Music City Academy co-founder Kevin Dyson (Photo by Dyson)¶
Next month marks the 26th anniversary of the Music City Miracle, when Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson utilized a lateral pass during a punt return to score the go-ahead touchdown during the waning seconds of a playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.¶
The play cemented Dyson’s place in Titans’ history, as it sent the franchise to its only Super Bowl. Dyson went on to play six years in the NFL before retiring and earning two master’s degrees and a Doctorate of Education. He’s now hoping to combine that background in sports and education to create a new kind of public charter school.¶
If approved, the proposed Music City Academy would serve up to 500 high school students in Nashville with a team-centered, career-connected learning model that utilizes athletics and multiple career and technical education (CTE) paths.¶
Dyson is the school’s co-founder, along with former Nashville Classical Operations Lead Bobbe Hill.¶
“Too many high school students feel disconnected academically, socially, and emotionally,” wrote leaders on the school’s website. “Music City Academy was built to change that. Rooted in the unifying power of sports, MCA delivers a rigorous, career-connected education that develops the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. Students belong to a team, guided by coaches and mentors who know them deeply. Daily movement and embedded wellness practices strengthen resilience, while pathways in sports, health, and wellness give students real-world skills and certifications.”¶
26 Letters of Intent Filed¶
Leaders of the Music City Academy are among 26 who have submitted letters of intent to apply to open new public charter schools next year. That’s up from the 17 letters of intent school leaders filed last year. Eleven of those applied, and five received approval. Charter schools are free public schools that operate under a “charter” with a school district or the state.¶
Next year’s cohort of potential applicants includes the first potential applicant for Dyer County Schools, along with seven for Metro Nashville Public Schools and nine in Memphis-Shelby County Schools.¶
Shelby County will also see a tenth applicant apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission under a newly approved state law that allows existing charter operators to do so.¶
- Trimble Academy
- Empowerment Academy – East Tennessee
- Digitech Academy of Excellence
- East Jackson Academy
- North Jackson Academy
- Lane All-Male Academy
- Union Academy
- The Wilberforce Academy of Knoxville
- Empowerment Academy – West Tennessee
- Frayser Leadership Academy
- Memphis Elites STEAM Academy
- Stellar University Charter School
- The Scholar Institute
- Urban Dove Team Charter School Memphis I
- Urban Dove Team Charter School Memphis II
- Wilma G. Rudolph Agricultural, Industrial & STEAM High School
- Mountaintop Leadership Academy
- Empowerment Academy – Middle Tennessee
- Kings and Queens Charter Academy
- Music City Academy
- Nashville School of Excellence
- The Gate School
- VINE Academy
- Volunteer Collegiate Prep
- Rutherford Prep
- Libertas High School
