Teaching & Learning
The mission of Teaching and Learning is to provide leadership that creates an environment conducive to high quality educational experiences for all learners.
In the Franklin Special District, the division of Teaching and Learning maintains a deliberate focus on research-based practices and a strong commitment to individualized and personalized instructional experiences which challenge each student, including special populations with special needs in inclusive or general-education classrooms. This commitment extends to the district’s parents, faculty, staff, and school/district administrators through high-quality, on-going, professional learning experiences and resources that support the district’s vision of Excellence in Teaching and Learning for All and make Franklin Special District distinctly different from other school districts.
Teaching and Learning Organizational Structure and Chart
Mary Decker, Ed.D., Associate Director of Schools for Teaching and Learning
Faith Maxwell, Administrative Assistant
205 Eddy Lane
Franklin, TN 37064
615-794-6624
Meet the Team
See the T & L Organizational Structure tab to the left for this content in a listed format.
Teaching and Learning Spotlight Blog
Dr. Mary Decker, Associate Director of Schools for Teaching and Learning
In May 2025, Johnson Elementary School was officially designated by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) as a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) School. This is a five-year designation. Incredibly, Johnson Elementary is the only school among 70+ in Williamson County with this designation!
![woman sitting ion pilot seat on simulator with students on both sides]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1749581809/fssdorg/emqcqultzqgzphlrgp7o/IMG_9142.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1749581809/fssdorg/emqcqultzqgzphlrgp7o/IMG_9142.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1749581809/fssdorg/emqcqultzqgzphlrgp7o/IMG_9142.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1749581809/fssdorg/emqcqultzqgzphlrgp7o/IMG_9142.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1749581809/fssdorg/emqcqultzqgzphlrgp7o/IMG_9142.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1749581809/fssdorg/emqcqultzqgzphlrgp7o/IMG_9142.jpg","width":2200}])
Dr. Mary Decker, Associate Director of Schools for Teaching and Learning
As the 2025-26 year draws to a close, we are thrilled to report that the class has been extremely well-received and popular (two sections were offered at Freedom Middle and one at Poplar Grove Middle), and there is no limit in sight as to what our current and future aviation learners can achieve.
![textbooks on a shelf in varying colors]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743022224/fssdorg/ysg9wl7ov7sg8klouex7/sciencelabstudent.webp","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743022224/fssdorg/ysg9wl7ov7sg8klouex7/sciencelabstudent.webp","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743022224/fssdorg/ysg9wl7ov7sg8klouex7/sciencelabstudent.webp","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1743022224/fssdorg/ysg9wl7ov7sg8klouex7/sciencelabstudent.webp","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743022224/fssdorg/ysg9wl7ov7sg8klouex7/sciencelabstudent.webp","width":1456}])
Dr. Mary Decker, Associate Director of Schools for Teaching and Learning
Tennessee is in the midst of adopting a new K-12 textbook(s)/resources for science, so now is an opportune time to revisit the textbook adoption process as a whole.
Notables
