Our Board

Charmin Bates

Founder and Executive Director of Creative Girls Rock

Charmin A. Bates is the founder and executive director of Creative Girls Rock® (CGR), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization born from a passion for creative arts, youth development, community engagement; and a therapeutic method for anxiety. Our mission is to educate and empower young girls and women to utilize their creative talents to enhance their lives and the world around them. CGR organization offers free and innovative arts education programming within the Greater Nashville community, including our CGR Master Class workshops and CGR Mural Project program, as a platform for creative expression, arts and crafts, artistic design, visual arts and empowerment workshops. These programs help the 900+ youth and women that we serve explore their emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, anxiety, and boost self-esteem by providing a safe space for them to express themselves through creativity and fellowship.Charmin’s career in Nashville began in 2014 when she left her “dream job” as a Retail Buyer at Macys New York to serve as an Americorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) throughthe Corporation for National and Community Service. As an advocate for young professionals and community engagement, she commits her volunteer time fighting to end poverty and mentoring youth. She has developed and executed three 10-week summer camp programs designed to bring youth and families out of poverty for the Boys & Girls Clubs of MiddleTennessee and the Brentwood Family YMCA.Charmin is a graduate from The Tennessee State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising and Business Administration; and Trevecca Nazarene Universitywith a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a 40 under 40 award recipient from Nashville Business Journal and board member of Buchanan Arts and Purpose Prep Academy. On her free time, she loves tospend time with family and friends, listen to music, and of course, arts and crafts!

Amy Brown

Founding Attorney and Owner, Nashville Injury Law

Amy Brown is the founding attorney and owner of the Nashville Injury Law. Amy is committed to building a close personal working relationship with her clients to provide quality, compassionate, and effective legal representation. Prior to opening the firm she was a managing litigation attorney at one of the largest personal injury firms in the southeast. Recognized as a leading practitioner, litigator, and skilled negotiator in her fields of law. Having spent many years as a Senior Prosecutor for the City of Atlanta, Amy is no stranger to a courtroom. She is a persuasive and successful trial lawyer that captures the respect of clients and jurors alike. Amy’s goal in opening her own firm comes from her devotion to her family. As a mother of three amazing children, Amy desired to craft a life that would allow her to continue the career she loved all while being a present and active parent. Because of this goal, with every case she is reminded that the goal is for our clients to have a better quality of life. Her experience as a business owner helps clients avoid common pitfalls and streamline the legal process, so they can grow and thrive. Giving more entrepreneurs the ability to have the lives they desire is her passion. For injury clients, Amy recognizes that what clients want and need most is the ability to get back well so they can provide for and enjoy their families. She strives to make sure each client receives attentive service and the highest possible compensation, so they get well, get back to work, and get back to living the lives they love.  Amy earned her J.D. from John Marshall Law School, where she was a member of the John Marshall Law Moot Court. She received her B.S. from Tennessee State University in Journalism and Political Science. Amy also clerked for the Honorable Josefina Rendon in the United States Civil District Court of Harris County, Texas. Amy practices in both Tennessee and Georgia.

Ryann M. Casey
Criminal Defense Attorney, Metro-Davidson County Public Defender's Office

Ryann M. Casey is a criminal defense attorney at the Metro-Davidson Public Defender’s office and has been there since August 2016. In addition, at the Public Defender’s office Mrs. Casey serves on the Community Advisory Board Standing Response Committee as well as the Racial Justice Committee.  In 2016, Mrs. Casey co-founded The Casey Fund. The Casey Fund is an non-project agency that supports community-based organizations that work to provide resources for youth and formerly incarcerated people.  In 2015, Mrs. Casey joined the Titans Women’s association. Through that association, she volunteers at local schools, food banks, and non-profit organizations.  Mrs. Casey believes that we all have a job to inspire positive change. She tries to volunteer, financially contribute and overall make a difference in low-income communities as she can.  Mrs. Casey earned a bachelors degree at The University of Southern California and a Juris Doctorate at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Mrs. Casey serves as a board-member for Purpose Prep and is a member of the Governance committee.

