-7042 • www.hcde.org

April 29, 2020

Superintendent Search Committee:

It is an honor and pleasure to write a letter of reference for Dr. T. Nakia Towns for the position of Superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. I serve on the Hamilton County School Board, and Dr. Towns serves as the Chief of Staff for the Hamilton County Department of Education.

It has truly taken great leadership to make Hamilton County the fastest improving school district in the state of Tennessee. Nakia is an integral part of that leadership. As Chief of Staff, she is the superintendent's designee and works as his right-hand person, always filling in if he is unavailable. Nakia is a leader in education and has a passion that all students have the same opportunities to attend good public schools.

I had the opportunity to work closely with her as the policy chair. Nakia does policy management, which includes all the work on strategic plan updates for Future Ready 2023, policy review and revision, as well as new policy development. I witnessed first-hand her ability to facilitate discussion between all board members on policy issues and other areas. She is always prepared and professional. Her communication skills are impeccable.

An important area that Nakia has developed for Hamilton County is community engagement. Her participation in community town halls, listening sessions, county Commission meetings, budget workshops and community civic gatherings has made Nakia a prominent leader not only in the school system but also in Chattanooga. She has a strong voice and leads with compassion.

There has been a clear focus on accountability and results since Nakia joined Hamilton County in 2018. Nakia has played a major role in getting results for kids and maintaining a high standard of excellence. She promoted pride in our district through facilitating our re-branding and leading a culture shift toward excellence. Strategic planning and visioning continue to be the driving force of the Superintendent, School Board, and Senior Leadership Team. This work is not possible without the spirit of collaboration found in great leaders like Nakia. She is a person of high integrity. She always puts the students first and does what is best for families. Simply put, Nakia is extraordinary.

I highly recommend Dr. Nakia Towns for the position of Superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She has a strong track record of success and is a proven organizational and educational leader.

Sincerely,

Kathy Lennon Kathy Lennon District 2 Representative Hamilton County Board of Education

Hamilton County Board of Education Joe Wingate Chairman District 7 Joe Smith Vice Chairman District 3 Dr. Steve Highlander District 9 Jenny Hill District 6 Kathy Lennon District 2 Karitsa Jones District 5 Tucker McClendon District 8 Tiffanie Robinson District 4 Rhonda Thurman District 1

Office of the Superintendent • 3074 Hickory Valley Road • Chattanooga, TN 37421 • Tel: 423-498-7042 • www.hcde.org

April 26, 2020 East Baton Rouge Parish School Board: I am pleased to submit this letter of recommendation on behalf of Dr. Nakia Towns. Hamilton County Schools serves approximately 45,000 students in urban, rural and suburban communities. It is one of the more complex school systems in the state because of its diverse economic, ethnic and geographic makeup. Before my arrival in July 2017, Hamilton County ranked as the 130th of 146 school systems in Tennessee for student academic growth. We recognized the challenge of improving student achievement would be multifaceted and would require the acquisition of exceptional talent to move the district forward. Since Dr. Towns’ arrival in February 2018, we have moved from 130th to the 2nd ranked school system in Tennessee for student academic growth. I was drawn to Dr. Towns because of her work at the state level, where she served as Assistant Commissioner for the Data and Research division, overseeing assessment and accountability. She led a complicated shift in statewide assessments that increased the rigor and alignment to national standards, as well as leading the development of the state plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). She also has a unique background having worked in the private sector and serving another large school system, Knox County, at the executive cabinet level. Her skills made her the perfect candidate for our newly developed Chief of Staff role. As Chief of Staff, Dr. Towns serves as my designee, working across departments and with the community. She is charged to collaborate with department heads and focus our efforts around the board’s strategic direction. She works very closely with our Chief Business Officer as we have re-engineered our budget to align to the strategic plan. She also partners with our Chief Schools Officer to prioritize our most underserved populations and allocate additional resources to turnaround schools. She supports our Chief Equity Officer to expand inclusive settings for students with special needs, increase support for English learners, and enhance social-emotional learning and wrap-around services. She engaged with the Chief Operations Officer to complete the RFP for a new transportation contract and improve the work quality of our custodial services vendor. In the last month, she worked hand-in-hand with our Chief Schools Officer on the adoption of our new literacy curriculum that is likely the most important adoption that the system has completed in the last decade – even while she is also playing an integral role in our COVID-19 response. Dr. Towns has also worked alongside me as we have collaborated with county government and our funding body on key budget initiatives, such as our long-term facilities plan. Dr. Towns displays a skill-set that I believe is key to the successful superintendents of the future. She is strategic, a great communicator, focused on improving student achievement, innovative, and, most importantly, committed to children. The two questions that have always been top of mind for me in hiring are: 1) would you want the candidate to serve in your child’s school system; and 2) would you rehire the applicant? When it comes to Dr. Towns, the answer to both questions for me is emphatically “yes!” If she is chosen as the next superintendent of EBR, you will have acquired a phenomenal talent, and Hamilton County Schools will have incredibly big shoes to fill. I am confident you will not find a stronger candidate ready, willing and able to serve as CEO of your school district from day one. If I can be of further assistance or if there are additional questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Respectfully,

