2020 Fall/Winter 4700

4700 The New Athletic Center

A COMPETITIVE ADDITION

THE SPIRIT OF

SPOTLIGHTS

Fall/Winter 2020

Franklin Road Academy provides a challenging educational experience in an inclusive Christian community with an unwavering commitment to develop leaders of integrity and purpose.

M IS SIO N STAT E M E N T

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A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL When the school year began, we expected to face challenges as a community. The ongoing trials of 2020 have been great, but as you will see on the pages of this magazine, the determination and spirit of FRA has been greater.

Together, we tackled remote learning in the spring and then immediately began planning for a hybrid learning model to provide both in-person and remote learning options for our families. Our faculty trained throughout the summer and worked diligently to adjust the delivery of their curriculum to help support a flexible learning environment for all families and optimize the educational experience for both in-person and remote students.

It has been a true blessing to have our students and faculty engaged with one another here on campus and our remote learners connected to their friends and teachers from home.

We recognize that successfully completing our first semester of hybrid learning required the dedication of everyone in our community, and we are grateful for the unwavering support of our families.

Even though we are all looking forward to starting a fresh new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the accomplishments and innovation of our students, faculty, and alumni featured in this magazine. The pandemic didn't stop our girls golf team from capturing their fourth consecutive State title, our senior class from celebrating Homecoming with the traditional senior greeting and parade, or our fine and performing arts students from reimagining their productions and creating stunning visual artwork.

Our faculty and students will all walk away from 2020 with more grit and creativity, and a greater appreciation for the relationships we foster on our campus. I am confident we are raising a generation of students who will be more resilient and able to handle the ups and downs of life because of this time.

I hope you feel inspired as you read these stories showcasing the numerous ways our community has overcome obstacles by supporting and encouraging one another every step of the way.

Please take care and be well.

Sean R. Casey

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TA BLE OF

CONTENTS

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9

17

37

45

57

FEATURE STORY The New Athletic Center

FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS Art Gallery The Show Will Go On Erin Nash '21

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS Gonzalo de Gracia Taylor Smith Hayes Dalton Kaila Scott

ATHLETICS Womens Golf Wins State Title Accolades

FEATURED ALUMNI Amy Graves Stewart '83 Bill Johnson '82 Suki Tallent Levavasseur '06

EVENTS Homecoming Week Halloween Christmas Week

COPYRIGHTED 2020 BY FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY. Franklin Road Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, religion, or ethnic origin, or the administration of its educational and admission policies, scholarships, athletic, and other school-administered programs. Franklin Road Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools. The 4700 is a bi-annual publication of the communications office.

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2020-21 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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THE SPIRIT OF FRA: STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS Pax West '29 Lily Paris '22

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ACADEMICS Hybrid Learning Global Online Academy An Exercise in Goal Setting

Jared Allen Jeb Beasley Victor Berrios Laura Campbell Matthew Denmark Steve Halas Patti Hudgins Dr. Tamika Hudson Kimberly Jackson John S. Larkin II Michael Lindseth, Jr. ’88 Steve Maggart R. Dale Mitchell Rosemary Plorin Jaimie Robinson Andrew Scarlett ’97 Christy Smith Clif Tant ’94, Board Chair EX-OFFICIOS Edward Alexander, Past Board Chair Sean Casey Joc Collignon ’00 Charley Williamson ’88

LEADERSHIP TEAM Brandon Albright, Director of Spiritual Life Sean Casey, Head of School Angela Claxton, Director of Marketing and Communications Steve Compton, Director of Technology Ryan Harris, Assistant Head for External Affairs and Head of Middle School

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ALUMNI A Unifying Symbol Class Notes Family Additions New Legacy Families

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WHY WE GIVE The Bradford Family

EDITOR Lindsey McAlister. ART DIRECTOR Angela Claxton. PHOTO CREDITS Lindsey McAlister, Mike Straisinger '80, Southern Trance Photography (Come See Santa). COPY EDITOR Elizabeth Moore. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Pax West '29, Lily Paris '22, Josh Flegel, Cindy Thornton, Erin Nash '21, Prentice Stabler, John Murray, Allison Hammat, Amy Stewart '83, Bill Johnson '82, Suki Levavasseur '06, Sara Elizabeth and Will Bradford. PICTURED ON THE COVER Boyd Brown '24.

Dr. Aaron Howard, Director of Diversity, Community, and Inclusion Dr. John Murray, Dean of Academic Affairs Kris Palmerton, Director of Athletics Jay Salato ’03, Head of Upper School Prentice Stabler, Associate Head of School Laura Turner, Assistant Head for Finance and Operations Dr. Rick West, Head of Lower School Courtney Williamson, Director of Admission

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The New Athletic Center

A COMPETITIVE ADDITION In June, the new athletic center opened, and our student athletes were able to begin training in this new space. In addition to the 4,000 square foot state-of-the-art Crockett and Tansil Fitness Center, this space contains women’s and men’s home and visitor locker rooms, digital screens that display the FRA Hall of Fame photos and accolades, coaches’ offices, team storage, and a new training room. There are multiple windows in the Hall of Fame lobby that overlook the upper school gymnasium and create a space large enough to entertain small gatherings of students, parents, and alumni. It's more than just a place to work out. It's a place to spend quality time with people from the FRA community.

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FEATURE STORY ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A

A dance and wellness space, new wrestling room, and team video room are adjacent to this facility, consolidating all of our athletic

spaces and creating a new athletic center facing the Hill and all of our athletic fields.

While more than 80 percent of FRA upper school students participate in at least one sport each year, the new Crockett and Tansil Fitness Center was created to serve all of our students, to be used for physical education, and ultimately to instill a lifelong love of physical fitness and healthy living. Our goal is for all of our students to be familiar and comfortable with the various machines in a weight room and know how to safely and properly work out with weights even after they graduate from FRA .

“This summer it was exciting to see our students walk in and to literally see their eyes pop out of their heads and their jaws drop. They were so excited to see what they just walked into,” director of athletics Kris Palmerton said. “They've never seen that here on campus, and I don't believe they imagined it could be this nice. They knew it was being built but not to the level that we've taken it.”

Our students pass through the Hall of Fame and the senior athlete mural wall each day—a design that was extremely intentional. When the students see State Championship trophies won in the past, photos of our alumni competing at the collegiate level, and a mural of our graduating student athletes, they may aspire to one day have their picture on that wall or to compete on a team that wins another State Championship. They know that hard work in the weight room can help them accomplish that.

“This summer it was exciting to see our students walk in and to literally see their eyes pop out of their heads and their jaws drop. They were so excited to see what they had just walked into.”

“The amount of space and equipment we have has nearly tripled from our previous space,” strength and conditioning coach Addrian

– KRIS PALMERTON – DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FranklinRoadAcademy.com FranklinRoadAcademy.com | | 16 6

“This space will help our teams with their confidence and mental toughness. They are putting in the work to make themselves bigger, faster, and stronger, all of which it takes to compete at a high level.”

– BILL WHITTEMORE – HEAD VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH

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Frederick said. “This has allowed us to maximize our time, especially with the restrictions 2020 has given us. We have more options to safely get a large amount of student athletes in the facility to train. I’ve seen our students' confidence improve the most,” Frederick said. “This confidence, especially at a young training age, will breed success in all areas of their life.”

“Our lower school students are already enamored with the upper school students, so when they walk through the Hall of Fame and see pictures of these students, they know that they want to be a Panther for life,” Palmerton said.

One of the biggest impacts of this space is that it creates more community. In addition to attracting the best coaches, teachers, and students, it creates a place for them to come together and feel a strong sense of belonging beyond academics.

The new athletic center also extends our community and brings back previous generations of students, families, alumni, and athletes as they move on throughout their lives.

“This new space is inviting,” varsity head girls soccer coach Becky Knight said. “The weight room specifically is a fun, competitive space where our students love to be.”

coming into this space and utilizing all it has to offer. It is also a great stop for our prospective

“We’re seeing that with the space that is allotted

families to see and know that athletics is an

for our team to work, we’re getting more work

important piece to the FRA community.”

done in a shorter amount of time,” varsity head football coach Bill Whittemore said. “With the

“This space will help our teams with their

whole team able to work together, our younger

confidence and mental toughness,” Whittemore

guys are able to see the work ethic of the

said. “They are putting in the work to make

upperclassmen. It also allows us to get some

themselves bigger, faster, and stronger, all of which

time back in the day since we can move the team

it takes to compete at a high level.” 

through quicker. Not only is that valuable to get more practice time, but it also gets our students

Visit www.franklinroadacademy.com/4700 for a video

home earlier for dinner and homework.”

showcasing the new athletic center.

“There is a new energy in and around the weight room,” Whittemore said. “Our students love

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 8

Gonzalo de Gracia

Q &

A "I love the relationships that are built here.