Perry Gooch
Senior Vice President of Investment Services and Office Leasing, Cushman & Wakefield

Perry Gooch is Senior Vice President for Investment Services and Office Leasing at Cushman & Wakefield and has been with the firm or its predecessor entities, since 2003 where he has been a top produced for the firm since 2010.  In 2009 and 2011, Mr. Gooch was recognized by The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) for the office sale of the year.  In 2012 and 2013 he was recognized as the #1 office broker in the city by The Nashville Business Journal.  Since joining Cushman & Wakefield, Mr. Gooch has completed over $750 million in office sales and lease transactions throughout the southeastern United States.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Gooch was President and Founder of Gooch Beasley Construction, a residential construction and development firm located in Monteagle, TN.  He has served as a board member with The Foundation for Educational Excellence in Winchester, TN and Delta Axis in Memphis, TN and was a Commissioner with The Memphis City Beautiful Commission.  Mr. Gooch earned a BFA from The University of the South and MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management.  Mr. Gooch currently serves as Chair of the Board for Purpose Prep and is a member of the Finance and Development Committees.

Lara Henley
Information Protection & Security for HCA Healthcare

Lara Henley is our newest member of the Purpose Preparatory Academy board. She works in Information Protection & Security for HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services. In her role, she engages with stakeholders to understand their business operations and strategic plans, provides guidance on business decisions, and facilitates process and/or technology changes that help protect the Company’s resources while also supporting the Company’s Mission and Purpose. In 2017, Lara received the HCA Healthcare STAR Award, recognizing her work and dedication. She is deeply committed to fulfilling the mission of HCA Healthcare, which extends beyond healthcare and into the community. Lara currently serves on the Agency Liaison Support Committee for HCA Healthcare’s Community Day. Mentoring youth is one of her passions. She serves as a mentor for HCA Healthcare Scholars Scholarship Recipients, HCA Healthcare/TSU Healthcare Scholarship Recipients, and IT Girls. Outside of her volunteer work through HCA Healthcare, Lara has been an active volunteer for Purpose Preparatory Academy since 2017. She believes in the importance of shaping a vision and creating opportunities for all students. In 2018, Lara and her husband funded supplies for the John Early Middle School Peace Room Project, which provides students an opportunity for de-escalation and restorative conversations with trained staff to reset and refocus on learning. Lara is a graduate from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dale Mitchell
Vice President, Private Client Services/First Tennessee Bank

Dale Mitchell is a career financial services professional, with extensive experience in many areas of both retail and commercial banking. Currently he works as a commercial credit portfolio manager in First Tennessee Bank’s Private Client Services group. In this role he is responsible for helping to structure and deliver customized credit solutions to the bank’s highest net worth clients. This group includes entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, physicians, attorneys and other professionals. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University as well as the Tennessee Banker Association’s Southeastern School of Banking. Mr. Mitchell has been active in the Nashville community for several years. He has coached youth sports and volunteered on several nonprofit boards. He is married with three children. Mr. Mitchell is chair of the Purpose Prep Finance Committee and board treasurer.

Kathy Nelson
Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor, Pinnacle Bank

Kathy Nelson is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at Pinnacle’s downtown Nashville office.  Kathy began work in financial services in 1986 in Los Angeles, CA as a commercial lender for Mitsui Manufacturers Bank and later First Interstate Bank. In 1993 she relocated to Nashville, where she worked for First Union as a relationship manager, then served in commercial and corporate underwriting roles and acted as the Nashville business banking sales manager. Upon First Union’s sale to US Bank, Kathy moved to Union Planters Bank with several members of the senior management team to oversee the commercial underwriting group for Middle Tennessee. In 2015 she rejoined many of her former First Union and Union Planters associates who had started Avenue Bank and is now part of the Pinnacle family, which acquired Avenue in 2016.  

