U.S. Department of Education
On Monday, Jan. 30, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten will continue her “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” tour by traveling to Valor Collegiate Academies in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss ways the campus—three schools serving grades 5 through 12—can continue to promote academic excellence and prepare its students for global competitiveness. She will tour all three schools and hold student and parent roundtables. Todd Dickson, founder and CEO of Valor Collegiate Academies, as well as other Valor school leaders, will join Deputy Secretary Marten.
During the Valor visit, Deputy Secretary Marten will learn about Valor’s “Compass” model, which focuses on comprehensive human development to support academics and improve learning conditions, and “Circle,” a core part of the Compass model. “Circle” is a weekly practice that brings students and educators together to advance personal growth to allow students to thrive in their academics and lives. Valor also will share learnings from its newer wraparound services model, “Compass Care,” which is supported, in part, by the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The program is designed to combat chronic absenteeism and mental and emotional health challenges.
Later, Deputy Secretary Marten, joined by Nashville Mayor John Cooper and Metro Nashville Public Schools Superintendent Adrienne Battle, will tour McMurray Middle School and visit its Peace Center. Following the tour, they will hold a press gaggle.
The “Raise the Bar” tour kicked off last week in Mesa, Arizona at Mesa Public Schools, and comes on the heels of U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona’s recent major address, “Raise the Bar: Lead the World,” where he laid out the U.S. Department of Education’s vision, his continued priorities to promote academic excellence and prepare for global competitiveness, and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring states, school districts, and schools have the support they need to prepare students for the 21st century global economy. The tour will continue in other states, which will be announced later.
If you are a member of the media and interested in speaking with Deputy Secretary Marten, please e-mail pressRSVP@ed.gov.
Please note that all Valor events listed below are on the same strip mall and are walkable between each other.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
Valor Chief Culture Officer Daren Dickson
Valor Flagship Academy Principal Jamie Gutter
Meet and Greet Students During Arrival, Tour of Valor Flagship Academy
7:30 a.m. CST
(Time subject to change)
Valor Flagship Academy
4527 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, Tennessee
Press: If you are interested in covering this event, please RSVP to pressrsvp@ed.gov to secure your attendance.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
Founder and CEO of Valor Collegiate Academies Todd Dickson
Valor Chief of Schools and Interim Principal of Valor College Prep Sarah Giblin
Valor College Prep high school students (11th and 12th graders)
Student Roundtable and Tour of Valor College Prep
9:35 a.m. CST
(Time subject to change)
Valor College Prep
4531 Nolensville Pike, Suite 200
Nashville, Tennessee
Press: If you are interested in covering this event, please RSVP to pressrsvp@ed.gov to secure your attendance.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
Founder and CEO of Valor Collegiate Academies Todd Dickson
Valor Voyager Academy Principal Kendra Stein
Tour of Valor Voyager Academy
10:20 a.m. CST
(Time subject to change)
Valor Voyager Academy
4531 Nolensville Pike, Suite 100
Nashville, Tennessee
Press: If you are interested in covering this event, please RSVP to pressrsvp@ed.gov to secure your attendance.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
Valor parents
Parent Roundtable
10:50 a.m. CST
(Time subject to change)
Valor Compass Center
4523 Nolensville Pike
Nashville, Tennessee
Press: If you are interested in covering this event, please RSVP to pressrsvp@ed.gov to secure your attendance.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten
Nashville Mayor John Cooper
Superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools Adrienne Battle
Nashville Deputy Mayor for Community Engagement Brenda Haywood
Senior Advisor on Education, Mayor’s Office, Robert Wallace
McMurray Middle School Executive Principal T-Shaka Coverson
McMurray Middle School Peace Center Coordinator Bailey Shirling
School and district leaders
Visit to McMurray Middle School and Press Gaggle
12:30 p.m. CST
(Time subject to change)
McMurray Middle School
520 McMurray Dr.
Nashville, Tennessee
Press: If you are interested in covering this event, please RSVP to pressrsvp@ed.gov to secure your attendance.
Our mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
