Emily Masters served as the Metro Nashville School Board Member for District 3 from August 2020 to September 2024. She dedicated her time on the board to encouraging students, empowering teachers, and supporting schools.
Emily was endorsed by the Metro Nashville Education Association, Central Labor Council of Nashville & Middle TN, SEIU Local 205, LIUNA Local 386, Communications Workers of America Local 3808, and Women in Numbers.
Holden (age 12), Emily, Randall, Nora (age 16) - March 2020
Photos by Eyeris Photography
Emily Masters is passionate about encouraging all students to become lifelong learners and empowering teachers by offering them the support and tools they need to succeed.
Emily was born in Nashville, raised in Kingsport, then returned to Nashville with her husband Randall in 2000. They were East Nashvillians for many years, then in 2015 they moved to their current home in Goodlettsville. While living in East Nashville, Emily started a “hobby” business that grew into a successful community dance school. She sold the business in 2018.
The 10 years Emily spent as an entrepreneur taught her important lessons about seeking out and cultivating partnerships, listening to customers/constituents, and the value of community.
Both of Emily’s children attended Dan Mills Elementary, where she served on the PTO Board for 7 years. She was part of a team of parents, teachers, and administrators who raised funds for programs, equipment, technology, and professional development. She was on the principal selection committee that chose the school’s current leader, and she served on the School Improvement Plan (SIP) committee in 2016.
She learned so much during her time as a PTO leader that will serve her well as a member of the MNPS board of education.
Emily has a Master of Arts in English Literature. In 2010 she attended a Peabody Professional Institute at Vanderbilt, where she learned about fundraising techniques for educational institutions. Her first job in Nashville was as a Resolution Writer for the Tennessee General Assembly. She then spent 8 years as a Program Officer and then a Program Director for Humanities Tennessee. In 2009 she began work as a freelance fundraising consultant, and since then she has worked with many wonderful organizations, including Tennessee State Library and Archives, Fannie Battle Day Home for Children, Metro Arts, NashvilleHealth, and Porch Writers’ Collective.
She was honored to have the opportunity to put her educational and professional skills to work for families and educators in Nashville during her time on the Board of Education.