Maury County School District Excels at Preparing Students for Career Success
Superintendent Lisa Ventura has worn many hats during her tenure with Maury County Public Schools. She has served as both an assistant principal and principal, and before being named to the district’s top role in 2022, she served as the director of special populations. Ventura speaks about her decades-long career in education, how the district prepares students for college and careers, and what makes Maury County a great place to live, work and learn.
In This Article
What inspired you to pursue a career in education?
Public education has long been a right in this country. However, as with most rights, it is a privilege. I was privileged to receive a high-quality public education from educators who cared and gave selflessly, making sure I succeeded. That inspired me to become a public educator.
What continues to drive your passion for this work?
Watching children grow and become successful has been the honor of my life. I cannot imagine a life outside of public service. Oftentimes, there are struggles, but I have a great team of educators who consistently show up for students. The students and staff drive my passion forward. They make my dreams a reality and keep me dreaming bigger and better for students.
How does Maury County Public Schools prepare students for success in the 21st-century workforce?
Maury County Public Schools continually strives to balance high-quality coursework with real-world problem solving. We have steadily increased our dual enrollment and career and technical education programming. We are always recruiting professionals from outside industry and strengthening our professional development for our educators.
We also start early by building a strong foundation in primary grades. A laser focus on reading and math at our elementary and middle schools is essential to creating young adults who are ready to learn and matriculate into their postsecondary life – whether it be college, trade school or going straight into the workforce.
How does the district collaborate with local organizations and businesses to enhance educational opportunities for students?
Maury County Public Schools has strong partnerships with local industries like Columbia Machine Works and Lee Co. that provide work-based learning opportunities, as well as paid and unpaid internships for our students.
We have a Career & Technical Education Board that meets to discuss job markets and forecasts of industry needs, and that helps us guide our course offerings. We also employ a recruiter/work-based learning coordinator who serves as a liaison between Maury County Public Schools and industry. The Maury Alliance works with Maury County Public Schools to keep us in the forefront of Maury County’s needs and the needs of local industry.
What makes Maury County Public Schools stand out as a great choice for families?
Maury County Public Schools is a family. Parents and families can expect safe and clean learning environments, filled with professionals who care and nurture children. Maury County Public Schools offers various learning models, from in-person to virtual, from high-order collegiate preparation to vocational programming in state-of-the-art settings. Families can expect their children to be able to compete in any market they choose for postsecondary opportunities.
New Battle Creek High School Plays Major Role in Local Workforce Development
Battle Creek High School in Spring Hill – the newest and largest school in Maury County – features state-of-the-art facilities and innovative career and technical education programming that provides students with the skills in-demand businesses need.
“We know we are preparing students for jobs that may not exist yet and for a future in industries that we are just learning about. Therefore, our focus is on robust course offerings and preparing educators to teach these courses,” says Lisa Ventura, superintendent of Maury County Public Schools. “We incorporate career exploration courses into our curriculum and simulators for various professions in the medical, technical and construction industries.”
The 300,000-square-foot campus opened in 2024. The school boasts spacious classrooms and meeting spaces, a modern media center and computer labs with the most up-to-date technologies. Because the school district understands the value of a well-rounded education, the school is equipped with a two-story auditorium, two gymnasiums, and three turf athletic fields for arts and sports activities.
Student safety was also a major consideration in the school design, including installation of bullet-proof windows. MCPS even received the 2025 Build Tennessee Award of Excellence from the Associated General Contractors of America in recognition of its successful project. “This award reflects our commitment to providing top-tier educational facilities for our students,” Ventura says.
How do arts and athletics contribute to the overall development of students in Maury County Public Schools?
Well-rounded students are the best students. Most studies show that students who are involved in extracurricular activities are more successful as students and later as adults. The arts and athletics provide ways for students to learn team building, responsibility and time management, and it also provides outlets for creativity and leadership, which are necessary in the overall education of a student. Maury County Public Schools is building the future, and students need to feel successful in all areas for positive development.
What makes Maury County a great place to live and work?
Maury County has the amazing ability to grow and yet still feel like a small hometown. We live, work, play and pray together. From Santa Fe to Culleoka, from Hampshire to Rally Hill, you will not meet a stranger. There may be scuffles and tribulations, but in the end, it is #ONEMAURY.
Get to Know Maury County, TN
Want to learn more about living and working in Maury County? Check out the latest edition of Livability: Maury County Business.