Everyone is kind to and accepting of each other."

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

WHEN DID YOU START ATTENDING FRA? Eighth grade

WHEN YOU THINK BACK ON YOUR TIME AS AN FRA STUDENT, WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU’LL MISS THE MOST? I think definitely the classroom size and just the size

WHAT ARE THREE WORDS YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Adventurous, competitive, and committed

of our class in general. No matter what college I go to, it's probably going to be bigger than FRA. Knowing every single person in your grade and even the entire high school is something I'm definitely going to miss.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AT FRA? Soccer, cross country, football, National Honor Society (NHS), and student council. I started student council

WHO IS SOMEONE AT FRA WHO HAS TAUGHT

my junior year as a representative, and then this year,

YOU A LOT?

I’ve served as the student body vice president.

Mr. Kaiser. He's my advisor but was also my teacher during my junior and senior years. I've learned a lot in terms of English class, but I've also learned

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING YOUR TIME AT FRA?

how to apply things to real life. We've had serious conversations about things going on in the world right now and also how we can use English skills to

I have gotten involved as much as possible. Whether

adapt, argue, or have productive conversations that

it's been through sports or student council or being a

lead to good results.

leader for NHS, I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone to do some public speaking every now and then, even though that’s something I'm usually nervous about.

WHY DO YOU LOVE FRA? I love the relationships that are built here. Everyone is kind to and accepting of each other. The student

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE COMMUNITY AT FRA?

to teacher relationship specifically stands out because your teachers will help you out on quizzes and tests, but they also go above and beyond by

I think since you know everybody here so well, you

truly caring about you. They’ll notice if something is

have that feeling that people aren't going to judge

going wrong or if a classmate is having a bad day.

you just because of what you say. And so, you're a

If they realize a quiz was assigned too early, they'll

lot more comfortable with people in the first place.

give some extra time so that you can study and get

Everyone is happy for you when you try something

the material down because they care about you.

out and nobody puts you down.

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FPC. Even people who don't play soccer now were

WHEN DID YOU START ATTENDING FRA?

on it. It's just kind of fun to look back and have so

Kindergarten

many different memories with people.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AT FRA? Everything under the sun basically. I started getting involved as soon as I got to middle school with Cocoa and Carols. I've always played sports—basketball, softball, and soccer, and I did track for one year. When I got to upper school, I was nominated for Honor Council, and I've been there for all four years. I've been in National Honor Society since sophomore year,

WHAT HAS BEEN A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE OR MOMENT FOR YOU AT FRA?

I've been voted All-District in soccer three times.

It was crazy because I was voted as a freshman, and then junior year I tore my meniscus so I wasn't playing, but to be voted three out of my four years was cool because soccer is my whole world.

and I've continued to perform at Cocoa and Carols basically every year. I’ve also participated in Evening with the Arts. I’m in AP art, so I’ve created a lot of the art around campus, and I designed our homecoming shirts this year. I'm also involved in Best Buddies.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT SOCCER? I'm extremely competitive, so I absolutely love the competition soccer brings. Our soccer team is made up of the most close-knit group of girls you'll find.

We all highly value work ethic and each other so

WHO IS SOMEONE AT FRA WHO HAS TAUGHT

much that it pushes our whole team to get better.

Mr. Kaiser. He's my advisor, and he's known me since

groups that I've gotten to play with.

YOU A LOT?

This year has probably been one of my favorite

I was in fourth grade. He's subtly taught me how to deal with stress and how to tackle things head on, so I've appreciated getting to know him.

WHEN YOU’RE TOURING PROSPECTIVE

STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, WHAT DO YOU

ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM ABOUT WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING A MEMBER

FRA?

I've grown up with some of my best friends. We have

I firmly believe that. And second, I tell them how

OF THE 12-YEAR CLUB?

24 people in the 12-Year Club this year. I’ve known half of my grade forever, and they're literally my brothers and sisters. We all love each other. Even if we aren’t best friends, we still have a deep appreciation for that connection. For the girls at least, we've all been in the same sports from day one. We all have a running joke in our grade about our White Tiger

First, I always say that FRA is my second home, and my teachers and peers here know me better than I know myself. They know me better than even my parents or relatives know me because we spend so much time together. We do so much together that they see us outside of school and in school and who we are as people. They truly get to know us on a personal level.

team—which is our rec league soccer team over at

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

Taylor Smith

Q &

A "Our soccer team is made up of the most closeknit group of girls you'll find. We all highly

value work ethic and each other so much that it pushes our whole team to get better."

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Hayes Dalton

Q &

A "There's going to be a lot of things I miss about FRA, especially because it's been such a big part of my life. And the community that we have here is unlike any other school."

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

WHEN DID YOU START ATTENDING FRA? Pre-kindergarten WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AT FRA? I have been involved with the student council for five years. I was the middle school student body president, then class president, and now student body president of the upper school. I have been on the football team for four years and played in middle school as well. I played baseball for two years, and I wrestled last year.

I'm a student ambassador as well as a Best Buddies leadership team member. Student council has been awesome because it helped me find where I'm most comfortable. I’ve always been a leader, but I knew that I wanted to be that guy that everybody looks to.

WHO IS SOMEONE AT FRA WHO HAS TAUGHT YOU A LOT? Number one would have to be Coach Dawson. I've spent a lot of time with him in football and Best Buddies. He’s a good role model of an all-around Christian guy who models his life after Christ. His involvement with Best Buddies pushed me to want to be involved with Best Buddies too. The way he loves the kids is inspiring. On the football field, he’s pushed me to be a better football player. My freshman year, I was a scrawny little kid, but he told me that we would find a way for me to play. Ms. Scruggs, my advisor, has also helped me navigate hard times throughout high school. She's helped me with grades, my schedules, and has motivated me. She’s been a bright spot in my day.

WHAT HAS BEEN A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE OR MOMENT FOR YOU AT FRA? My sophomore year, when we were playing Notre Dame High School in football. We were down 30 to 6, and we came back and won that game to go to the state semifinals, which was awesome. Also, in middle school, one of my friend’s parents won an auction item at Stars and

Guitars where eight different guys got to spend the night in the middle school, and we had a blast. There's a lot of fun stories I can remember that night. The next day was Fun Day in the middle school, and we went to that and were already exhausted and were even more exhausted from being at Fun Day. It was a long 48 hours.

WHEN YOU THINK BACK ON YOUR TIME AS AN FRA STUDENT, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’LL MISS THE MOST? There's a lot of things I'm going to miss, but I'm definitely going to miss Friday nights on The Hill. I'm going to miss homecoming and everything that comes with that—just the community coming together. I'm going to miss lunch time...lunch time in the Weicker Center is a lot of fun. There's going to be a lot of things I miss about FRA, especially because it's been such a big part of my life. And the community that we have here is unlike any other school. I know everybody here, especially in upper school. I could tell you everybody's first and last names, and I have probably met their parents. In times of need, we come together.

Knowing that and trusting people in my grade, and in the school in general, builds a strong community.

HOW DO YOU FEEL PREPARED FOR YOUR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE? FRA has given me the tools to be ready for what college classes are going to throw at me. Teachers remind us that we have an obligation to do our work outside of the classroom when we need to. Also, FRA has taught me to make smart decisions, which is helpful, knowing that I’m going to basically be on my own next year.

WHAT ARE THREE WORDS YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? A leader, hardworking, and confident

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WHEN DID YOU START ATTENDING FRA? Third grade WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN AT FRA AND WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE? I’ve been involved in basketball, volleyball, soccer, track, Student Ambassadors, National Honor Society, Student Alumni Association, Best Buddies, 4680, Student Diversity Leadership Team, Service Club, and Turner Fellowship program.

The Student Diversity Leadership Team is probably my favorite, and I learned a lot from my Turner Fellowship experience this summer also. The Student Diversity Leadership Team started when I was a sophomore. It was a group of nine students, and we all went to the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Nashville.

From students all across the country, we learned how to facilitate conversations about diversity at FRA and other important conversations no one really wants to have. That was my favorite thing because I've been able to see many different improvements and progress that FRA has made regarding diversity. I love connecting on a deeper level with my peers because now we can have those hard conversations without feeling like we're offending each other or crossing lines. It definitely has built our emotional connections.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FRA HAS TAUGHT YOU? Definitely to be myself. FRA has taught me that I have just as much power to make a difference as the next person. Being confident in myself, no matter what other people are thinking, is important to me. I have an unique perspective because it's not as easy for someone like me, as a Black girl, to be confident compared to my peers. The unknown is always nerve wracking, but I do think FRA does a great job preparing us to be ourselves in the future, whatever that may be, and encouraging us to stay true to who we are.

