Adrienne Battle, superintendent of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., is the 2025 recipient of the Save The Music Foundation’s 20th annual Administrator Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education.
Battle accepted the honor from AASA’s incoming president David Law at the 3rd General Session of AASA’s 2025 National Conference on Education on Saturday in New Orleans.
Battle has served since 2020 as superintendent of the 80,000-student district, one of the nation’s top 50 largest. A Nashville native, she has spent almost her entire career with the Nashville district and is a graduate of the district's John Overton High School,
This award recognizes one superintendent or school district CEO who has exhibited outstanding commitment to restoring music education in his or her district. Battle was chosen for her unwavering devotion to providing students across the Nashville community with a well-rounded education that includes music.
“Music education is so important to a high-quality education, and I’m grateful for everything Save the Music has done to help us grow and improve our instructional program and resources,” Battle said. “Our forward-looking visual and performing arts team and our brilliant teachers across the district are so good at helping students see and develop their own musical talents, which fits right into our larger work of making sure every student is known, supported and on a path to success. Thank you to Save the Music for its generous support and for this recognition of our collective efforts.”
Over the past 26 years, the foundation has supported Nashville’s investment in K-12 comprehensive music education across the district with musical instrument and technology grants, music teacher professional development and ongoing program support, totaling more than $1.7 million. This project is fueled by a strategic partnership with the superintendent, who has pledged to ensure every student in the district has equitable access to music education taught by qualified teachers as part of the regular school day.
“Through Superintendent Battle’s leadership, all students across music city have the opportunity to express themselves through music making in school,” said Jaclyn Rudderow, senior director of school programs for Save The Music Foundation. “We are thrilled to celebrate her with this national honor and look forward to our continued partnership.”
Through the Save The Music Foundation grants, 70 Nashville schools have been able to expand their music programs. Students now have access to new instruments and music technology without the worry of financial burden being a barrier to them participating in the arts.
Past recipients of this award (listed with their post at the time of the award) include: Amy J Carter, superintendent, Meridian Public School District, Miss.; Christopher Downing, superintendent, Anaheim Elementary School District, Calif.; Elizabeth Lolli, superintendent, Dayton Public Schools, Ohio; Leon Rogers, superintendent, Newark Public Schools, N.J.; Keely Roberts, superintendent, Zion Elementary District 6, Ill.; Francisco Escobedo, superintendent, Chula Vista Elementary School District, Calif.; Nancy Sarra, superintendent, Consolidated School District of New Britain, Conn.; Kevin George, superintendent, St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools, La.; Russell Freitas, superintendent, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District, Calif.
Also, Kristi Wilson, superintendent, Buckeye Elementary School District, Ariz.; Reginald Mayo, superintendent, New Haven Public Schools, Conn.; Rita Bishop, superintendent, Roanoke City Public Schools, Va.; Kathy L. Kelly, superintendent, Columbia Heights Public Schools, Minn. ; Duncan N. P. “Pat” Pritchett Jr., superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools, Ind.; John Lange, superintendent, Adams County School District 14, Colo.; Carol Johnson, superintendent, Memphis City Schools, Tenn.; Richard Kaplan, superintendent, New Brunswick Public Schools, N.J.; Eugene White, superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools, Ind.; and James A. Williams, superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools, N.Y.
(Lara Wade is director of communications with AASA.)
