BRADLEY LEON

BRADLEY LEON

Candidate Dossier

Presented by: Jim Huge and Associates

Contents

Candidate Summary.........................................................................................Section 1 Cover Letter .....................................................................................................Section 2 Candidate Resume ...........................................................................................Section 3 Candidate Questionnaire .................................................................................Section 4 Notes ...............................................................................................................Section 5

Candidate Summary

BRADLEY JAMES LEON

Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop and build highly effective, diverse team Self-aware and consistently adapts to move organization forward Able to mobilize support for program improvements (raised over $110 M in his career) Creates and articulates shared vision

Uses data for continuous improvement

Current situation: Chief of Strategy and Innovation (2013Present) Shelby County Public Schools, TN

Past leadership positions: Senior Vice-President (2010- 2013) Executive Director, Tennessee (2006 ? 2010) Recruitment Director (2004 ? 2006) Teach For America

Highest degree attained: BA, Public Policy Occidental College

Evidence of MNPS Leadership Profile COMMUNITY-BUILDING AND VISIONCASTING CAPACITY ? Led strategic planning in the community to

implement "Destination 2025" goals in Shelby

ORGANIZATIONAL/CULTURE CHANGE EXPERTISE ? Led his department to establish values,

and leads by continually referencing those values.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO TALENT AND TURNAROUND ? Developed two of the strongest teacher

development programs in TN. ? iZone cohorts have consistently gained in

proficiency each year.

EXPERTISE WITH SIMILAR STUDENT POPULATIONS ? Shelby County, New Orleans

DISTRICT COMPARISON (most recent available data)

District

Shelby County, TN

Enrollment

149,832

# Schools

290

% Charter Schools

14.1%

% Econ. Disadvantaged

68.5%

% Minority

79.8%

% ELL

5.1%

% SPED

12.5%

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

16.14

Total Budget ($M)

$1,194

Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,732

Cover Letter

Bradley James Leon Memphis, Tennessee

April 22, 2015

Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education 2601 Bransford Ave. Nashville, TN 37204

Dear Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education:

It is with enthusiasm that I submit my application for the Metro Nashville Director of Schools position. The district's current theory of action, the level of engagement from stakeholders, the deep commitment of the board throughout the search process, and the chance to work with Nashville's educators and children make this leadership role an exciting opportunity.

Nashville's school system has made steady progress over the years, but I believe the board and the community are looking for transformational change and a stronger sense of urgency given the challenges facing our children and the aspirations the community has for itself. Throughout my career, I have consistently led teams that deliver significant impact for children guided by a firmly held belief that the team, the family, and the community are far more powerful than the efforts of any single individual. If we are to help make manifest the inherent greatness of our children, it will only be if we are united.

I believe I have the right set of skills, experiences, and familiarity with the Tennessee educational landscape to enable our children to become fully empowered adults who can thrive as citizens and compete in a globally interconnected world. My career includes being named teacher of the year as an eighth grade language arts and social studies teacher; recruiting and coaching hundreds of teachers; and designing and building two of Tennessee's strongest teacher preparation programs. I currently serve as the chief of strategy and innovation for Shelby County Schools, Tennessee's largest school system. In this capacity, I lead seven divisions within the organization and am responsible for the achievement of more than 60 schools. During my tenure, I led our district strategic planning effort, "Destination 2025," designed a comprehensive performance management system, launched a blended learning pilot in 18 of our schools, raised more than $14 million from private philanthropy to support key district initiatives, and lead our turnaround work in the innovation zone where our incredible team of teachers, principals, and central office staff continue to prove the possible with children many people had counted out.

Moreover, Nashville has served as home base for me for more than 20 years. My grandfather moved to Nashville 25 years ago and my mother followed him to middle Tennessee shortly thereafter. My family and I have spent ample time in Nashville over the years to enjoy all the city has to offer and so that my two boys can build relationships with their grandparents. I know that my history in, and love for,

Tennessee and my familiarity with its educational landscape will be a significant boon to Nashville's long-running strategic efforts.

All of my various experiences have provided a unique set of perspectives that allow me to lead as a collaborator with the ability to confound ideological expectations or assumptions. In the education world today, there is a sense that one must fit in one box in a complicated matrix. I reject that notion and my track record will prove to you that we can redefine what it means to be a district and community that works together with greater purpose, commitment, and impact for kids without the labels and the assumptions that envelop them and make true partnership difficult.

Throughout my career, I have seen the inherent greatness in our children, I have seen their enormous potential and know that the only limits we have are self-imposed. In my classroom, in the classrooms of teachers I have coached, and in our innovation zone, I have seen the role expectations play and know our children can and will meet them. Nashville is poised to build a world class public education system to cultivate that greatness because of the deep engagement of the community. Given my skills, background, expertise, and leadership capacity to deliver significant impact, I am excited to engage further in the process and to be considered to lead that effort as the next Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Sincerely, Bradley Leon

Candidate Resume

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