WHO IS SOMEONE AT FRA WHO HAS TAUGHT YOU A LOT? Coach Hart, Ms. Cascarano, and Mr. Climer have all played a role. Basketball is one of the biggest things in my life, and Coach Hart has taught me persistence and hard work. Mr. Climer has been my French III

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and AP French teacher. Those classes challenged me, but he encouraged me to stick with it, and now he’s writing my college recommendation letters. Ms. Cascarano is my college counselor, and she has been with me since my freshman year. I've been consistently meeting with her this year, and she has always been there for me at any time of the day.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING YOUR TIME AT FRA? I have two. First, when I won Homecoming queen— that was extremely unexpected. I was standing there as they were announcing it and hyping it up a little bit, and they were like, “Now we're announcing our queen.” I wasn't even paying attention. Then they said my name, and literally the world was spinning. My mother was running up and down the sidelines of the football field. My dad was jumping and going crazy.

Everyone was crying. All the things. My family was on FaceTime. It was the most magical thing. The whole upper school voted for that, so I feel honored they chose me as someone they look up to and cherish.

Second, ever since being in lower school and getting the yearbooks, I’ve always wanted to be a superlative.

I didn't know which one, I just knew I wanted to be one. Being voted “most likely to succeed” is cool because I know my classmates have so much faith and confidence in me. They've seen what I do in school and outside of school, and they consider me to be someone who's well prepared to succeed. I think that's special, and it makes me want to push myself to get there. Everyone knows I have crazy high expectations for myself, and I push myself to extremes often, so it's nice to be recognized in that way.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT CAREER YOU WANT TO PURSUE? I'm definitely going to study political science and government with a minor in history. It depends on the school I attend which focus I will take, but I ultimately want to become a human rights attorney. I'm going to go to law school, and FRA has prepared me well for that. I have started an independent study for myself in AP government, so that's also helping me. That's just another example of FRA being flexible enough to cater to what we need as students. It’s just me and

SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS

Kaila Scott

Q &

A

Ms. Black, so it's nice to have it personalized because I'm learning what I'm going to need to know for the goals I have for the future. I want to use the privilege of becoming an attorney to fight for those who may not be able to represent themselves.

WHY DO YOU LOVE FRA? There are so many opportunities for leadership at FRA. You can step up and make an impact no matter how old you are. It's cool to see how everyone's voice is heard at a school this size. The faculty and staff make sure everyone is heard no matter what the topic is. It feels empowering.

WHAT ARE THREE WORDS YOU WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Confident, ambitious, and vivacious

"There are so many opportunities for leadership. You can step up and make an impact no matter how old you are."

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A LUM NI F EAT UR E D

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FEATURED ALUMNI

Amy Graves Stewart '83 I started attending FRA my freshman year of high school.

When I graduated, I went to Samford University and then taught for 11 years before deciding to stay at home with my children and work in the youth ministry at my church. I’ve been able to connect my teaching and youth ministry experience as I lead events for families, teaching children how they can connect with God and hear His voice. This is one of my greatest passions.

I met Governor Bill Lee 22 years ago while teaching his children in the first grade. First Lady Maria Lee and I have been friends even longer. When they came into office in 2019, they asked me to manage the Residence.

Although I found myself in a career shift, it has been exciting to have a new experience, especially because I still get to work with children in various capacities.

My main role is to manage the staff at the Residence, and make sure the governor and first lady have everything they need when they are here. When outside groups have an event here, our event manager typically oversees that, and I assist with anything she needs.

When the first lady hosts an event here, that's when I step in and make sure her vision comes to life. If we need volunteers for the event, I coordinate and train them.

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 18

One of my favorite days of this job so far happened in September. We went to Clarksville and served with a nonprofit called Roc Solid, whose mission is to build playsets in the backyards of families who have children with cancer. Within two hours, we built a playset in a 5-yearold boy's backyard. Unfortunately, he had to be in the hospital that day, but his mom and brother came for the big reveal. There were lots of laughs, many tears, and much excitement. It was incredible that giving a playset to that sweet boy allowed his family to feel seen and known. We stood in their backyard and visited with them and prayed for their son. About once a week, that’s my day–serving and loving others. It’s amazing.

One way we are equipping Tennesseans to serve is by providing information on the first lady’s website at www. tn.gov/firstlady/tennessee-serves. There you can find how to get involved and what others are doing. I love getting to take the heart of service to children and equip them to serve the people in their world.

The past two summers, we’ve had a kids summer service challenge where we encouraged children to spend a portion of their summer serving others. Of course, this COVID-19 summer looked different than the summer before, but we were still able to provide ways for children to get involved virtually and to serve the first responders who were stepping up to help during COVID-19. Kids across Tennessee sent us pictures and information about what they did. It was encouraging to read what the children had to say about their experiences, how serving impacted their lives, and how they chose to be a helper.

My job also includes assisting with the Office of the First Lady. I get to be a part of the many things she's involved in, traveling with her and aiding with her Tennessee Serves initiative. We were single, young teachers together, so we have been friends for a long time. It’s been fun to watch her step into this new role and take who she is and what God has put in her heart to help Tennessee and inspire people to serve others.

She has a heart for service and through her initiative, we have found ways to inspire people to give back to their communities by highlighting people across Tennessee who are already serving. Our job is to get the word out and equip other Tennesseans who want to make an impact in their communities. Because my heart is for children, I focus on how we are equipping and inspiring our youth to serve.

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I feel called to help the first lady be successful in what she wants to accomplish and be a support and an encouragement for her. The other part of my purpose here is taking what God has put in my heart—a calling to love and educate children—and finding how I can use those gifts in this role. Those doors are opening more and more as I find ways to encourage children, teachers, and parents.

PICTURED Lisa Yonts, Amy Graves, Elizabeth Turner, Laurie Brothers, Kim Gomer, Lauren McArthur, Melissa Winchel, Shannon Franks, Amy Harrod, Dana Avery

It was quite a transition to step into this job, as it is completely different than anything I have done before. It was a big jump from ministry and education to politics. And yet I’m finding that ministry happens anywhere you carry God’s presence to the places He leads you.

For instance, I have found I am able to show the heart of God by truly seeing each person who comes through the door of the Residence, not only by their title, but by relating to them as a real person and thinking about how God sees them.

As I've gotten older, and especially because I drive by FRA every day on the way to work, I've had a lot of thoughts about how God placed people in my life through FRA who still have an impact on me today.

Some spoke into my life in the '80s, and others are still a part of my life. I'm so grateful for that. Specifically, when I was a high school student, a kindergarten teacher named May Drummond gave me the opportunity to read to her class on several occasions and tell Bible stories. That completely ignited something in me where I realized, "I love this." Much of my career can be traced back to that experience.

I found amazing, deep, and lasting friendships at FRA. One thing I loved being a part of was cheerleading. Cheerleading built leadership skills in me that I've used throughout the years in different ways—from public speaking to leading groups of people in various capacities.

As a parent myself, I now understand how much my parents sacrificed financially to send me to FRA. I'm grateful they did that when they could have chosen other ways to spend their limited income. It was a huge sacrifice, and I still express my gratitude to them for the opportunity to go to FRA. My FRA experience was much more than academic. I did well at Samford, and I credit much of that to FRA, but aspects of my spiritual life, my career, my emotional life, my friendships, and relationships can also be partially traced back to FRA. You can't put a price on that.  Amy currently serves as the residence director at the Tennessee Executive Residence. She attended FRA from 1979-1983 and was a member of the cheerleading squad and upper school service club. She also served as president of the National Honor Society. After graduating, Amy attended Samford University on an academic scholarship.

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Bill Johnson '82 M

My parents sat on the original board of Franklin Road Academy, my sister taught here for 17 years, and my son Will is a senior this year. I’ve seen over and over

how our whole FRAmily has pitched in to help through these tough times, specifically in my business distribution of PURE Hard Surface sanitizer/hospital-grade disinfectant.

As a businessman, I had five other ventures that were affected by COVID-19 before the one we’re producing now.

My company, Marathon Group, is the master distributor of PURE Hard Surface, a sanitizing disinfectant that has been distributed all over the country.

We're in every Chipotle, Cheesecake Factory, Penske, and Ryder truck lines, J.D. Hunt, General Motors plants, 150 different school districts, and a majority of all the poultry plants in the United States. FRA has also invested in our product to ensure the quick and safe sanitation of classrooms before and after each class period.

When so many of us transitioned into working from home this spring, we began to bottle and distribute PURE Hard Surface in my garage at home. PURE Hard Surface ended up keeping people alive and engaged. It kept us in a spot where we could keep everybody in motion. Guys from the Panther football team and friends of my son Will have come to our garages to help make the bottles and pack the kits.

We believe we're providing the best, the fastest, and the longest lasting solution with our 24-hour residual.

