NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Metro Nashville Public Schools board voted unanimously to name Dr. Adrienne Battle as permanent director of schools.

Battle, a former principal of Antioch High School, is the first MNPS director to have also been a MNPS student. In 2019, she was named interim director to replace embattled Dr. Shawn Joseph.

As graduate of John Overton High School, she accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Missouri State University where she later received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education.

She continued her studies at Tennessee State University for her Master's, Educational Specialist and Doctoral degrees.

Board Chair Anna Shepherd said Battle brought stability and a sense of security to MNPS in the wake of the deadly March 3 tornadoes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"She’s stepped up to the plate and made those tough decisions, all the while keeping MNPS students, families and employees in the forefront," Shepherd said.

The board voted to begin a search process for selecting and interviewing candidates on January 14. Five candidates were selected to be interviewed by the board the week of March 2-6, but the process was suspended as result of the tornado damage and recovery effort. The interviews were later rescheduled and then, again, suspended on March 12 so the district could respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Friday, the Board of Education voted to cancel the director search process and appoint Battle as the Director of Schools.