Dr. Bryan Johnson Superintendent

February 3, 2020

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had the opportunity to work alongside Dr. T. Nakia Towns for several years in her role as Assistant Commissioner for Data and Research at the Tennessee Department of Education, and we have continued to identify opportunities to collaborate around instructional excellence during her time as chief of staff for the Hamilton County Department of Education. I cannot speak more highly of Dr. Towns’ expertise, experience, passion, and leadership, and she would make a phenomenal district superintendent.

Dr. Towns was a critical member of my team, and I know others within state government and now at Hamilton County have felt the same. I was grateful to have her working on our most challenging projects, most notably rolling out the state’s first online assessment and strategizing around messaging for Tennessee’s complex teacher evaluation system. She is a compelling communicator and clearly driven by a passion to increase equity and opportunities in our public education system. She wants to provide every student with the opportunity to choose their path and be successful in life, and she has spent every day of her career in education working to improve public schools. That breadth and depth of her experience sets her apart.

As Assistant Commissioner, Dr. Towns was put in charge over a variety of critical projects, each of which was valuable to the state. She helped us implement Tennessee’s waiver from ESEA and first ESSA plan, published an annual report card, and she oversaw a variety of important research projects that solidified the evidence behind Tennessee’s approach and – more importantly – ensured we were rooted in data for every decision we made moving forward. As part of her role, she oversaw the design, transition, and implementation of Tennessee’s accountability systems to be fully aligned to federal and state requirements while still accommodating feedback from local school districts. She took every phone call at all hours and traveled across the state to meet with district leaders. She was incredibly student-centered in her approach to accountability and design of statewide systems that embodied that approach, and she put together a talented team that aligned with that vision and that increased the capacity of the state.

On a final note, Dr. Towns has never forgotten the educators who helped her become who she is today, and she thinks of each child like her own. She is actively engaged with her communities in Chattanooga as well as her hometown in Georgia and finds ways to give back. She has held virtually every kind of leadership role possible and has never stopped pushing herself to be the best.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my recommendation. Reach out if you have any questions.

Best,

Candice McQueen, Ph.D. CEO, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching Former Tennessee Commissioner of Education

Center for Educational Leadership • College of Education, Health & Human Sciences 302 Bailey Education Complex • 1126 Volunteer Boulevard • Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3430 • Telephone (865) 594-4555

Michael Gaudet, President Tramelle Howard, Vice President Members, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board 1050 S Foster Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70806 April 29, 2020 Dear School Board Members,

Please accept this letter as an enthusiastic recommendation for Dr. Nakia Towns. For the past

several years, Dr. Towns has distinguished herself in a variety of educational leadership roles in

Tennessee, including as Chief of Staff in the Hamilton County Schools, Assistant Commissioner of

Education, and in several crucial positions within the Knox County Schools, where I served as

superintendent for eight years.

Early in my tenure as superintendent of schools in Knoxville, Nakia Towns joined our team

following a stellar career in business. I was immediately impressed with the entrepreneurial and

innovative perspective that Dr. Towns’ business experience gave her, and equally impressed with

Nakia’s knowledge, stunning intellect, dedication, and candor.

As my time leading the school system continued, I increasingly relied on Dr. Towns to take on

progressively difficult assignments: from transforming our Human Resources function to serving as

the district’s Chief Accountability Officer. Nakia embraced all of these challenges with her

characteristic focus, diligence, wisdom, and enthusiasm, and always exceeded expectations and

achieved remarkable results. But perhaps most importantly, Dr. Towns consistently approached

every role with a keen eye toward equity, opportunity, and ensuring success for every student in

our schools.