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FEATURED ALUMNI

The product has been a blessing. I initially started out as an original non-food brand manager for a company called Sysco Foods and learned how to develop products and get them to market. I went

"I have been blessed by the strong work ethic

that came from the FRA football field. When you get knocked down, you

get up and try not to get knocked down again."

from The University of Alabama to Boston to Boca Raton, Florida to Atlanta, and then to Houston where I worked for Sysco Corporation for 10 years before coming home to Nashville.

When COVID-19 hit, one of the first things we did with PURE Hard Surface was take it to the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. We got as much PURE Hard Surface into their hands as we possibly could, as fast as we could. We cleared out the first part of the garage, loaded trucks, we met the deputies in the field, and we started giving them PURE Hard Surface, just trying to keep them in motion.

We did the same thing for the Brentwood and Franklin police and fire departments. Those guys were in need, and we wanted to figure out how we

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 22

sprint, in every play, and every time you touch the ball. And if there's anything I still know how to do, it’s hustle. So even though I was a B, mainly C, student, I learned to outwork anybody.

My favorite memory is when we were playing our rivals, Lipscomb. I was the starting quarterback, and I couldn’t get off the center without being sacked. They were wearing us out. While playing defense, I got hit in the back, got hurt, and had to come out of the game.

It was the last time I ever played quarterback.

They put in this freshman kid, Steve Johnson, who is my little brother. He came in the game and took us straight down the field to score. We got the ball back with an onside kick, and he took our team straight down the field to score again.

During the first bowl game FRA ever won, my little brother called an audible to me over the middle for us to take the lead. It was a slant play for a touchdown, and I was going, "Okay, you paid me back, we're could help them more. Since starting this spring, we

done." And so, that was cool of him. That bowl game

probably have donated as much PURE Hard Surface as

was called the Butter Bowl. We each got patches for

we have sold.

our letterman jackets, and mine sits in my home office today.

We have all been knocked down, especially during COVID-19. We are all fatigued living through this

FRA is a big part of our life. I mean, the number

pandemic. But even though we’re tired, we have to

one thing I have looked forward to everyday of this

keep getting up and helping those around us get up

semester is watching my son play for the Panthers

too.

football team every Friday night. I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it. I haven't missed a game. I won't miss

I have been blessed by the strong work ethic that

a game. 

came from the FRA football field. I learned that when you get knocked down, you get up and try not to get

Bill is the owner and manager of The Marathon Group distribution

knocked down again. FRA taught me, mainly on the

company. Bill attended FRA from 1972-1982, and his parents,

football field, to get up after getting knocked down

William and Betty Johnson, were on the original board of trustees.

and try again the next day.

He is a part of our legacy families, with his son Will attending FRA as a senior this year. During his time at FRA, Bill played football,

I believe in drive, and I learned that on the fields of

basketball, and baseball, and participated in French Club, choir,

FRA. I also believe in giving your all in everything you

and the performing arts program.

do. I remember Coach Andrews used to do a two-mile run every morning when we went to summer camp.

We always ran at the front because that's what we were trained to do. We always gave it our all in every

23 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

Suki Tallent Levavasseur '06

I

I was an FRA “lifer,” which means I started in Pre-K4 and attended all 14 years. I have a lot of fond memories from my time there, but I think what stands out to me the most are the friendships

I made. Most of my best friends to this day are friends from school.

In fact, my best friend—who I met in second grade at FRA­— recently got married, and I returned to Nashville to be a part of the wedding.

After graduating, I went to the College of Charleston and majored in psychology with a minor in Spanish. My plan was to go into clinical psychology. However, after a couple of internships, I decided to take a break and follow my other passion—travel.

In 2011, I picked up and moved to Argentina. I completed a TEFL certificate to teach English and then decided to just travel as much as I could. For a total of eight months, I backpacked around Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, and Panama. One of the things I loved most about traveling was the people I met while staying in backpacker hostels.

I was surprised at how easy it was to make instant connections. My experiences with both locals and other travelers from around the world, the landscapes I saw, and becoming fluent in Spanish were all once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The world is beautiful, and the more you see, the more you want to see!

My love for traveling started young. I was 13 months old when my mom took me on my first long-haul flight to the Philippines to see her family. While I don’t remember that first trip, we continued

FEATURED ALUMNI

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 24

visiting about every four years. I think that’s probably what sparked my wanderlust and curiosity about the world.

Obviously, you learn a lot in a classroom, but I think you almost learn more from traveling. Experiencing the world firsthand gives you a deeper appreciation of foreign cultures and puts history classes into context.

You learn about yourself, too, especially when traveling independently. Being on your own and going outside of your comfort zone teaches you things that are hard to express in words.

You learn how to communicate effectively in a foreign language and get from point A to point B, trusting that you won’t get ripped off by someone. You develop confidence and resourcefulness, especially when you have no one to rely on but yourself. I also think your cultural and social assumptions are challenged on a daily basis, forcing you to examine the how and why of your personal worldview.

As a 22-year-old solo female traveler at the time, I learned a lot that way. It could be frustrating at times, but nothing beats that overwhelming feeling of complete freedom.

When I returned home from South America, I moved back in with my parents and saved money, and then, instead of applying to graduate school, I had to continue traveling.

I found a program in Spain, sponsored by the Spanish government, that recruited assistant English teachers. All they required was a college degree and an intermediate level of Spanish. So I moved to Spain to teach, and one school year turned into four. I moved to a different city each year and just loved it. While working there, I met my husband who was teaching French on the same assistant stipend program.

After four years in Spain, we got married, and I finally decided to go back to school. I completed a master's degree in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Bristol in England. I thought it would be an interesting career to pursue, but I guess life had other plans.

While finishing my master’s, we came upon an opportunity to buy a kayak rental business in Normandy, France where my husband is from. He had spent his college summers working there and was already familiar with how it operated. We bought half, while his best friend bought the other half, and we’ve been running it for four years now.

25 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

Owning a business in France is not at all what I had

by people I respected on a daily basis. I had role

imagined for myself. I saw myself working in clinical

models in my teachers and thrived in the positive

psychology or clinical neuropsychology, not to mention I

environment that FRA fuels.

didn’t speak a word of French at the time! However, I love working for myself and the fact that I’m outdoors and on

My favorite thing about being a student at FRA was

my feet every day. We definitely do not have a sedentary

the atmosphere. Maybe that goes back to having great

lifestyle. We live in a small village where people come for

friendships, but we enjoyed ourselves. I was with a few

kayaking, biking, and rock climbing.

of my girlfriends recently, and we reminisced on all the fun we had. Maybe you forget what it’s like to be

Our business is seasonal; we operate April through

in a school setting once you're “adulting” and away

September. When we're on season, we work six months

from that, but my experience at FRA is something I will

straight with no days off; and in our peak months of July

always cherish. 

and August, we generally work around 80 hours a week.

It’s tiring, but having the winters off to travel and visit

Suki is the co-owner of Beau Rivage Clécy, a kayak rental business

family makes it worth it!

in France. She attended FRA from 1992-2006. After graduating from FRA, Suki earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the College

Although I had no idea I would own my own business

of Charleston and a master's degree in neuropsychology from the

while I was in school, I definitely value the education I got

University of Bristol.

at FRA. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was surrounded

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 26

THE SPIRIT OF

27 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

SPOTLIGHTS STUDENTS WHO DREAM

STU DENT S W HO DREAM WRITTEN BY

PAX WEST '29 C

Crack of the bat, and I am off to first! If it

Bible a lot more than I used to. Another thing I love about

lands in the outfield, I am on to second and

being at FRA is the theme for the year. A couple of my

possibly third. If there is an error in the infield,

favorites have been “Glow in the dark” and “Storyline.”

I’m headed home. I love baseball. I am super excited for when I get to fifth grade; then I can

I love coming to FRA because I always know I will learn

join the middle school team. When you find your hobby or

something new, and I will have a good time. Also, I know

your passion, you just know that it’s right for you. When you

that I will see all of my classmates and friends. I even know

find it, whether it be art, writing, basketball, or soccer, FRA

that I will get to eat Sage Dining’s delicious lunches. I get to

can help you and make it even more fun.

do PE or outdoor break, plus I will always get to have recess.

I love baseball because when you hit the ball perfectly, you

At FRA, I have been able to challenge myself, especially

don’t even feel it hit the bat. And when you field the ball

in third grade. In third grade, I got to use a website called

perfectly, you feel the thud of the baseball when you scoop

Khan Academy, and I learned negative numbers and

it up and the thud of when it hits the first baseman’s glove.

fractions and how to multiply and divide them. At FRA, I have loved being in Perennial Math and other math groups

FRA has encouraged me by pushing me to my learning limits

with Mrs. Henderson. They have been so much fun and a

and helping me whenever I fail or need help. FRA has been

great challenge.

a great foundation for my learning and friendships. Also, my friends Chace, Seungjoon, and Thomas have encouraged

FRA means so much to me and has taught me so much from

me in sports, academics, and life. They have helped me

kindergarten to fourth grade. 

when I don’t do well on a test. They also help me whenever I have a hard day, and always make it better by the end of

Pax started at FRA in kindergarten and has been a member of the lower

the school day. Even on weekends when we have play dates,

school cross country team and participated in Destination Imagination

they still do the same thing.

