Take Action
Take Action
NPEF believes we all have a role to play in ensuring all Nashville public schools students thrive each day.
Nashvillians can get involved in many ways to support schools and students while continuing to grow as champions of public education in our community.
Find your role below.
Go deep with one organization
Nashville is home to dozens of nonprofits that help students thrive in and out of school each day. Engaging deeply with an organization you're passionate about can help you serve the community while learning more about the challenges and opportunities students face.
How to get involved:
- Find an education-focused nonprofit that you are passionate about (check out the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative partners or Giving Matters to get started)
- Connect with an organization about joining their board
- Donate time and/or money to an organization with a mission that you feel aligned with
- Attend an organization's fundraiser
- Sign up for individual organizations' newsletters and follow them on social media
- Find an education-specific volunteer opportunity with Hands on Nashville
Engage directly with MNPS
You can make a difference directly with our school district and public schools while learning about how schools function, what teachers need most to feel supported, and what students need to thrive in school on a daily basis.
How to get involved:
- Join a PTO or other School Support Organization
- Volunteer in a school through the MNPS Community Achieves initiative
- Volunteer in an MNPS school or classroom through PENCIL
- Tutor a student through Teach For America
- Join an Alignment Nashville A-Team to focus on a specific area of improvement
- Let the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce know you are interested in serving on the Education Report Committee
- Review the Strategic Plans for MNPS schools to learn about their needs and requests
Increase your knowledge about public education
The world needs more informed, nuanced conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing our public schools. Growing your knowledge of public education will help you become a strong and knowledgeable advocate.
How to get involved:
- Sign up for education-focused newsletters such as The Tennessean's School Zone, Chalkbeat TN, and The 74
- Sign up for individual organizations' newsletters
- Start a book club and read books on education together
- Check out NPEF's Resources page for infographics on critical topics and our documentaries By Design and Why I Teach
- Apply for an upcoming cohort of Leadership Public Education
- Set up a site visit to a school
- Take a teacher out to coffee
Use your voice to raise awareness
From a casual conversation with friends or coworkers, to a thoughtful op-ed in the local paper, to a meeting with a state or city lawmaker, all Nashvillians have the power to raise awareness about both the challenges and celebrations present in our public schools.
How to get involved:
- Write or co-write an op-ed on a topic you're passionate about
- Connect with your Metropolitan Nashville Council Member
- Meet with your MNPS School Board Member
- Sign up to speak at a School Board meeting
- Host a Lunch and Learn at your organization
Looking for more ways to get involved? Contact us at [email protected].
Go deep with one organization
Nashville is home to dozens of nonprofits that help students thrive in and out of school each day. Engaging deeply with an organization you're passionate about can help you serve the community while learning more about the challenges and opportunities students face.
How to get involved:
- Find an education-focused nonprofit that you are passionate about (check out the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative partners or Giving Matters to get started)
- Connect with an organization about joining their board
- Donate time and/or money to an organization with a mission that you feel aligned with
- Attend an organization's fundraiser
- Sign up for individual organizations' newsletters and follow them on social media
- Find an education-specific volunteer opportunity with Hands on Nashville
Engage directly with MNPS
You can make a difference directly with our school district and public schools while learning about how schools function, what teachers need most to feel supported, and what students need to thrive in school on a daily basis.
How to get involved:
- Join a PTO or other School Support Organization
- Volunteer in a school through the MNPS Community Achieves initiative
- Volunteer in an MNPS school or classroom through PENCIL
- Tutor a student through Teach For America
- Join an Alignment Nashville A-Team to focus on a specific area of improvement
- Let the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce know you are interested in serving on the Education Report Committee
- Review the Strategic Plans for MNPS schools to learn about their needs and requests
Increase your knowledge about public education
The world needs more informed, nuanced conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing our public schools. Growing your knowledge of public education will help you become a strong and knowledgeable advocate.
How to get involved:
- Sign up for education-focused newsletters such as The Tennessean's School Zone, Chalkbeat TN, and The 74
- Sign up for individual organizations' newsletters
- Start a book club and read books on education together
- Check out NPEF's Resources page for infographics on critical topics and our documentaries By Design and Why I Teach
- Apply for an upcoming cohort of Leadership Public Education
- Set up a site visit to a school
- Take a teacher out to coffee
Use your voice to raise awareness
From a casual conversation with friends or coworkers, to a thoughtful op-ed in the local paper, to a meeting with a state or city lawmaker, all Nashvillians have the power to raise awareness about both the challenges and celebrations present in our public schools.
How to get involved:
- Write or co-write an op-ed on a topic you're passionate about
- Connect with your Metropolitan Nashville Council Member
- Meet with your MNPS School Board Member
- Sign up to speak at a School Board meeting
- Host a Lunch and Learn at your organization
Looking for more ways to get involved? Contact us at [email protected].
