Tocqueville Panel Discussion: Third-Grade Reading and Why It Matters

Join us to hear why children’s success is the greatest investment we can make in our community.

PANELISTS:

• Dr. Candice McQueen, President, Lipscomb University; United Way of Greater Nashville Board Trustee
• James Pond, M.A., President, Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation
• Jason Golden, Superintendent, Williamson County Schools

Parking will be available in the Shinn Center Parking Lot and the West Garage.

About Dr. Candice McQueen

Dr. Candice McQueen began her tenure as the 18th president of Lipscomb University on Sept. 7, 2021. In her first six months in office, Dr. McQueen launched the Lipscomb Impact 360 strategic planning campaign, visited with alumni in several cities throughout the country as part of her Be a Light tour, started the President’s Student Advisory Council and inspired the Lipscomb community to bring their best as they serve students every day.

She also oversaw Lipscomb’s largest single day of giving in university history. Dr. McQueen has more than 20 years’ experience in education spanning classroom teaching, higher education leadership, state government and nonprofit sectors. Prior to her appointment as president, she served as CEO of the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching (NIET), overseeing substantial growth of NIET’s work, increasing service revenue and partnerships by almost 40 percent in three years, receiving more than $50 million in new multi-year federal and state grants and significantly increasing NIET’s national profile and influence on improving educator effectiveness to ensure every student achieves.

A native of Clarksville, Tenn., McQueen and her husband, Andy, a Lipscomb graduate and former member of the men’s basketball team, have two children, Abigail, a Lipscomb University student, and Henry, a Lipscomb Academy student. The McQueens are members of Hillsboro Church of Christ in Nashville.

About James Pond

James Pond has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. As president of Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), he develops long-term strategies for strengthening early literacy in Tennessee, partnering with organizations to amplify innovative programs for children statewide. His leadership role unites the efforts of the GELF team, more than 700 statewide volunteers, corporate partners, municipal and state government and other public and private organizations.

A native of Antioch, Calif., James served as executive director of Veteran’s PATH, an organization that helps combat veterans find health and healing. He spent 12 years working with organizations combatting sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. After serving eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he worked 10 years in corporate America before beginning his nonprofit career.

James earned a master’s degree in 2004 at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He and his wife Athena have three adult children and two grandchildren and live in Nashville.

About Jason Golden

Jason has been with the district since 2006, most recently serving as deputy superintendent from 2012 to 2019. After growing up in a family of educators, Jason obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife Shelli have three children.