Ms. Williams and all of my other teachers have been fun and have also taught me so much. They are kind to me and help me whenever something may be a little too hard. I love being at FRA because of all the friendships, kindness, and also because this is a Christian school. One of my favorite things is chapel. I love the storytelling and how chapels can

and Perennial Math competitions. Pax's sister, Riley, is in the fifth grade at FRA and his mom, Brooke, is a lower school nurse. His fourth grade teacher, Ms. Williams, comments, "Pax is a curious and hardworking student. His enthusiasm for learning is contagious. He is a great friend to his classmates, and his cheerful spirit brings much joy to the FRA community." Outside of school, Pax plays baseball for West Nashville Sports League and Nashville Baseball Academy. In January 2020, Pax was invited to compete in the National Ninja League World Finals in North Carolina.

be interactive. The stories have helped me understand the

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 28

STUDENT S W HO CREAT E WRIT T EN BY

LILY PARIS '22 I

I’m inspired by all kinds of things. I love discovering great music, live theater (Broadway, please come back soon), a new

Instagram or YouTube account featuring art, design, or cool graphics, and, of course, television.

I have always known that I want to do something creative as a career but haven’t nailed down exactly what that might look like. I love being involved in different kinds of art because it gives me a chance to experiment and figure out the best fit for me.

Besides the arts, I am passionate about giving back, especially to organizations that have supported me. I am an ambassador for both Make-A-Wish and Monroe Carell Junior Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I enjoy speaking on their behalf. I’ve had opportunities to speak to small groups, large groups, the Country Music Radio media, the hospital radio-thon, and the television broadcast of the Nashville Christmas parade. Each event gives me

"FRA HAS ALWAYS FELT LIKE A PLACE WHERE I CAN BE MYSELF AND

a chance to help organizations and people that have helped me, and to get an up-close look at careers in the arts I would have never known about otherwise.

When my parents and I started looking at high schools, we instantly noticed the emphasis FRA put on the arts.

FIGURE OUT WHAT’S NEXT

There seemed to be lots of opportunities and variety, and

WITH LOTS OF SUPPORT."

and faculty. I wanted to go to a school where theater was

even more importantly, lots of participation by students just as supported as football, and FRA felt like that kind of place. Even with the pandemic and its restrictions, FRA is working hard to offer students opportunities, but I still can’t wait to get back to “normal” theater productions and shows again.

29 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

STUDENTS WHO CREATE

had a teacher be anything but kind, accommodating, and patient with me. At FRA I feel known and supported.

It is important, especially in the uncertain times we are living in, that we support each other and get excited for each other even when we don’t understand someone else’s talent, point of view, or passion. FRA has always felt like a place where I can be myself and figure out what’s next with lots of support. Being halfway through my junior year in the middle of a pandemic is scary, but I’m grateful to be going through it at a place like FRA.  Lily started attending FRA as a freshman in 2018 and was awarded Freshman Outstanding Student of the year. She is a cancer survivor and has shared her story as the emcee for the Make-A-Wish gala and as a guest speaker at fundraising events like the Chi O Fashion Show at Vanderbilt. At FRA, she actively participates in the upper school service club, and currently serves as the recruitment and promotions chair for National Honor Society. Lily is involved in many aspects of the arts The faculty at FRA totally supports the arts. From my first

community at FRA. Winner of the 2019-20 Theater Tech Award, she has

art class with Dr. Thornton to Mr. Bolen’s encouragement to

been an integral part of drama productions since her freshman year.

get more involved in the productions and the stop motion

Most recently, she helped film and edit the production of “Screen Teens.”

film during the quarantine last spring, they are always offering opportunities and support. I’ve been able to take classes in different areas of the arts and look forward to AP art next year. The teachers and administrators that aren’t part of the art department come to the shows, look at the art in the halls, and show that they value it; and the students do the same. A great example is Coach Dawson knowing my interests and asking me to design a logo for FRAVE one year.

The teachers at FRA want to say yes to whatever the students are passionate about. Last year I wanted to bring the Make-A-Wish Letters to Santa campaign to the middle and upper school. Mr. Casey and Mr. Stabler were open to adding it into an already busy time period, and Coach Flegel helped me work out the logistics. FRA had the highest participation of any school in Middle Tennessee and helped raise funds for kids waiting for wishes.

Just this week, Mr. Kaiser stopped in the art room to look at my latest painting and forwarded me an article about Harry Styles he thought I’d be interested in. And when I have needed help or struggled with a class, I have never

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 30

HYBRID LEARNING The challenges we faced heading into the 2020-21 school year pushed us to combine two distinct educational models into one. For years, we’ve honed our ability to teach effectively in our classrooms, and last spring our faculty developed best practices for teaching online and facilitating classes remotely.

31 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

ACADEMICS FEATURE

"The hybrid learning platform has been great because it has allowed me to stay caught up in all my classes and continue to learn even if I have to stay home due to a possible exposure to the virus. This platform has kept the FRA community healthy and is the reason that FRA is still able to do in-person school."

STEPHEN VICKERS Class of 2021

"I have loved remote learning! It has given many students an amazing option to learn from home during these times. My teachers also work with the Zoom students as if we were in person, which is great. Overall, my experience could not be better."

AVA HAGOOD Class of 2021

This year, we’re committed to being in person as much as possible, but we know that for some families, remaining remote and learning from home is a safer, more appropriate choice. Developing hybrid learning, where teachers are instructing a class in-person while also teaching students at home, has allowed us to differentiate our delivery to best meet the diverse needs of our families.

Every classroom on campus is now outfitted with HD video cameras, classroom microphones, and individual lapel microphones for teachers. Students at home can see and hear their classmates, and faculty can project their screens in the classroom so that students in person can see their peers learning remotely.

exposure or infection. Rather than returning to weeks of make-up work or trying to prepare plans for long-term substitutes, many of our students and teachers have been able to connect live each day, moving toward learning goals and ensuring a highquality experience.

Hybrid learning has presented challenges as well, notably for faculty who now are simultaneously teaching two groups with two different tools. More than ever, the quality of the FRA faculty has been on display. Our teachers have found unique ways to create dynamic experiences in their classrooms and online to optimize the student experience for both in-person and remote learners. ď Ž

Hybrid learning has been a luxury for our families and staff who have had to quarantine due to a COVID-19

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 32

Expanding our students' academic opportunities with

GLOBAL ONLINE ACADEMY BY

DR. JOHN MURRAY, Dean of Academic Affairs

We recently announced an exciting new partnership with Global Online Academy (GOA) for the upcoming semester. GOA is an international consortium of leading independent schools that offers timely and practical professional learning for teachers and rigorous online courses for students. FRA is the first school in Tennessee to join this illustrious list.

By becoming a member school, we can expand course offerings and provide our students the unique opportunity to connect with students from across the country and around the world.

We also are joining a network of leading independent schools that is proactively defining this niche, creating new learning environments, developing a global community, and leveraging technology and modern learning skills to help students connect, share, and learn.

33 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

ACADEMICS FEATURE

ABOUT GOA Global Online Academy is a consortium of over 115 independent schools from around the world. Started by a group of independent schools looking to bring the benefits of online learning to their teachers and students, GOA prepares students for a global future by providing new, modern ways for students to learn and teachers to teach. Member schools are well known for the strengths of their curricula and the excellence of their teaching.

The mission of Global Online Academy is to reimagine learning to empower students and educators to thrive in a globally networked society. They deepen learning through courses that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful in high school, college, career, and life. They coach teachers to think differently about how they design student learning experiences.

They work with educational leaders to ensure they have the strategies and tools to lead innovation and change.

GOA brings together experienced teachers and highly capable students in an interactive, rigorous learning environment. The courses encourage the awakening of new interests and a passion for learning. The classrooms bring together a variety of voices representing the geographic, cultural, and ethnic diversity possible in a global online environment.

GOA imagines a future where all students acquire and practice modern learning skills to be global citizens.

"WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING, AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOA IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO JOIN A GLOBAL LEARNING COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO LEADING INNOVATION AND TEACHING MODERN LEARNERS." – PRENTICE STABLER – ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL

GOA courses count as academic elective credit towards our FRA graduation requirements and will appear on our FRA transcript and be included in students' GPA . GOA courses have similar workload and intensity to courses taken on our campus. Though students will complete work asynchronously, rather than in real-time with all students and teachers gathered simultaneously, students will still actively collaborate on projects and communicate directly with other students and teachers from around the world. Thanks to small class sizes (typically around 20 students), FRA students in GOA courses will continue to benefit from individual attention from teachers and opportunities to actively participate with peers.