2

Dr. Nakia Towns is brilliant, systematic, insightful, and committed. She is better prepared to lead a

school system as superintendent than anyone I have ever known who aspired to that role. Her

remarkable organization, unparalleled work ethic, exemplary communication skills, and ability to

identify effective solutions to complex problems would all be tremendous assets in serving as your

superintendent.

Therefore, I respectfully request that you give Dr. Nakia Towns every consideration for the position

of superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. I am absolutely certain you will be

glad you did.

Sincerely,

Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr. Assistant Professor of Practice Director, Center for Educational Leadership University of Tennessee

RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

864 Broad Street – 4th Floor

Augusta, Georgia 30901-1215 (706) 826-1124 – Fax: (706) 826-4613

MR. JIMMY V. ATKINS, JR. KENNETH BRADSHAW, Ed.D. MRS. VENUS CAIN President Superintendent of Schools Vice-President

April 26, 2020 To Whom It May Concern: It is an honor and privilege to recommend Dr. Nakia Towns for the position of Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Towns has been consistently successful in her professional life and has a true passion for education. As the Chief of Staff in Hamilton County, Dr. Nakia Towns has successfully served as the Superintendent’s right hand and designee, successfully leading the district in the Superintendent’s absence. Her non-traditional path to district leadership seamlessly blends instructional leadership with high business acumen. She is able to support teaching and learning while balancing the realities of budgets and community expectations. Dr. Towns accomplishes all of this with a strong sense of service and commitment to equity. She has tremendous respect for students, families, and the community and is empathetic to their needs and concerns. During my time in Hamilton County, Dr. Towns was invaluable in her support of the other chiefs by providing deliverables in administrative and core academic areas. Her sense of teamwork and commitment to excellence were on display in every interaction. She was also responsible for strategic plan implementation and development, resulting in Hamilton County becoming the fastest improving district in Tennessee with increased student achievement and graduation rates. Dr. Nakia Towns would be an excellent selection for Superintendent of Schools, and I know she would be successful. Sincerely,

Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw Superintendent of Schools

February 21, 2020

Dear Selection Committee,

It gives me great pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Dr. Nakia Towns, a candidate for the superintendent position. I have known Nakia since 2010 and have worked alongside her in my prior roles as Chief Academic Officer for the Knox County Schools (KCS) and Assistant Commissioner for Teaching and Learning at the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE).

Nakia joined the KCS as a Broad resident, with a desire to bring her exceptional business background and skills together with her deep passion for public education. Initially, she worked in teacher talent and human capital, building her instructional knowledge and skills, while leading the significant work associated with the state’s Race to the Top grant. She led the rollout and implementation in KCS of the state’s new teacher evaluation system, TEAM, and developed a district strategic compensation plan, with significant stakeholder feedback, that was aligned with the district’s strategic plan.

Through Nakia’s deep engagement in teacher and leader evaluation, she became an expert on effective instructional practice. This expertise was further enhanced when she enrolled in and completed a doctoral program at Vanderbilt University. As part of a national cohort, Nakia had the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and she brought this new learning back to the district, further accelerating our improvement efforts.

Nakia was promoted to Chief Accountability Officer for KCS where she oversaw research, evaluation and accountability, as well as federal programs and the TAP school improvement program. In this role, Nakia kept a keen eye on equity for all students, establishing a stratified formula for the allocation of federal funds, a systematic school improvement planning process and an annual Educational Return on Investment analysis of key district investments. She also played a key role on the development of a Strategic Finance Plan through work with the Gates Foundation’s Smarter School Spending project. As a result, KCS experienced steady academic improvement, earning straight 5s in both achievement and growth, a 90% graduation rate, and designation as an Exemplary District, one of only 12 districts in the state and the only large urban district to achieve that status.

Nakia’s accomplishments were recognized by the state and she was personally recruited to join the Tennessee Department of Education as the assistant commissioner for assessment and accountability. In this role, she brought a wealth of district experience that informed the development of the state’s highly regarded ESSA plan and the development of a rigorous state assessment program that earned an A rating for truth in advertising for its alignment to NAEP. Further, during her tenure, Tennessee was recognized as the fastest growing state in the nation on NAEP, moving into the top 25 states for the first time.

