Resources

Delve into research on current education issues and gain a deeper understanding of policies that help students succeed.

A woman reading a report
Education-to-Career Pathways
Teachers & Leaders
Innovative School Models & Approaches
Data Insights
TN2030 Goals
See All Topics
Students engaged in classroom activities; colorful design elements frame the scene with the text "Moving Every Student Forward" below.

2026 State of Education in Tennessee: Moving Every Student Forward

VIEW FEATURED RESOURCE

Perspectives & Press

Get insights and updates on the fast-moving education landscape from our expert team.

Kids sitting at their desks in a classroom
Perspectives
Read SCORE’s blog to get insights on key education topics.
Press
Stay up to date on the latest news surrounding SCORE and Tennessee education.
Three children explore nature with magnifying glass and curiosity. "Connecting the Dots" environmental graphic.

Connecting the Dots: The Environment’s Impact on Student Success

How is student success — both in today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s careers — impacted by an ever-evolving environment? On Sept. 4, 2025, SCORE hosted Connecting the Dots: The Environment’s Impact on Student Success, an event that focused on the critical yet largely undiscussed intersection of education, the environment, student achievement, and workforce opportunity. 

About this Event

Nearly 150 educators, researchers, and community leaders gathered at Connecting the Dots: The Environment’s Impact on Student Success to explore how environmental factors — from extreme weather to workforce shifts — are shaping student learning, health, and opportunity. 

Our Connecting the Dots memo captures six key takeaways from the symposium:

  1. Extreme weather events are negatively impacting students.
  2. Schools are uniquely positioned to lead climate solutions.
  3. Nature-based learning supports student success.
  4. We must prepare students for a workforce shaped by environmental change.
  5. A focus on environmental considerations in policy and practice strengthens Tennessee’s economy, culture, and quality of life.
  6. Cross-sector, nonpartisan collaboration is essential.

Created to continue the conversation beyond the event, our Connecting the Dots memo captures speaker insights, key data points, and practical next steps to benefit students, our workforce, and the planet.

Read the memo

EVENT RECORDINGS

WATCH THE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST 

Opening Remarks, Opening Panel, and Spark Sessions

Remarks: Sen. Bill Frist, M.D., Founder & Chairman of SCORE and Global Board Chair of The Nature Conservancy 

Opening Panel: From Classrooms to Careers — How Environment Shapes Opportunity
Panelists:

  • Jonathan Klein, Co-Founder & CEO, UndauntedK12
  • Taj Ahmad Eldridge, Managing Director, Climate Innovation, Jobs For the Future
  • Ximena (Xi) Marquez, Associate Director of Education & Outreach, The Nature Conservancy
  • Moderator: Sen. Bill Frist  

Spark Sessions: Innovation at the Intersection of Education and the Environment  
Speakers:

  • Jay Renfro, Founder & Principal, Tennessee Nature Academy
  • David Jaffe, Founder & Chair, SubjectToClimate
  • Introductions: Grace Olson, Student, Sewanee: The University of the South

 

Keynote Address: The Changing Environment and Student Health: A Call to Action for All of Us

Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health  

 

Storytelling Roundtable & Closing Panel

Storytelling Roundtable: Students, Sustainability, and a Thriving Tennessee   
Panelists:

  • Chelsea Carpenter, Executive Director, Tennessee FFA Foundation
  • Mike Butler, CEO, Tennessee Wildlife Federation
  • Michelle Goodson, Director, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) STEM Accelerator  
  • Moderator: David Mansouri, President & CEO, SCORE 

Closing Panel: Cross-Sector Collaboration in the Volunteer State 
Panelists

  • Bryan Kerns, Fire Science Teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tenn., and 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year
  • Laurel Creech, Tennessee State Director, The Nature Conservancy
  • Dalya Qualls White, Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
  • Moderator: Aleah Guthrie, Vice President of Policy & Government Relations at SCORE 

PRESENTATION SLIDES

View presentation slides from the event

FULL LIST OF SPEAKERS

  • Sen. Bill Frist, M.D., Founder & Chairman, SCORE, & Chairman, The Nature Conservancy
  • Mike Butler, CEO, Tennessee Wildlife Federation
  • Chelsea Carpenter, Executive Director, Tennessee FFA Foundation
  • Laurel Creech, Tennessee State Director, The Nature Conservancy
  • Taj Ahmad Eldridge, Managing Director, Climate Innovation at Jobs For the Future
  • Michelle Goodson, Director, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) STEM Accelerator
  • David Jaffe, Founder & Chair, SubjectToClimate
  • Bryan Kerns, Fire Science Teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tenn., & 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year
  • Jonathan Klein, Co-Founder & CEO, UndauntedK12
  • Ximena Marquez, Associate Director of Education & Outreach, The Nature Conservancy
  • Grace Olson, Student, Sewanee: The University of the South
  • Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health
  • Jay Renfro, Founder & Principal, Tennessee Nature Academy
  • Dalya Qualls White, Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