This year has taught us the value of gathering together in community to learn and grow. It has also shown us the power of using new tools and technologies to learn and build connections. We are excited to offer these new courses and help our students build valuable skills all while immersed in FRA's warm, supportive community. 

SOURCE www.globalonlineacademy.com

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 34

An Exercise in Goal Setting BY

ALLISON HAMMAT, Director of Counseling

As we’re heading into a new year, it’s time to reflect and set goals for the upcoming months. The truth is, making the resolutions is the easy part. Sticking with them is where it gets tough. If you’ve been in

the habit of making resolutions that you never stick with, you’re not alone. In fact, about 80 percent of people who set New Year’s resolutions are right there with you. Thankfully, you can change that this year! In this article, you will learn how to set intentional goals you can actually achieve.

TAKE TIME TO REFLECT.

Start by setting aside time to reflect on the past year and where you are right now. Think about the

lessons you’ve learned so far, the things you are grateful for, and what needs to change in order to

live better. Self-reflection is so important. It means you’re taking a step back to acknowledge what is going right in your life and change what’s not going so well. This will then help you set better goals for the New Year.

35 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

WELLNESS FEATURE

WE LLN ES S FEAT URE

AS YOU REFLECT, ASK YOURSELF THESE THREE QUESTIONS: 1. What brought you joy last year?

2. What lessons did you learn?

3. What did you accomplish?

Plus, your goals don’t have to be life-altering. Your goals are just things you want to achieve— no matter how big or small. And don’t try to reach too many different goals at the same time. Keep it simple and laser-focused.

Write your goals down.

According to research, you’re more likely to achieve

HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL? Most of us set goals with the mentality of “something is wrong, and I must change it.” You want to lose weight, so you set the goal of going to the gym daily. Been there, done that. Instead, ask yourself this question: How do I want to feel? Maybe you want to feel healthier. Maybe you want to feel at peace with who you are or proud of your work.

One of the reasons why we don’t reach our goals is because they’re not aligned with who we are, how we want to feel, or with the life we truly want to live. Do you really see yourself going to the gym daily? You don’t have to do it just because people you look up to do it. To you, feeling healthy might be practicing yoga twice a week, going on morning walks, or eating more vegetables.

AFTER YOU DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL, BUILD INTENTIONAL GOALS FROM THERE. Decide exactly what you want.

Be clear and specific about what you want to achieve.

Then, write the reason why this goal matters to you.

When you know exactly what you want and why it matters to you, you will be able to overcome the barriers that might get in the way. If you can’t find a good why, it probably means that you don’t really want it or maybe it’s an old dream that doesn’t resonate with

your goals by writing them down. Whether you write them on paper or type them out on your laptop, this will make your goals feel more real and help you stay accountable.

Make your goals achievable.

When setting goals, don’t forget to be realistic with yourself. While it’s great to challenge yourself, it’s important to keep your goals realistic and within reach, otherwise you might end up feeling disappointed.

To make any goal a reality, take consistent action.

Step after step after step. After setting your goals, create an action plan for each. Start by listing 10 to 20 (depending on the complexity of your goal) different ways you can achieve that goal, or the steps you need to take in order to accomplish it. Write anything that comes to mind. This will help you get there.

Now that you’ve read all about intentional goal setting, it’s time to take action and start planning!

Need some inspiration? Check out the questions below to get your wheels turning.

What aspects of my life am I really happy with and why?

What do I want to change or improve? Why? What do I want to be known for?

What would I be doing if I was not afraid?

What do I want to learn?

What do I value most in this life?

How do I want to help my friends, family, and community?

you anymore.

Visit www.franklinroadacademy.com/4700 for additional wellness resources.

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 36

arts

37 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS

VISUAL ART SHOW | Lower, middle, and upper school students

showcased their visual artwork this fall with a series of virtual art shows.

Visit www.franklinroadacademy.com/4700 to view the gallery.

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 38

39 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS

FOURTH GRADE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS SHOW | The full fourth grade visual and performing arts show video can be viewed online at www.franklinroadacademy.com/4700.

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 40

The Show Will Go On: REIMAGINING THE ARTS BY

DR. CINDY THORNTON

Director of Fine and Performing Arts

One of the unique aspects of an FRA education is the philosophy of educating the whole child. This means supporting students not only in their journey in the classroom but creating opportunities for them to shine in areas outside of the classroom.

the direction of Ross Bolen. The lower school fourth grade visual and performing arts show moved to a similar format for our families to view, and I know you will enjoy seeing photos of those students’ work in this issue.

This year has challenged us in many ways, but also provided new opportunities to rethink how we transform the “old norm” to a new platform. We realize the importance of allowing students the opportunity to safely continue pursuing their passions such as athletics and the arts by reimagining how these experiences look for the 2020-21 school year.

Additionally, this year’s middle school musical, Annie, will be presented in video format. Students will record their songs to bring this beloved Broadway show to life for our school community.

The fine and performing arts department is excited to continue to offer many of our events virtually this year. Our upper school drama this fall was presented as a movie instead of the traditional on-stage live performance. Students selected scenes from classic blockbuster films and had the opportunity to experience shooting a movie with lighting, sound, and editing under

41 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

We are proud to be continuing the tradition of offering such events, even in the midst of a pandemic. Though our shows, concerts, and Christmas events will have taken on new formats this year, the show will go on. As the year progresses, we will continue to reassess the best way to safely bring these events to our community.

Virtually or live, we are thrilled to be able to continue to support our students and share their talents with you this year. 

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS

Visit www.franklinroadacademy.com/4700 to watch the upper school drama.

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 42

Erin Nash VISUAL ARTIST, CLASS OF 2021

I

I'm inspired by art. When I see pieces that have strong, important underlying elements about life, love, passion, etc., it excites me to think about and understand the motive of the piece. I am currently in AP art, and I wouldn’t be in this class if I didn’t enjoy it or wasn’t qualified for it, but what I love more than the class itself is the environment. I love collaborating with the few people in my class, discussing pieces we are organizing and what we want to share through our art. This excitement and passion inspires me to create my own art. Without the people in my class—and Dr. Thornton—I wouldn’t have the same mindset or ability to create to my best ability.

I am passionate about my art, and I want it to display the beauty that is and should be represented by women of color.

After a heavily chaotic year, I realized so much about my potential and will to create art that challenges social beauty standard norms. I want to highlight the beauty of women of color through my art and maybe one person who sees my art will feel this same passion as well.

My goal is for my community at FRA as well as the greater community surrounding me to recognize these cultural beauty standards and see the world from a different perspective.

After attending FRA for almost 13 years, I have seen the diversity in our community grow over the years. Connecting with someone of another race challenges a person to understand another reality and environment they may have not been aware of. FRA has pushed me to love and understand people from another background, race, religion, or gender. This perspective is imperative as I educate myself and learn to accept others who don’t have the same reality as I do.

Because of that, my art is solely based on demonstrating the beauty of women of color through culture. A lot of these ideas have stemmed from the environment at FRA, and without this understanding or challenge from this school, I don’t think I would have the same artistic mindset as I do now.

I have found a lot of care and support from the FRA community, which makes us more unique than any other school. FRA has given me the ability to take multiple art classes as a pathway to strengthen my drawing and painting skills. Before taking AP art, I took three classes to ensure I had all the tools and resources I needed for future art classes. The support from FRA has been simply giving me the tools I need to succeed.

43 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

The art classes such as ceramics, studio art, choir, band, and drama, are some of the best programs. I have had the chance to take some of these courses—art, ceramics, and choir—and I have learned a lot about myself. Without these programs at FRA, I would not be the same person I am today. Art, more specifically, has helped me understand myself on a whole new level. I am thankful for the resources FRA has given me, even outside of the artistic realm, that will benefit me in the years to come.  Erin started attending FRA in kindergarten. She is a member of the volleyball team, upper school service club, 4680, upper school choir, and the 12-Year Club. "As Erin's teacher, I have enjoyed watching her grow throughout the years, but also love the conversations where she articulates her work and how art has impacted her as a person. I am very proud of this young lady," Cindy Thornton said.

“Our perception of beauty is guided

by cultural influences and ideas, which can be incorporated through fashion.

I created this piece to highlight the beauty of headwraps for women in African culture. The colors show

the striking and elegant beauty head wraps embody. I chose the specific

background to focus the eye on the

refined and tasteful head wrap, which I presented in a three-dimensional field.

I love learning about different cultures, especially African culture because

the customs of head wraps highlight

beauty for women that should be more modernized in today’s society.”