With a desire to more closely impact student learning and achievement, Nakia left the TDOE to join the Hamilton County school district as the Chief of Staff. Over the past few years, evidence of her positive impact has resulted in the district earning the highest rating for academic growth in all categories for the first time ever! Hamilton County Schools was ranked number one (out of 146 districts) for academic growth in elementary grades and second in growth for all grades. Additionally, the district experienced the highest concentration of Reward Schools (32 of 74 schools), and 45 schools earned the highest level of student growth. The district also saw an improved graduation rate, improved achievement in 7 of 8 accountability areas and exceeded the state average achievement for 5 of 8 accountability areas – metrics that exceeded the districts final five-year targets for their Future Ready 2023 strategic plan.

I have no doubt that Hamilton County Schools’ significant improvements are a result of Nakia’s exceptional leadership. Wherever she goes and in whatever role she serves, Nakia brings a high degree of engagement, a persistent and unwavering focus on excellence and equity, and holds herself and others to high standards. For her the work is personal. Nakia knows and understands firsthand the challenges that many of our students face and the transformative power of public education to make a difference in their lives and in their communities.

Having known her for more than a decade, I can state unequivocally that Dr. Nakia Towns is well-positioned to take the next step in her professional career as superintendent. I am confident that should she be selected as the next superintendent, Nakia will bring passion, compassion, and expertise to the role, leading the district towards excellence and becoming a source of pride for your community. I hope that you will be as fortunate as I have been to benefit from her exceptional talent!

Best regards,

Elizabeth Ferreira Alves, Executive Director Curriculum and Instruction

February 21, 2020

Dear Superintendent Search Committee:

I am delighted to have this opportunity to share with you my enthusiastic recommendation for Dr. Nakia Towns as superintendent for your district. I have worked with Nakia since she joined the Hamilton County Department of Education in 2018. I am currently the Executive Director of the Opportunity Zone learning community, but, when Nakia arrived in the district, I had been recently promoted from principal at Eastside Elementary School to Executive Director of Teaching and Learning. As I reflect on my nearly 40-year career in public education, I feel fortunate that I have this opportunity to work alongside Nakia, getting to know her both personally and professionally.

Let me begin by saying that Nakia is passionate about doing what is right for children. There are those in the education business who talk a good game, but Nakia backs it up. She listens to all sides of an argument, gathers and reviews evidence, and then acts to make the decision that best meets the needs of our students. She is unapologetic in her convictions, even when the decision is hard, and even if it makes adults uncomfortable. She is empathetic to the needs of teachers and staff; however, she understands that our mission is to serve students and their families.

Nakia has a deep belief in the work we are doing that lends to her confidence and self-assurance in leading the district. This confidence drives her steady decision-making, while allowing her to take in information from multiple points of view. She is a lifelong learner and absorbs new information quickly. Her ability to synthesize data and process different alternatives and potential solutions is the reason our peers often come to her for advice and coaching in any number of situations.

Whenever a member of our senior leadership team calls on her for support, she is there to help. She works well with other leaders in our district, assisting them to guide their teams to achieve organizational goals. She holds herself to a high standard and will tell you that her personal brand is “excellence.” Her expectations for herself and others drives everyone around her to be more accountable – and rise to the challenge in front of us.

In the face of those challenges, Nakia is stubbornly optimistic. She doesn't see what most might categorize as roadblocks but rather she deems them opportunities. And she makes the most of every opportunity. She finds a way to “get to yes” in support of our schools and principals. For schools with concentrated poverty, she has been a champion of equity and exploited every avenue to add resources to meet the needs of students and staff. Nakia always finds a way. It is refreshing and encouraging to know that she is committed to solving problems to improve the lives of our students.

Finally, Nakia is a master communicator. She can articulate any issue very clearly for any audience. She is strategic and intentional when communicating with others. She understands how to shape a message so that it is received as intended. She has helped navigate challenging situations with parents, staff and community, again, always finding a way to create a productive discourse for all involved.

Though it would certainly be a loss for our community, I know that Nakia is prepared to be successful in the role of superintendent. She is an assertive, respectful, honest, optimistic, caring, and smart leader. She is a visionary, who has great aspirations for the future of public education and the children we serve. She is a true public servant and worthy of your trust and confidence. So, without reservation, I highly recommend Nakia as your next superintendent.

