LEAD Public Schools announces Dr. Ricki Gibbs as its new CEO

Dr. Ricki Gibbs (Photo by LEAD Public Schools)

Nashville public charter school operator LEAD Public Schools announced the appointment of Dr. Ricki Gibbs to serve as its next chief executive officer, effective June 1, 2025. The move coincides with existing CEO Dwayne Tucker’s decision to continue serving Tennessee State University as interim president and not return to LEAD for the 2025/26 school year.

Dr. Gibbs came to LEAD in 2023 to serve as head of schools after completing a high-profile tenure turning around Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Warner Elementary. According to a news release sent to the Tennessee Firefly, Gibbs helped LEAD Brick Church double its performance during his first year with the charter operator and spearheaded the establishment of LEAD’s first elementary school, LEAD Southeast Elementary.

Gibbs has been serving as the charter operator’s co-CEO since December. Charter schools are free public schools operated by a non-profit entity under a “charter” with a school district or the state.

“Dr. Gibbs' proven leadership and deep commitment to student success make him the ideal choice to lead LEAD Public Schools into its next chapter,” said LEAD Public Schools Board Chair Mike Honious. “His track record of driving significant growth and his vision for expanding our impact are truly inspiring. The board has full confidence in his ability to build upon LEAD's foundation and propel even more students forward in Nashville.”

LEAD founder Jeremy Kane brought the charter operator to Nashville in 2007 by establishing LEAD Academy with an initial fifth and sixth-grade class. Next fall, LEAD will be operating six schools serving roughly 2100 students in grades K-12.

On the most recently released state testing results, two of those schools outperformed every comparable district-run school in their cluster, and two more outperformed half of the comparable district-run schools in their cluster on every subject. LEAD Neely’s Bend is not a part of Metro Nashville Public Schools but it also outperformed every comparable middle school in every subject.

LEAD Public Schools additionally announced three other key leadership changes for the 2025-26 school year.

LEAD Neely’s Bend principal Dominique Smith will become the new head of schools, overseeing LEAD Cameron, LEAD Neely’s Bend, and LEAD Southeast Elementary. Former LEAD Brick Church Principal Kathryn McKinzie will serve as the new principal at LEAD Neely’s Bend, LEAD Southeast Middle Assistant Principal Taylor Bruner will be the new principal at LEAD Cameron.