LEAD Public Schools is expanding arts education at its Nashville public charter schools by hiring Emmy Award-winning educator Franklin J. Willis.¶
Willis, the former director of visual and performing arts for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), will serve as LEAD’s first vice president of visual and performing arts. The newly created position is part of a multi-year plan to improve arts facilities, establish community partnerships and give students more opportunities to explore their creative interests.¶
Expanding Arts¶
According to an announcement last Monday, Willis will oversee the development and expansion of visual and performing arts programs across LEAD’s seven public charter schools. His responsibilities will include developing strategies to strengthen arts instruction throughout the network. LEAD also plans to create new opportunities for students to perform and work with community organizations. The announcement did not identify specific new programs or a timeline for the improvements.¶
The investment follows several years of growth for LEAD, which has worked to create a K-12 education pathway for Nashville families. In 2024, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission approved LEAD Southeast Elementary, allowing the network to expand beyond its existing schools. The elementary school opened in August 2025, giving families another public school option in Southeast Nashville. Ricki Gibbs II, who helped lead that expansion, became LEAD's CEO in June 2025.¶
“Creating this brand-new leadership role reflects our commitment to elevating arts programming across our network,” Gibbs said in the press release.¶
MNPS Experience¶
Willis brings extensive arts education experience to his new role. During his time at MNPS, he helped develop programs and partnerships connecting students with Nashville's music industry and also founded the MNPS Elementary Music Festival, which aims to give elementary students an opportunity to perform together. His work included creating opportunities for students to record music and participate in projects outside their classrooms.¶
One of those projects was Every Student Known: The Creation of an Anthem, a documentary following MNPS students as they wrote and recorded an original song. Willis served as the documentary's director and executive producer, and the film won a Midsouth Regional Emmy Award in February 2025. Willis also received the CMA Foundation's Music Teacher of Excellence award three times and taught music education at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music.¶
“The next generation of Nashville’s creative talent is already in our classrooms, and I can’t wait to see what we create together,” Willis said in the release.¶
