MNPS’s teachers do inspiring and essential work every day, and Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle and our generous partners at PENCIL celebrated them Monday evening with a pep rally and bags filled with supplies for the new school year.
More than 1,000 teachers from across Nashville and Davidson County came to First Horizon Park for the Together 4 Teachers event, which PENCIL and the district organized to bring all classroom-based teachers together for the first time in years.
“It is most appropriate that we took a few minutes this evening to thank you for all of your hard work, your resilience, your perseverance, your innovation in supporting our kids and, yes, making sure that every student is known,” Dr. Battle said from the stage. “But this is also about making sure you are known, you are seen, you are valued and appreciated for all that you do.
“So give it up for Team MNPS, who has done great work and will continue to do great work in the new school year.”
Every teacher left the stadium with a tote bag filled with much-needed supplies, from scissors, markers, Post-It notes, and binder clips to hand sanitizer, tissues, and wipes. The event also featured games, giveaways, food, music, and more.
Together 4 Teachers is made possible through the support of Amazon, Dollar General, Nissan, Cigna, the Nashville Predators Foundation, Ingram Charities, ENA, First Horizon Bank, and HCA Healthcare. First Horizon Bank presented the pep rally at its namesake ballpark, which is home to the Nashville Sounds. The Sounds and Nashville’s other pro sports teams (the Nashville Predators, Nashville Soccer Club, and the Tennessee Titans) made a video to cheer on MNPS’s teachers.
PENCIL, which links community resources to MNPS schools, will be delivering supply bags to schools in the coming weeks for teachers who couldn’t attend the event. And teachers can always shop for free supplies (one visit per teacher per quarter) at PENCIL’s LP PENCIL Box store at 7199 Cockrill Bend Blvd.
“PENCIL is excited about the opportunity we have to gather MNPS teachers together in celebration and preparation for what is sure to be an incredible school year,” PENCIL President/CEO Angie Adams said.
“As an organization, getting necessary supplies into the hands of educators and students is a priority of ours. We’re grateful for active PENCIL Partners that have made this important project possible.”