Kathy has worked with a diverse set of clients in her career, ranging from small privately owned companies, not-for-profit organizations and publicly traded corporate clients. She has years of experience advising various accounts with large treasury and purchasing card relationships.  

Kathy earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Northridge. She is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Center for Business Ethics at Belmont University’s College of Business, Board, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair of Renewal House, a founding member of Beyond The Box for Tennessee Manufacturing and founding Board member of Nashville Made.

Sallie Norton
Member, Purpose Prep Board

Sallie Norton, a native of Murfreesboro, graduated from Harpeth Hall in 1971 and from Vanderbilt University in 1975 with a B.A. in English.  She served in the Alumni Office at Vanderbilt as Director of Reunions and then served as Director of Alumnae Relations at Harpeth Hall for over 15 years.  She also served as Finance Director for Senator Bill Frist from 1995-98.  Her husband, William L. Norton III (Bill) is a partner with Bradley, Arant, Boult, Cummings.  They have three children: Will (age 36) serves as the Dean of the Upper School at Montgomery Bell Academy, Jameson (34) is CEO of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Behavioral Health System, and Sarah (age 29) is a nurse at Baptist Women’s Hospital in Memphis.  Sallie and Bill have seven grandchildren. 

Sallie’s Board and Volunteer activities in addition to her involvement with Purpose Prep Charter School Board of Directors include West End Home Foundation Board of Directors, holding the office of Secretary, Communications Committee,, Chair; Executive Committee, Grant Committee, Human Resource Committee,; Investment Committee,  and Recipient Reporting Committee.  Chair of Staff Parish and Lay Leadership at West End United Methodist Church; Junior League of Nashville, Board Member and President 1994-95; Faith Family Medical Clinic, Breakfast Chair; Kappa Alpha Theta, Bal d’Hiver Chair and Alumnae President; Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, Board of Directors, Chair of Spring Outing and Development Committee; Renewal House Founding Board and Advisory Board; Leadership Nashville (1994), Education and Quality of Life Day Committees; National Vice Chair for Commemorative Events for National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Centennial Celebration of Women’s Suffrage, Chapter Regent, and State Flag Committee Chair. 

Sallie is a member of West End United Methodist Church and the Centennial Club.  She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, volunteer work, Bible Study, Covenant Disciple, exercise, water and snow skiing and bridge.  Currently, Mrs. Norton is a member of the Purpose Prep Board.

Rohit Padmanabhan
Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Lotus Asset Management

Rohit Padmanabhan is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Lotus Asset Management, a boutique financial advisory company that works with young professionals across the country. Rohit graduated from Rice University in 2006 with a focus on Math and Economics and worked at several major banks, managing investment portfolios for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Rohit wanted to take his experience of working with the country’s wealthiest families and translate that to younger clients who often don’t get access to high quality, affordable advice. In 2015 he started Lotus, which focuses on holistic, unbiased financial advice including tax planning, financial planning, investing, and guidance on all other financial matters.

 As a strong proponent of financial literacy, Rohit makes an effort to educate not only his own clients, but also younger generations to help them avoid the pitfalls of financial mismanagement. Rohit gives frequent talks to high school and college students as well as recent college grads in Nashville, particularly in underprivileged situations, so that they can help their families to make better financial decisions.

 In addition to his work on the board of Purpose Prep, Roht is also the President of the Nashville Associate of Rice University Alumni, an Advisory Council member of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, an active member of the Phoenix Club of Nashville, an advisor at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of Nashville.

Domonique Townsend
Founder and Chief of Strategy and Continuous Improvement of We Optimize Work LLC

Domonique Townsend is the Founder and Chief of Strategy and Continuous Improvement of We Optimize Work LLC. Her consulting firm helps leaders increase the value of processes needed to reach their strategic plans. She is also a prolific speaker, dynamic problem solver and advocate for young women of color to pursue STEM careers.

