MNPS’ second-ever Black Fine Arts Director honors legacy of man before him
He’s hoping to inspire kids through arts education the same way he was inspired as an MNPS student.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - There’s a new man in charge of arts education in Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), and he’s honoring the legacy of the man who came before him.
Franklin Willis is the second-ever African American Director of Visual and Performing Arts for MNPS. He said he’s hoping to honor the man who served as the first Black Director of Music for MNPS, Leonard Morton Sr.
“When you know your history, you’re able to walk in it,” Willis said.
Music was Morton’s life, as his granddaughter, Tesia Wilson -- now principal of Jones Paideia Elementary -- told WSMV.
“Whatever he did was through music,” she said. “That was his passion.”
Born in Chicago, Morton was a trumpeter in the U.S. Army Band and a Jefferson Street Jazz Musician in the Leonard Morton Trio. He went on to be the Band Director at Cameron High School. From there, he made history when we was appointed the first Black Director of Music for MNPS.
“Not only was he the first African American Director of Music, but he was the first African American that served in leadership on a district level,” Wilson said.
Before Morton’s leadership, there was no music at the elementary level for MNPS students. He brought music instruction to the elementary tier.
“It’s just about exposing students at a young age,” Wilson said, “and that’s something my grandfather felt very strongly about.”
Morton Sr. died in 2020 at the age of 92. Almost 50 years later, Franklin Willis stepped into the role, starting as Director of Visual and Performing Arts in January 2024.
A longtime music educator himself, Willis said his goal is to assess the needs of each individual school in the district to formulate ways they can supplement arts education for that specific school. His biggest goal for MNPS, he said, is “to tap into the brilliance of our students.”
“It’s our job to give them the opportunity and the platform,” Willis said. “Once we give them that, they take ownership and they show up.”
The data backs that up. Willis said students who are experienced in music education have higher attendance and test scores.
“When I gave them the ownership and the platform, they moved, they screamed, they laughed, and they danced. Those are the things that I want to see happening all throughout our district,” Willis said.
Willis said he hopes to honor Morton Sr. who went before him to continue building access and exposure to the arts for MNPS.
“I’m proud to be a representation of the people that came before me, and then the people that will come behind me, because I’m opening doors for people I may never know,” he said, “just as Leonard opened doors for me.”
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