Dr. Mary Decker is in her seventh year as associate director of schools for teaching and learning in the Franklin Special District. Previously she was the curriculum and professional learning supervisor for six years in Franklin Special. Before moving to Tennessee, Mary was a vice principal and principal in the Sacramento, California area, and an elementary and middle school teacher across various grade levels in California, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Mary has had the honor of co-presenting with her district colleagues several recent professional learning sessions at national conferences, including the 2025 and 2024 Learning Forward Annual Conferences in Boston and Denver (on maximizing Tier 1 instruction and data practices for improving student outcomes), the 2026 and 2025 AASA National Conferences on Education in Nashville and New Orleans (on the district aerospace program and district therapy dog program), and the 2025 Consortium of State School Boards (COSSBA) National Conference in Atlanta (on high-leverage district data practices). Mary was named one of two national finalists for the AASA School Superintendents Association 2026 Women in School Leadership Award, co-won a National School Public Relations Association 2025 Golden Achievement Award, and won the Tech & Learning 2022 Innovative Learning Award for Best Example of Sustainable Classrooms. She is serving as the advisor to the 2027 Learning Forward Annual Conference Host Committee - this event will be held in Nashville.