Meet Eric Dailey, Executive Director of Rocketship Tennessee

We are excited to introduce Eric Dailey as the new Executive Director of Rocketship Public Schools Tennessee! Eric brings nearly 15 years of experience in the education sector as a teacher, principal, and nonprofit executive to this pivotal role. He will lead our three school communities in Nashville, which serve more than 1,500 Rocketeers.

Eric is an accomplished education leader with a proven track record of improving student outcomes and shaping system-wide strategies. Most recently, he served as Managing Partner at TNTP, overseeing a $20 million consulting portfolio impacting more than half a million students across more than 40 state and district departments of education in the Southeast. Before that, he was Vice President and Interim Executive Director at Teach For America Nashville-Chattanooga, where he expanded the organization’s impact and built strong partnerships across Middle and East Tennessee. Eric began his career as a middle school literacy teacher and later served as an assistant principal and principal at both elementary and secondary schools.

Eric’s approach to leadership and community is deeply aligned with Rocketship’s mission. Rooted in collaboration and coalition building, he believes parents, caregivers, and teachers should play active roles in shaping education. As he puts it, “Those closest to the challenges we face in education hold many of the solutions we seek.” This belief stems from his own upbringing in the Deep South, where he witnessed communities rally around education initiatives, and from his early career experiences in rural Arkansas.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Eric graduated from the North Little Rock School District in central Arkansas. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Rhodes College and a Master of Education in Education Leadership from the University of Southern California. Eric is a national Truman scholar and engaged in ongoing doctoral research focused on how governing systems in education can drive meaningful change. His strategic mindset and unwavering optimism make him an exceptional leader for our region.

Please join us in welcoming Eric to Rocketship Public Schools Tennessee. We are excited about the vision, experience, and dedication he brings to our community!

Published on December 18, 2024