Building Bridges, Literally: The Forge School

Redefining Financial Literacy & College Readiness: Intrepid College Prep

A strong education goes beyond textbooks and test scores—it's about equipping students with the skills they need for success in college, careers, and beyond. Intrepid College Prep [https://intrepidcollegeprep.org/], founded by Mia Howard, is redefining what it means to prepare students for the future. Serving grades 5-12 in southeast Nashville, this innovative network of public schools combines rigorous academics with a deep commitment to family engagement and financial literacy, setting it apart from traditional models. Now Managing Partner of Innovative Schools at New Schools Venture Fund, Mia shares her vision for transforming education. With a background in finance and law, she discusses how Intrepid College Prep empowers students with financial knowledge and college readiness, and how her work is shaping the future of education nationwide.

Reengaging Disconnected Youth: The Rock Academy

Dr. Ahmed White, the founder and CEO of The Rock Academy [https://therockacademynashville.org/], is opening the innovative public charter high school in Nashville in 2026 to serve disconnected and at-risk students. His mission is to re-engage these students, often chronically absent, in foster care, or involved in the justice system, and set them up for post-graduate success. The Rock Academy will provide a unique educational model focused on developing students' skills in four key areas: caring professions, creativity, technical fields, and trades. The school will have an emphasis on building strong mentor relationships, removing barriers through wraparound services, and empowering students to choose their own path forward. Dr. White's personal experiences and passion for serving marginalized students drive his vision for creating a transformative school model that can meet the diverse needs of this underserved population.

Building Bridges, Literally: The Forge School

Founder Sara Tuttle, a veteran educator with over 20 years of experience, believes education should be more than just textbooks and tests. It should also include building real-world skills, fostering a sense of belonging, and preparing students for thriving careers. In this episode, Sara shares how she designed The Forge School [https://www.theforgeschool.org/] to provide Nashville students grades 6-12 with contextualized, hands-on learning and career pathways in architecture, construction, and engineering, fulfilling her vision to redefine secondary education by merging academic excellence with career and life readiness.

A Pipeline for Diversity in Healthcare: Nurses Middle College Nashville

Dr. Andrea Poynter, founder and Executive Director of Nurses Middle College Nashville [https://nursesmcnashville.org/], shares how she designed the first public nursing high school specifically to address work shortages and a lack of diversity in the healthcare industry. A first-of-its-kind public nursing high school opening Fall 2025, NursesMC Nashville aims to prepare students, particularly those from underrepresented and low-income communities, for careers in healthcare before they even graduate high school. Blending rigorous academics, hands-on clinical experience, dual enrollment credits and real-world workforce connections ensure students leave college career-ready.

A Montessori Model for Student Success: Invictus Charter School

Dr. Brenda Jones believes education is about more than just academics; it's about developing confident, capable students who are prepared for life beyond the classroom. That's the motivation behind the model she used when founding Invictus Charter School [https://www.invictus-nash.org/], Nashville's first public Montessori charter school opening Fall 2025. Dr. Jones shares how their unique approach to holistic education ensures students grow at their own pace not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. Listen in to hear how Invictus is designed specifically to provide students with a personalized, hands-on education that fosters independence, creativity, and real-world readiness.