Respectfully,

Stephanie Hinton Stephanie Hinton Executive Director, Opportunity Zone Hamilton County Schools

3074 Hickory Valley Road • Chattanooga, TN 37421 • www.hcde.org

Mary Batiwalla 615A Eastboro Drive Nashville, TN 37209

Re: Dr. Nakia Towns Recommendation

Dear Superintendent Search Committee,

I am writing with great enthusiasm to recommend Dr. Nakia Towns for the position of Superintendent.

Nakia Towns served as my supervisor and mentor during her time at the Tennessee Department of Education. Under her guidance the data and research team accomplished several key successes, including the seamless delivery of accountability data, the submission and approval of a nationally recognized Every Student Succeeds Act plan, and increased collaboration with district stakeholders. Internally, Nakia managed her team of twenty-seven reports, including me, with a balance of guidance, autonomy, and trust, traits that are rarely found in a leader. During her tenure I witnessed her ability to navigate tough situations with impeccable communication skills and devotion to our student-focused mission. Through her leadership, I felt prepared to assume her role upon her departure, which is one of the greatest gifts you can give an employee.

In her current role in Hamilton County, Nakia displays an unwavering commitment to students, equity, and an ability to inspire buy-in from less committed team members. From personal communication with internal staff, I understand she continues to command staff admiration and trust. Even more impressive, Nakia delivers results for students. Hamilton County experienced historical growth under her leadership. Last school year, the district earned the title of fastest improving district in the state. The district received the highest growth score and improved in seven of eight accountability content areas.

It is rare to find a leader that blends unwavering devotion to a student-focused mission with the ability to maneuver seamlessly, especially in challenging political environments. During her time at the state department of education and Hamilton County Schools, I observed Nakia do this with ease and elegance. She demonstrated excellence in her execution and results. She displayed courage in her interactions with individuals less devoted to the mission than she. I witnessed Nakia persuade leaders, stakeholders, and staff to make better decisions, decisions that benefited kids. One of her most impressive attributes is her ability to think on her feet and communicate clearly without straying from the mission. Simply put, she is a master communicator.

Given her brilliance, commitment to students, and unmatched communication skills, I will always bet on Nakia. For the sake of students in your district I strongly recommend you do as well.

Sincerely,

Mary Batiwalla

BILL LEE GOVERNOR

STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

NINTH FLOOR, ANDREW JOHNSON TOWER 710 JAMES ROBERTSON PARKWAY

NASHVILLE, TN 37243-0375

PENNY SCHWINN COMMISSIONER

February 21, 2020

Dear Search Committee:

I am writing in support of Dr. Nakia Towns’ application for the position of superintendent. I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Towns at the Tennessee Department of Education, where she served as the Assistant Commissioner for Data and Research. In addition to her numerous operational duties, Dr. Towns served on the executive leadership team, helped manage crisis communications, provided policy and legislative analyses, and strategically engaged with the Tennessee General Assembly and other education stakeholders. Dr. Towns’ superb communications skills, a vital leadership trait, enabled her to navigate these often challenging tasks with ease.

Dr. Towns regularly presented to the General Assembly on complex and politically sensitive issues. Her ability to translate complicated technical documentation into easily understandable information was critical in the Department’s ability to maintain political support. Her confidence and expertise were reassuring and persuasive during a particularly tumultuous period in the transition of our state assessment program to the next generation format. Additionally, Dr. Towns was able to offer insightful feedback and thought partnership on policy and legislative initiatives ranging from literacy to school improvement thanks to her deep knowledge and understanding of the education policy landscape.

Dr. Towns’ greatest strength is her dedication to students. Her decision-making begins and ends with, “is this best for kids?” She would often give voice to the children who were never in the room with us. That guiding principle has made Dr. Towns a highly respected, trusted and valued education leader across the state. I traveled with her from Memphis to Gatlinburg and everywhere in between to engage with stakeholders all over Tennessee. Dr. Towns managed to win over even the most stubborn critics with her sincerity, humility, candor and clarity. And – as a bonus – she was always a fun roadtrip partner!

Dr. Towns has a proven track record of success and is a passionate leader with a deep commitment to ensuring all students receive an excellent education. For all these reasons, she has my highest support and recommendation for the natural next step in her career as a school superintendent.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Fiveash Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Legislation Tennessee Department of Education