EVENT AGENDA

Connecting the Dots: The Environment’s Impact on Student Success 

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025  |  9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. CT  
Noah Liff Opera Center, Nashville, TN 

9:30 A.M. | Registration

10:00 A.M. | Welcome and Opening Remarks from Sen. Bill Frist, M.D., Founder & Chairman, SCORE, and Global Board Chair, The Nature Conservancy 

10:10 A.M. | Opening Panel: From Classrooms to Careers — How Environment Shapes Opportunity 

  • Jonathan Klein, Co-Founder & CEO, UndauntedK12
  • Taj Ahmad Eldridge, Managing Director, Climate Innovation, Jobs For the Future
  • Ximena (Xi) Marquez, Associate Director of Education & Outreach, The Nature Conservancy
  • Moderator: Sen. Bill Frist  

10:55 A.M. | Spark Sessions: Innovation at the Intersection of Education and the Environment  

  • Jay Renfro, Founder & Principal, Tennessee Nature Academy
  • David Jaffe, Founder & Chair, SubjectToClimate
  • Introductions: Grace Olson, Student, Sewanee: The University of the South

11:30 A.M. | Lunch Break   

11:50 A.M. | Lunch Keynote: The Changing Environment and Student Health: A Call to Action for All of Us

  • Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health    

12:20 P.M. | Storytelling Roundtable: Students, Sustainability, and a Thriving Tennessee   

  • Chelsea Carpenter, Executive Director, Tennessee FFA Foundation
  • Mike Butler, CEO, Tennessee Wildlife Federation
  • Michelle Goodson, Director, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) STEM Accelerator  
  • Moderator: David Mansouri, President & CEO, SCORE 

1:05 P.M. | Closing Panel: Cross-Sector Collaboration in the Volunteer State 

  • Bryan Kerns, Fire Science Teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tenn., and 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year
  • Laurel Creech, Tennessee State Director, The Nature Conservancy
  • Dalya Qualls White, Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
  • Moderator: Aleah Guthrie, Vice President of Policy & Government Relations at SCORE 

1:50 P.M. | Closing Remarks from Sen. Bill Frist, M.D. 

2:00 P.M. | Adjourn 

Meet Our Speakers

A man smiling, standing with arms crossed in front of a house with a US flag and another flag visible.

Sen. Bill Frist, M.D.

Founder & Chairman, SCORE, & Chairman, The Nature Conservancy

Read Bio

Mike Butler

CEO, Tennessee Wildlife Federation

Read Bio Smiling person with long brown hair, wearing a dark top and earrings, against a plain white background.

Chelsea Carpenter

Executive Director, Tennessee FFA Foundation

Read Bio A person with curly brown hair smiles against a gray background, wearing a dark top.

Laurel Creech

Tennessee State Director, The Nature Conservancy

Read Bio Man with a beard wearing a wide-brimmed hat and glasses, gazing to the side in a sepia-toned image.

Taj Ahmad Eldridge

Managing Director of Climate Innovation, Jobs For the Future

Read Bio A woman with long blonde hair smiles at the camera, standing in an indoor setting with blurred background elements.

Michelle Goodson

Director, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) STEM Accelerator

Read Bio A person wearing glasses and a suit jacket smiles against a neutral gradient background.

David Jaffe

Founder & Chair, SubjectToClimate

Read Bio A person with short dark hair and a beard smiling slightly against a dark, textured background.

Bryan Kerns

Fire Science Teacher, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, Tenn., and 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year

Read Bio Smiling man with short hair, wearing a blue and green sweater over a white shirt, on a neutral background.

Jonathan Klein

Co-Founder & CEO, UndauntedK12

Read Bio Smiling person with long hair wearing a beige turtleneck sweater against a white background.

Ximena (Xi) Marquez

Associate Director of Education & Outreach, The Nature Conservancy

Read Bio Smiling person with curly hair in a gray blazer stands in a stone corridor.

Grace Olson

Student, Sewanee: The University of the South

Read Bio Smiling person in a white coat with a blue top, standing against a plain light background.

Dr. Lisa Patel

Executive Director, Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health

Read Bio A man wearing a wide-brimmed hat smiles in front of a white brick wall.

Jay Renfro

Founder & Executive Director, Tennessee Nature Academy

Read Bio Smiling person wearing glasses and a white jacket with a dark shirt, against a gray background.

Dalya Qualls White

Senior Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

Read Bio

This event is part of SCORE’s Connecting the Dots series, which elevates emerging topics that research suggests increasingly impact children as they journey through their educational experience and toward their future career.