Pam Garrett resigns

Metropolitan Nashville Board of Education member Pam Garret, representing District 3 has reisgned. District Three covers Joelton, Whites Creek, Neely's Bend, Madison and Goodlettsville. The next step is for the Metro Council to accept nominations and vote on a replacement until the next general election. At that election the voters will choose a replacement to serve until the next usual rotation in 2008.

Here's her letter of resignation as supplied by MNPS this evening.

Pamela B. Garrett
P. O. Box 158554
Nashville, TN 37215

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Dear Board Colleagues, District Administration, Staff and all Nashville Education Stakeholders:

I am writing to tender my resignation from the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Education effective immediately. I leave my post as District 3 Representative to take the position of Executive Director of The Nashville Alliance for Public Education.

Please know that this has been a difficult decision for me because the work of this Board has been my first commitment and obligation for the past seven years. My heart and passion is with the work of this district, and I particularly thank the voters of District 3 for allowing me to serve.

I now feel very privileged to make my avocation my full-time vocation. The work of the Alliance will allow me to continue to support our school district and serve children. An added benefit of this opportunity is that I will not be far away from the many folks whom I have come to respect and admire for what they do for our students everyday.

My very best wishes to you for continued success, and I look forward to working with you in a new capacity.

Sincerely,

Pamela B. Garrett

MNPS Press Release:

Garrett Resigns District 3 Board Seat; Will Continue Working For Children

As Executive Director of Nashville Alliance For Public Education

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 14, 2007) – Metro Nashville Board of Public Education member Pam Garrett has announced she will resign her District 3 seat to become Executive Director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. Her last day of service as a Board member will be today.

"Serving as Executive Director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education will allow me to continue working for children and Metro Nashville Public Schools," Garrett said. "I am extremely proud of the tremendous progress our schools have made in recent years, and I view my new role with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education as a way to drive additional improvements."

Board Chair Marsha Warden expressed thanks to Garrett for her service as a Board member, and commended the Alliance Board for selecting "such a tremendously dedicated person to lead one of our city's most important efforts to help children."

"Having succeeded Ms. Garrett as Chair of the Board of Education, I know what an incredible job she has done in helping lead our district," Warden said. "She has always put children first, and I know she will continue that when directing the Alliance. While I will certainly miss her service on our Board, I am thankful the leadership of the Nashville Alliance selected such a wise, caring person to direct its efforts."

Garrett is currently in her second four-year term as a member of the Board of Education. It is expected that a replacement Board member will be named by the Metro Council soon; that person will serve as District 3 Board member until the Aug. 2 election. Garrett will replace Kay Simmons, who announced her resignation in December 2006.

"My goal, when the Alliance was formed, was to work to make this organization one which would bring together the community in support of our schools,” Simmons said. “I am proud this has happened and I am excited about its next stage of growth under Pam's leadership.”

The Nashville Alliance for Public Education, established in 2002 by a group of corporate and civic leaders, is dedicated to the goal of improving public education in Nashville, Tennessee. Working in partnership with the Metro Nashville Board of Public Education and the Director of Schools, the Alliance identifies areas of need and impact, and then channels private community resources toward programs that accelerate progress in public schools. Its mission is to build broader and deeper community engagement in public education, and to encourage individuals, businesses and neighborhoods to take ownership of public schools and invest in improvements that can have immediate impact on student achievement.

and then from the NAPE via MNPS:

The following is a separate news release from the Nashville Alliance For Public Education:

Kay Simmons, Executive Director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, will officially turn over the reigns of leadership April 15, 2007 to Pam Garrett, former Board member of the Metro Nashville Board of Public Education. Ms. Simmons announced her resignation in December of 2006, but agreed to stay on with the Alliance until a new executive director was named and they had the opportunity to work together for a smooth transition.

“I’m very pleased with the tremendous contributions the Alliance has made to public schools during Ms. Simmons’ tenure,” James Beard, President of the Board of the Nashville Alliance said. “The Alliance has garnered support from a broad base of the community, enabling the schools to improve programs and help students achieve. I’m confident Ms. Garrett will find many friends and partners as she succeeds Ms. Simmons and works to continue building the Alliance and its foundation of benefactors.”

Ms. Simmons joined the Nashville Alliance in September 2003 during its first full year of operations. Since its inception, the Alliance has raised more than $8 million for Metro Nashville Public Schools.

“It has been personally and professionally satisfying to see the growing impact of our efforts,” Ms. Simmons said. “We raised $570,000 from 160 donors in 2003-2004, and in 2005-2006 we ended the year with more than 2,500 donors and more than $5 million in gifts and pledges. I am particularly proud of the partnerships we formed with MNPS to transform the old Eakin School into the Martin Professional Development Center and our plans to renovate Julia Green School with private dollars. These are wonderful examples of private investments and community ownership of our schools.”

Ms. Simmons was appointed executive director of the Nashville Alliance for Public Education in September 2003. Prior to coming to the Alliance to establish the organization, Kay was vice president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Kay has more than thirty years of experience in non-profit management and development including service as Director of Institutional Advancement for Montgomery Bell Academy, Assistant Dean for Development for Vanderbilt Law School, Director of Development and Interim Headmaster for University School of Nashville, Director of External Programs for Vanderbilt Law School, and Associate Director of Development for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She has been a fundraising consultant for numerous institutions including the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and the Nashville Public Library. Kay currently serves as President of Greenways for Nashville. She has served on the Education Committee of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, and the Vestry of Christ Church Cathedral.

When Ms. Simmons leaves the Alliance in April, she will partner with Kent Communications, an organization that focuses on strategic planning and communication pieces for non-profits.