Nashville Public Schools received four honors in the 47th Annual Telly Awards. These honors included one Gold award, two Silver awards, and one Bronze award.
The documentary "Every Student Known: The Making of an Anthem" won a Gold award in the Film Shorts: General Documentary category. This documentary also won a Silver award in the General: Education & Discovery category. "This Is Where We Belong" earned a Silver award in the Non-Broadcast: General Children category, and "I Belong Music Video (Extended Intro)" received a Bronze award in the Branded Content: General Music Video category.
All three recognized works originated from the district's student Songwriting Summit program. "Our students have now earned a Midsouth Emmy and four Telly Awards for telling their own stories in their own voices. This is what investing in the arts looks like," said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Superintendent of Nashville Public Schools.
The Gold-winning documentary chronicles the creation of the flagship track from the five-song EP "I Believe I Belong." District students wrote and performed the EP, collaborating with music industry professionals and educators at East Iris Studios to record it for an August 2025 release. The EP contains the tracks "I Believe," "I Belong," "This Is Where We Belong," "Cada Estudiante Valorado," and "Every Student Known." The documentary previously received a Midsouth Regional Emmy Award.
"These awards reflect the extraordinary talent of our students and the dedication of our music educators. From the Songwriting Summit to a Gold Telly, this work shows what students are capable of when they are given the space, the support, and the belief that their voices matter," said Franklin Willis, Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Nashville Public Schools.