FranklinRoadAcademy.com | 44

S PO RTS ACCOLADE S FA L L R E C A P

4X STATE CHAMPIONS

GIRLS GOLF

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ATHLETICS

GIRLS GOLF TEAM CAPTURES FOURTH STRAIGHT STATE TITLE

BY

JOSH FLEGEL

Head Varsity Golf Coach For five FRA seniors, a historic run came to an end on October 13 at Willowbrook Golf Club in Manchester, the site of the 2020 TSSAA Division II Golf State Championships. Once again, both teams had qualified for State by winning their regional tournaments.

The boys were playing in their third straight State tournament and the girls were competing in their tenth State Championship, seeking their fourth straight title.

STATE CHAMPIONS

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Both teams had their work cut out for them during the final round. Struggling into the wind, the boys fell back on the opening nine holes, but senior Paul Sposato created a bright spot, carding a season best round of 91 after a strong performance on his opening nine holes. George Felker also continued his steady play and worked his way up the leaderboard. The back nine saw the Panthers rally, led by senior Timothy Pinkston who used a birdie on hole six and an eagle on hole seven to card a 76 and place fourth in the event, making him the first All-State finisher since Josh Holtschlag in 2018. The boys team eventually fell back into fourth place under the tough conditions, and George Felker climbed into thirteenth place on the strength of his final round 76. The male seniors finished their career with two third-place state finishes (2018, 2019) and a fourth place state finish (2020), two regional titles (2018, 2020), and a district title (2019). The team also won six regular season events over the past three seasons, making the three-year run by these seniors statistically the best in school history.

TZUNAMI POLITO

The girls team made a pact after Monday’s round to not give their title away. If someone was going to take it from them, they would have to fight for it. Paired with Northpoint and Providence, the ladies came out focused.

A birdie on the first hole by Emily Wilson closed the Northpoint lead to one shot. By the time anchor leg Tzunami Polito parred her fourth hole, FRA had retaken

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the lead. Wilson and Polito led the charge as the Panthers roared to a seven-shot lead behind Wilson birdies on 11 and 13 and by big pars by Polito on the tough twelfth and thirteenth holes. The win was eventually sealed by the defending individual champ Polito when she ran in a birdie on 17. Polito was able to fight off the pain of a previous inury to shoot a second 79, one of only four rounds in the 70s on the girls’ side, and finish her amazing career in fourth place. Nina Morgan also rounded out an excellent first state tournament with a round of 88 to finish eleventh at 166. However, the day belonged to Wilson, who shot an incredible round of one under par 71 (best of the day by six shots) to capture her first career State title with a two-round total of 145.

Wilson lapped the field, winning by seven shots and leading her team to a commanding twelve-shot win and a fourth-straight State title. Wilson became the

sixth female golfer to win an individual state title (Lance ’05 and ’06, Johnson ’12, Page ’13, Chan ’15 and ’18, Polito ’19).

Polito will graduate FRA as one of the most accomplished athletes in school history. In her four years, her team has won State four times making her the only FRA athlete to ever start on a state championship team in each year of high school. In addition, her teams won four regional titles, three district titles, and 10 other regular season events.

Individually, Polito won the 2019 TSSAA State Tournament, was runner-up in 2017 and 2018, and finished fourth in 2020, making her and former teammate Angelina Chan the only FRA golfers to finish All-State in each of their high school seasons.

Polito also won two individual district titles, two regional titles, and four other regular season tournaments. She has committed to Lipscomb University for her college career. 

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL EMILY WILSON TSSAA Division II-A Women's Golf Individual State Champion

TZUNAMI POLITO TSSAA Division II-A Women's Golf Individual 4th Runner-up

BOYS INDIVIDUAL TIMOTHY PINKSTON

TIMOTHY PINKSTON

TSSAA Division II-A Men's Golf Individual 4th Runner-up

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VOLLEYBALL

JESSIE HUDDLESTON

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What a run for the Panther volleyball team! The volleyball team advanced all the way to the State Championships falling to The King’s Academy in the Elite 8 of the State Championships. The girls finished both district and region runner-up after they rolled to a 10-0 regular season district finish. This put them in the number two spot headed into the DII Class A Middle Region Finals. The Panthers defeated both Friendship Christian and Goodpasture Christian School (the eventual State Champion) to advance to the region championship at Battle Ground Academy. Here, the Panthers fell short by a score of 2-3 in a fiercely contested championship match. In the State Championships, the Panthers took on St. George's at home and handled them quickly in a 3-0 victory. After this victory the team eventually lost to The King’s Academy next round.

EMILY GARDNER

"This season will be remembered for many years to come," volleyball head coach Dave DeRocher said. "Each player responded to unforeseen challenges with great perseverance, tenacity, and love. Coach Kat Hutson and I are forever grateful to God for the opportunity to coach this year. We're thankful to all of the parents, managers, and the FRA family for their tremendous support."

Seniors Khalia Sanders, Jessie Huddleston, and Emily Gardner earned All-District honors, and both Gardner and Huddleston were named All-Region. Jessie Huddleston and Emily Gardner earned district awards for their play this season. The team will lose five impressive seniors and will look to build and grow in the off-season. Huge congratulations to this group of seniors and all that they have accomplished over these four years.

"I'm proud of the growth and leadership they showed both on the court and off," DeRocher said.

TEAM

TSSAA Division II-A State Championship Elite 8

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL

EMILY GARDNER All-District Tournament Team and All-Region

JESSIE HUDDLESTON All-District Regular Season, All-District Tournament Team, and All-Region KHALIA SANDERS All-District Regular Season

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CROSS COUNTRY WILL BRAAM

TSSAA Division II-A Cross Country State Championship Qualifier

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"This season was a different year for sports as a whole," head cross country coach, Lisa Zenner said. "Our team was able to come together in an entirely different

way. It was a struggle at first, but by the end we learned to work together and pick each other up. No doubt it helped us achieve what we were able to this season."

Both teams were pleased with how their overall season went. They improved greatly throughout the season, many of the runners set their personal records, and several runners improved at almost every competition, which is a direct result of how hard these runners were working at practice.

"We were thankful to have a season after the spring track and field season was canceled. This year has had many challenges, and we know that we are stronger now because of it," assistant cross country coach, Courtney Gilreath said.

Will Braam and Erin Betty led the team at the Region cross country meet with confidence and resilience. We are proud of the them for rising to the occasion during this pandemic. Braam qualified for the State meet with his sixth-place individual finish at Region. Braam has run at the State cross country meet all four years of upper school. Betty began competing with the upper school cross country team in eighth grade. She led the girls with team spirit and high energy at the Region meet.

Betty and Braam will both be greatly missed next year, but we’re looking forward to working with some of our young runners. They have shown great talent and ability to take on the leadership roles. We wish Will Braam all the best as he competes in cross country and track and field at the next level at Rhodes College in Memphis.

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FOOTBALL 53 | 4700 Fall/Winter 2020

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"The football season of 2020 was unlike any other," Bill Whittemore, varsity football head coach, said. "Every way we turned, we had obstacles to overcome. With that being said, I couldn’t have been more pleased with the continued response of perseverance from our coaches and players. The amount of unity and leadership that was needed this summer and fall was heightened given the circumstances. I am grateful for the character of our team and support from our community as we never lost focus of the mission to create an environment where boys can learn to belong and matter as men in Christ.

If there was ever a year that forced us to focus on God’s timing and perseverance, this was the year. If we can graduate our student athletes knowing and walking with the Lord, there is no greater marker for success.

And for that, I am thankful."

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GIRLS SOCCER TAYLOR SMITH All-District

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"This year's varsity girls soccer team was one for the books," Becky Knight, girls soccer head coach, said. "Their season was defined by perseverance and resilience. We started training back in June, not even knowing if we’d get to play a game with all that 2020 was bringing our way.

The girls never stopped battling, never stopped loving, never stopped striving for excellence, and through it all, they remained insanely positive. I couldn’t have asked for a better group than this one. Our seniors lead well and set the bar high for our underclassmen. I am excited about the future of this program. Integrity, courage, and excellence is what we strive for, and it’s my goal to see every girl graduate from the program living out those qualities.”

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EVENTS | HOMECOMING WEEK

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HOMECOMING WEEK

HOMECOMING WEEK CELEBRATION | Students pre-kindergarten through grade 12 celebrated homecoming week with themed dress days, games and activities, movie night on The Hill, senior greeting, and a parade. Our theme this year was "We're All In This Together."

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EVENTS | HALLOWEEN

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HALLOWEEN

TRICK-OR-TREAT | Middle school students decorated tables with their

advisory groups and hosted a trick-or-treat event for our lower school students in celebration of Halloween.