Domonique is an Industrial Engineer and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.  Her 10 year extensive background in leadership and management has led companies to excel in meeting strategic goals in retention, engagement and process optimization on a global scale. One of her most exciting career accomplishments was designing and launching a Lean Professional Development program that helped employees achieve a savings of $3.1 million dollars over the course of 3 years.

Domonique is a native Nashvillian, wife, and mom of four children. She serves on the WomenGetIT board as the membership chair and on the board of Purpose Preparatory Academy, a charter school located in the Metrocenter area.

Charlandra Watson, Chair
Director of Customer Satisfaction & Quality, Schneider Electric

 Charlandra Watson is the Director of Customer Satisfaction & Quality for Schneider Electric, a global energy management and automation company. She is accountable for the Customer Experience and Quality of Power Products for the North America perimeter. 

 Charlandra comes from a family of educators and has always been passionate about quality education for all children despite economic status. She became passionate about math and science at a young age and even started her own math tutoring organization while in grade school.

 In 2006, Charlandra graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BE in Electrical Engineering and has been in the field of engineering and quality for the past 10 years. She is originally from California and shares three sons with her husband.  

Lagra Newman
Head of School (Ex-Officio)

Lagra Newman is the Founder and Head of School at Purpose Preparatory Academy, a Nashville charter school that is one of the district’s leading schools serving African American & economically disadvantaged students. Under her leadership, Purpose Prep is a three-time Reward School and the first elementary school in North Nashville to achieve this status for academic performance for ranking within the top 5% of schools in the state. Purpose Prep has become a “Level 5” school, the highest designation by the district, for growth and achievement for English Language Arts and for growth for math—among other achievements. Lagra earned a BA at Vanderbilt University, a MA in Teaching at Loyola Marymount University, and a M.Ed in Public School Leadership from Teachers College of Columbia University. Prior to founding Purpose Prep, she served as a corps member in Los Angeles and then recruitment director for Teach for America, and continued her teaching and school leadership career in Washington, D.C.

Board Information - EE17

Schedule for Meetings of the Board of Directors

The Purpose Preparatory Academy Board of Directors will meet on the last Thursday of each month starting at 8:30 am. From August 2023 to May 2024, this schedule outlines the dates of these monthly meetings. 

Meetings will be held at Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School (220 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228). 

Board and School Public Documents

Invitation for Bid and Contract

Request for Proposal (RFP)/Fixed Price Contract

Conflict of Interest Policy

By-Laws

Staff Handbook

Approved Annual Budget

Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School Application

Foundational Literacy Skills Plan

Title IX Civil Rights Policy Information

2023-2024 Annual Report

Schedule for Board Committee Meetings

Governance Committee

The Purpose Preparatory Academy Finance & Facility Committee will meet on the first Wednesday of each month starting at 12:00 pm. From January 2021 to May 2021, this schedule outlines the dates of these monthly meetings.

Meetings will be held at Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School (220 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228).Quarterly meetings are held at Cushman and Wakefield. 

Academic Excellence Committee

The Purpose Preparatory Academy Academic Committee will meet on the third Thursday of each month starting at 2:00 pm. From January 2021 to May 2021, this schedule outlines the dates of these monthly meetings.

Meetings will be held at Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School (220 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228).

Finance / Facilities Committees

The Purpose Preparatory Academy Finance & Facility Committee will meet on the last Monday of each month starting at 11:00 am. From September 2020 to May 2021, this schedule outlines the dates of these monthly meetings.

Meetings will be held at Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School (220 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228).

Fund Development Committee

The Purpose Preparatory Academy Fund Development Committee will meet on the third Thursday of each month starting at 9:00 am. From January 2021 to May 2021, this schedule outlines the dates of these monthly meetings.

Thursday, January 21

Thursday, February 18

Thursday, March 18

Thursday, April 15

Thursday, May 20

2020 - 2021

Meetings will be held at Purpose Preparatory Academy Charter School (220 Venture Circle, Nashville, TN 37228).