Jeff McCann, two-time alumnus and current doctoral candidate of Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Education, was recently named the school choice coordinator for Rutherford County Schools.

“I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve Rutherford County Schools as the coordinator of choice and charter schools,” McCann said. “In my time as principal of Thurman Francis Arts Academy, I have become passionate about the many choice school options our district has to offer Rutherford County families, and I pledge to continue to support and sustain those outstanding programs. 

“My goal will also be to establish positive relationships with our charter schools, working together to serve the children in our community.”

The school choice coordinator works with principals of the various choice schools in the district to promote the programs to parents and facilitate enrollment applications, stated the district’s press release. The position oversees the review team for charter school applications and serves as the liaison for any charter schools authorized by the school district. 

“We are extremely excited about the wealth of experience Mr. McCann brings to this position and the future of school choice in Rutherford County,” said Kelly Chastain, RCS chief academic officer and fellow True Blue alum. “Our district is fortunate to already have incredible school choice options for parents and students, and I’m excited about Mr. McCann building on the work that’s already been started.”

McCann, who grew up in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at MTSU and will complete his Ed.D. in the Assessment, Learning and Student Success program this December. 

“My experience at MTSU prepared me to be an instrumental music teacher and then a school administrator,” McCann said. “The training I received laid a strong foundation of teaching and leading that has served me well. In fact, the learning I am getting from the doctoral program has been phenomenal. Even after 36 years in education, I am learning new things on a weekly basis from the outstanding teaching in the program.”

McCann also highlighted the importance of the district’s close relationship with his alma mater. 

“RCS’s partnership with MTSU is critical in that it provides a direct pipeline from teacher training to teacher employment,” he said. “That is especially important now that we are facing a serious shortage of prepared teaching candidates.”

Learn more about the opportunities at MTSU’s College of Education at https://www.mtsu.edu/education/. 

— Stephanie Wagner (Stephanie.Wagner@mtsu.edu)