Nashville, TN – PENCIL (Public Education Needs Community Involvement & Leadership) announced it is entering a new chapter in its history today by embarking on a long-planned leadership transition from current President and CEO Angie Adams in spring 2024. A proud MNPS parent, she has timed her stepping down from PENCIL with her daughter’s graduation from high school next year.
“We are sad to see her go but know this has been in the works for some time and a natural evolution of our leadership. Angie will leave PENCIL in a much stronger position in our community, as well as our relationship with MNPS, teachers and students,” says Board Chair Wes Payne. “She will also leave us in very sound financial standing. We are now beginning a thorough search for PENCIL’s next impactful leader who can assure we continue to grow in our ability to serve the students and teachers of Metro Nashville. To further ensure a seamless transition, Angie will remain with us and help onboard our new CEO. We are beyond grateful for what she has been able to do as our leader and wish her the best moving forward.”
Board members Hasina Mohyuddin, Assistant Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Peabody College, and John Doerge, Community Relations Leader for TN for Deloitte, are co-chairing the CEO Transition Committee, a key part of the well-planned process to lead the nonprofit into the next phase. The search is scheduled to begin this June with the goal of having a new CEO identified by the end of 2023. Adams will overlap with the next leader to support a full transition in spring of 2024.
Since stepping into her position seven years ago, Adams’ drive and dedication have guided PENCIL to be a critical partner to MNPS while also stabilizing PENCIL financially. Her accomplishments include aligning programs to strongly fit MNPS’s strategic plan, growing distribution of free products to Metro teachers from $350K to $3M annually, and creating PENCIL’s first-ever endowment fund. Founding PENCIL Partner Ingram Industries, through their Ingram Charities program, is also stepping forward this spring to match new gifts to PENCIL’s endowment up to $20,000.
As a result of Adams’ leadership, PENCIL is now top of mind when businesses and organizations want to partner with and be a resource to MNPS.
PENCIL is the only organization in Nashville specifically dedicated to linking resources from the business community to our public schools. “PENCIL is strong, MNPS is strong, and our relationship is strong,” remarked Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Schools. “We enjoy a tremendous partnership with Angie and PENCIL and look forward to working just as successfully with PENCIL’s next CEO.”