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EVENTS | CHRISTMAS WEEK

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CHRISTMAS WEEK

CHRISTMAS WEEK | Christmas costumes filled our campus throughout the week as students showed their holiday spirit with themed dress days. For our Come See Santa event, families were invited to campus for a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt, holiday cookie treats, light displays, and for pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

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A UNIFYING SYMBOL THE HISTORY BEHIND THE GIFT FROM THE CLASS OF 2019

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The class of 2019 gifted the panther statue that now sits behind the Weicker Center, leading up to the Hill. Known as a class with an

abundance of school spirit, the class of 2019 showed up proudly to athletic and artistic events, supporting each other and building a strong bond within their class.

When considering how they’d like be remembered—often classes will give a donation—the class of 2019 decided to give a tangible symbol that would represent their class’s personality. Because their group had been so connected and supportive of one another, they contributed a panther to FRA’s campus as a unifying symbol.

The student council started the project while the class raised every dollar that it cost to get the panther designed. They found the sculptor in China, drew up the specs, researched panthers at other institutions, and figured out exactly what they wanted it to look like.

“I am appreciative that our class was the group to raise the money and provide this gift because it’s emblematic to the character developed while at FRA ,” former student body president, Tashinga Vhumisai ’19 said. “Everyone in our class did not get to experience the new Weicker Center, but we were all, nevertheless, enthusiastic to contribute to it without ever

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FEATURE STORY

garnering the benefits. There is beauty in that this

class was mindful that every senior class leaves

new epicenter of FRA has components of the class

a legacy, and they wanted to leave a legacy that

of 2019.”

they would be proud of. This is something that will last and people will recognize. It will have a

They did all of the leg work themselves,

positive impact on the campus for years to come,

negotiating the price and communicating with the

which is representative of the class of 2019.”

leadership team in order to confirm their blessing to raise money throughout the year through

“This statue allows a physical manifestation

dances, candy cane sales around Christmas, and

for a focal point to which our class can come

roses on Valentine's day. This class fundraised

together,” Vhumisai said. “Not only that, it

until they had collected enough resources to

generates a small atmosphere of community

purchase this panther, and it took about a year to

where groups—associates, advisories, and

install.

alumni—can gather, take photos, and hopefully establish traditions that future classes can share

“I love that they purchased the panther when the

with one another.” 

Weicker Center was still under construction,” Prentice Stabler, associate head of school, said.

“Now that this building is complete, it’s a cool symbol to have a panther right outside as you move from the Weicker Center up to the Hill. This

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ALUMNI

CLASS NOTES JACOB JEZIORO '13 Jezioro was a three-year Tennessee All-State Jazz Band and Orchestra bassist and an eight-year member of the FRA band program. He earned his B.M. at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Upon graduation from IU, Jacob was awarded his Masters in Contemporary Performance at the Berklee College of Music, Global Jazz Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.

EMILY MORGAN '16 Morgan recently started a new job at the Tennessee Department of Transportation as a Transportation Project Specialist with the Asset Management Department.

MELODIE MALONE '05 This year, Malone performed with her group, Passion, at The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, a 98-yearold tradition that started with President Calvin Coolidge that takes place just south of the White House. Passion has sold over two million units and released their first Christmas album this year.

Photo courtesy of Passion Music

LAURA MATTHEWS '04 Belmont University welcomed Matthews as their head softball coach.

Matthews has coached at Wright State, Wittenberg University, and Lake Forest.

Photo courtesy of Belmont University

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ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

LORENA SILVA '19 Silva '19 released an extended play called Springhouse.

"I've always loved singing and playing since I was little, but I used to have horrible stage fright. My sophomore year, I was in Mr. Chandler's Jazz Band when he suggested we do 'Girl from Ipanema' at our concert. He told me he'd love for me to sing it because of my Brazilian roots. I fought him hard on it because I was so scared to sing in front of anyone. But he ended up convincing me, and I never stopped performing after that," Silva said.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL MARK J. WINKER '99 He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July and assumed command at Ft. Leavenworth in October. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and various other awards, campaign, and service ribbons. He is the recipient of the Combat Action Badge and a member of the Honorable Order of St Barbara.

WEDDINGS Annadele Barnes '16 married Will Benson on August 2, 2020.

Stella Kamm ’09 married Kyle Mallinak on July 25, 2020.

IN MEMORY Chris Culp '87 passed away July 1, 2020.

Bradford J. Smith '01 passed away on October 14, 2020.

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PICTURED / Top to bottom, left to right: Margaret Rose Wheat, Abigail Raven Boyd, Remy Cameron Premo, Paloma Wren Allen, and Palmer Eloise Wharton, Avery Joy Hall, and Brooks Ezra Hall.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS LAUREN (PAINTER) WHEAT ’02 welcomed

CHANCE ALLEN ’92 welcomed

LAURA (PENNINGTON) HALL '08 welcomed

Paloma Wren Allen on February 10, 2020.

Avery Joy Hall and Brooks Ezra Hall on April 7, 2020.

Margaret Rose Wheat on July 27, 2020.

HUNTER (SCHLEICHER) PREMO ’12 and CAMERON PREMO ’10 welcomed

Palmer Eloise Wharton on December 3, 2020.

BALLARD C. BOYD ’00 welcomed Abigail Raven Boyd on August 4, 2020.

Remy Cameron Premo on June 28, 2020.

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JOE WHARTON '08 welcomed

LEGAC Y FAM ILIES

WELCOMING OUR NEW LEGACY FAMILIES We are honored to have so many of our alumni creating a legacy for their families here at Franklin Road Academy. This year, we welcomed 15 new legacy students:

ELLA GRACE BEASLEY (Garrett Beasley '96)

WYATT AND OLIVIA CAIN (Ryan Cain '96) (Courtney Felber Cain '95)

HEATH CARPENTER (Savannah White Carpenter '09)

CHARLOTTE ANN AND LAINEY GIVEN (Carley Tucker Given '00)

THOMAS, ROBERT, AND OLIVIA LOWN (Katie Tomlinson Lown '95)

BROWN PEWITT (Laing McCullough '01)

JODY PIERCE (John '89 and Amber Parker Pierce '90)

MAX ROBINSON (Jeff Robinson '80)

WAYLON AND MIRE WIGGS (Jon Wiggs '01) PICTURED

THOMAS WOODARD (Tom Woodard '79)

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WHY WE GIVE THE BRADFORD FAMILY

Will, Sara Elizabeth, Lily Grace ’23, Liam ’25, Annabelle ’27, and Burke

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DONOR STORY

DONOR STOR Y

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We moved to Nashville in 2012. When

made friends across a wide group of people. The other

our oldest daughter, Lily Grace, was

parents around us are thoughtful, encouraging, and

in fourth grade, we wanted to start

supportive of each of our kids.

looking at private schools for middle

school and high school. As we talked to our friend,

In the mornings, our kids are the ones pushing us to get

who's now head of admissions at McCallie School, they

out the door sooner, and that's always a good feeling.

said the school they were watching in Nashville was

The kids want to get to school, and they want to stay

Franklin Road Academy and told us we should look

late. We’re at FRA because we want our kids to obtain a

into it. We toured, met with Prentice Stabler and Ryan

world-class education. In the six years we’ve been here,

Harris, and we knew, based on the people leading the

we’ve seen the school continue to invest and rethink the

school, that this was the place for us.

curriculum. They’re always raising the bar.

From the beginning, one of the things we loved about

Even though FRA is growing, it’s still small enough to

FRA was the education—the development of the whole

immediately see the impact of every dollar. They're

child and not just one singular strong suit of theirs.

working hard to improve the learning experience for our

Obviously all four of our children are different, but

students in real time. It's important to us to give back to

the mission of the school is to bring out the best in

FRA because it costs money to run a world-class school,

the kids in all areas, not just one. FRA takes it upon

and you have to have funds to constantly be innovating,

themselves to develop their students’ people skills,

whether that be a robotics lab, a weight room, or a

discussion skills, and critical thinking. Across the

special curriculum.

board—whether in academics, sports, arts, or service— there is distinctive development going on at a high

The intangible piece of it, to us, is the importance of

level.

showing our support by giving back, whether financially, through time, or through talent. When we care about an

We love that FRA encourages kids to take

organization, we pour ourselves into it, and that's what

responsibility for themselves. Whether it’s academically,

makes it a special place. 

socially, athletically, or artistically, there's a big push to foster independence. It's a special environment for us, as parents, to feel welcome and know our children are being welcomed with open arms too. Having three kids at FRA, and in three different grades, we've

"We love that FRA encourages kids to take responsibility for

themselves. Whether it’s academically, socially, athletically, or

artistically, there's a big push to foster independence. It's a special environment for us, as parents, to feel welcome and know our children are being welcomed with open arms too."

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FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY

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4700 Franklin Pike Nashville, TN 37220

Artwork created by legacy student Vaughn Graham '29

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