Warner Elementary Arts Magnet School Principal Ricki Gibbs is the new head of elementary schools for LEAD Public Schools. The Nashville-based charter school chain does not currently operate any elementary schools but plans to expand to grades K-4 soon. The hiring of Gibbs is the first step in that expansion process.
In a press release announcing Gibb’s hiring, Dwayne Tucker, CEO at LEAD Public Schools, said, “This role will assist with planning for the future of LEAD as we work toward our goal of becoming a K-12 network. His experience transforming one of the lowest-performing elementary schools in Nashville will be paramount as we look to continue our mission of improving academic outcomes for some of Nashville’s most vulnerable students.”
Tucker said, “Dr. Gibbs brings a wealth of experience in leading elementary schools and we are thrilled to welcome him to the LEAD Public Schools team.”
The 2020 Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Elementary Principal of the Year has served for over a decade as an exemplary leader of Nashville Schools. His work was often highlighted by district leadership as evidence of the transformative efforts of the city’s schools.
MNPS spokesman Sean Braisted told The Tennessee Star in an email, “MNPS greatly appreciates the service of Dr. Ricki Gibbs to MNPS and Warner Elementary for nearly five years as Principal. He has helped to build a strong team and school culture during his tenure, and we will be working with parents and stakeholders to identify the qualities in their next principal leader, who can build upon that success and ensure students have a high-quality, supportive learning environment where they can grow and thrive.”
Braisted added, “MNPS supports our leaders as they embark upon new leadership journeys, and we are proud to have provided Dr. Gibbs a firm foundation for his future endeavors.”
Gibb’s work was featured on National Public Radio through the Peabody award-winning podcast “The Promise Season 2” by WPLN.
The podcast contrasted Warner Elementary in east Nashville, which serves almost exclusively black kids, with Lockeland Elementary School, a public school approximately a mile up the road with primarily white students. When Gibbs (pictured above), as the fourth principal in six years, took over in 20218, just after the school had landed on Tennessee’s list of lowest-performing schools.
Under his leadership, Warner Arts Magnet Elementary transformed from one of Nashville’s lowest-performing schools into being recognized as a Tennessee Reward School in 2022.
Chronic absenteeism has long been an issue for MNPS. Data shows nearly one-third of students were chronically absent last year, meaning they missed more than 10% of school days.
To lower that rate, Gibbs created The Warner Exchange. Students earn “Warner Bucks” by showing up to school. Once a month, The Warner Exchange is open for families to shop for basic need items using their Warner Bucks. Through the Warner Exchange, along with other parent engagement efforts, the school, which had more than 40 percent of its students chronically absent two years ago, has been able to lower its absentee rate.
MNPS plans to implement the exchange program in other schools in the coming years.
Former Nashville mayoral candidate Jeremy Kane started LEAD Academy in 2007 as a single fifth-and sixth-grade school of 92 students in north Nashville. The charter school was founded on the belief that all students deserve access to a great education that prepares them for the future— regardless of their zip code.
LEAD Academy has grown into a flagship high school, with its first graduating class in 2014. President Bill Clinton spoke at their first Senior Signing Day.
The LEAD network is now made up of six schools. In addition to the initial two offerings, four schools serve fifth through eighth grades – LEAD Neely’s Bend, LEAD Soundest Middle School, LEAD Cameron, and LEAD Brick Church.
At five of those six schools, students are growing academically faster than their peers across the entire state.
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TC Weber is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. He also writes the blog Dad Gone Wild. Follow TC on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]. He’s the proud parent of two public school children and the spouse of a public school teacher.
Photo “Ricki Gibbs” by Ricki Gibbs II, Ed.D. Background Photo “Classroom” by weisanjiang.
