Debbie Davies's Three-plus Decades at USN
Debbie Davies has taught at USN since 1977.
During Debbie Davies' tenure at University School, well over 2,000 USN students have benefited from her knowledge of math and talents as a teacher. Her capacity to draw the best out of her students has been shown again and again in their test scores and in her students' experiences later, when they discovered college math to be a relative breeze. Her abilities garnered national recognition in 1989, when she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics education for which USN received $10,000 to be used to improve mathematics education at USN.
1989 was also the graduation year of the 2011 PDS/USN Distinguished Alumnus Gideon Yu. Teachers often rely on faith that their work has a lasting benefit for their former students. At Convocation Gideon affirmed that faith when he called Debbie up to the stage to thank her for being one of the people most responsible for his success in life.
He said that Debbie helped him not only learn math but also become someone who genuinely loves learning. You can read more about Convocation here.
No life is without its rough patches, and 1994 was a hard year for Debbie and her family. Her husband Keith was diagnosed with brain cancer and subsequently passed away. It was important to Debbie that while Keith was ill her students not suffer adversely. During that year USN hired a full-time assistant for her so that she could be where she needed to be, and the students would still have consistency. She asked that we let everyone know how very appreciative she is of how supportive USN was during this period.
Very recently Debbie announced that this would be her last year teaching at USN. She is looking forward to doing some volunteer work. She is definitely looking forward to spending more time with her children, Michael ’88 and Trefor ’91, and grandchildren as well as her three cats.
She is also enjoying being able to read again after several eye surgeries. Currently she is reading Ted Kennedy's biography. Like Debbie, he had Portuguese Water Dogs. Her dogs were named Prince Henry the Navigator and Thurman Munson.
She says she will miss her time at USN and wants “to stress how thankful I am for my time at USN, it is a wonderful place and has given me so many opportunities.”
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1989 was also the graduation year of the 2011 PDS/USN Distinguished Alumnus Gideon Yu. Teachers often rely on faith that their work has a lasting benefit for their former students. At Convocation Gideon affirmed that faith when he called Debbie up to the stage to thank her for being one of the people most responsible for his success in life.
He said that Debbie helped him not only learn math but also become someone who genuinely loves learning. You can read more about Convocation here.
No life is without its rough patches, and 1994 was a hard year for Debbie and her family. Her husband Keith was diagnosed with brain cancer and subsequently passed away. It was important to Debbie that while Keith was ill her students not suffer adversely. During that year USN hired a full-time assistant for her so that she could be where she needed to be, and the students would still have consistency. She asked that we let everyone know how very appreciative she is of how supportive USN was during this period.
Very recently Debbie announced that this would be her last year teaching at USN. She is looking forward to doing some volunteer work. She is definitely looking forward to spending more time with her children, Michael ’88 and Trefor ’91, and grandchildren as well as her three cats.
She is also enjoying being able to read again after several eye surgeries. Currently she is reading Ted Kennedy's biography. Like Debbie, he had Portuguese Water Dogs. Her dogs were named Prince Henry the Navigator and Thurman Munson.
She says she will miss her time at USN and wants “to stress how thankful I am for my time at USN, it is a wonderful place and has given me so many opportunities.”
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Spring sports season ends with podium finishes, trophies
The girls lacrosse team ended its season in overtime to become state runner-up. Tennis players Carter Kojetin '29 finished as a state quarterfinalist, Sophie Oliver '26 and Mary Kate Adler '28 finished as state semifinalists, and Veer Kodali '29 and Max Parker '29 finished as state champions. Meanwhile, eight runners competed at the state track and field meet in Knoxville, where Griffin Davidson '27, Caleb Freifeld '28, Drew Zwerner '28, and Jack Fruin '27, sprinted to first in the 4x800m relay and Jack also placed first in the 800m dash.Read More -
USN creates the Juliet Douglas Endowed Fund for Student Success
For the entire USN community: an invitation to give in gratitude, in celebration, and in honor of the woman who has given so much to our school. Make a gift at usn.org/giving to support students with needs beyond tuition and honor Interim Director Juliet Douglas.Read More -
Middle School Quiz Bowl competes at national championship
The Middle School Quiz Bowl finished off another successful season with a trip to the Middle School National Championship Tournament in Chicago. The team fought hard and ended the season as a top-100 program in the country, finishing 75th overall. Congratulations to the team on a great performance and to Lucas Lupu ’31, named an All Star for being the fifth-highest scorer nationwide.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.