About Me

Franklin Willis is a nationally recognized music educator, composer, author, and arts advocate who has dedicated his career to transforming the landscape of music education. He currently serves as the Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metro Nashville Public Schools, where he leads district-wide initiatives to ensure equitable access to high-quality arts education for more than 81,000 students in one of the most culturally and economically diverse school districts in the United States.

A three-time CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence, Willis brings over 17 years of experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and administrator. He is deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive teaching practices that empower students and reflect the rich cultural identities of the communities he serves.

Willis was recently honored with a Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for Every Student Known, a compelling documentary that underscores the power of building authentic relationships with students through music and storytelling.

As an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, he prepares the next generation of music educators to lead with compassion, creativity, and cultural competence.

Willis is also the founder of F. Willis Music, a creative education company born from a desire to fill a critical gap in music education resources. Through this work, he develops culturally responsive curriculum, compositions, and classroom materials that reflect his own musical upbringing while supporting meaningful, skill-based instruction. F. Willis Music centers student identity, joy, and representation—bringing authentic musical experiences into classrooms and empowering teachers with resources that resonate with today’s learners.

Willis is also a children’s book author whose work centers joy, identity, and creativity in young learners. His titles, Edward’s Rhythm Sticks and More Than a Music Teacher, reflect his belief that every child deserves to see themselves in the stories and sounds of the classroom. He is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and a new initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated (Nashville, TN Alumni Chapter). In addition, Willis serves on the boards of Creative Girls Rock and Community Arts Collective, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to expanding access to creative arts education for Nashville students. Through storytelling, music, and community partnerships, Franklin Willis continues to champion spaces where students feel known, valued, and inspired—using the arts as a bridge to belonging, confidence, and lifelong learning.