Michelle Davenport has been teaching English Language Learners in Nashville for 12 years. In a single session, she runs stations for 25 students — beginner to advanced — covering digital literacy, conversation practice, and civic lessons all at once. This spring, Nashville Public Library named her its 2026 Adult Educator of the Year.
Davenport teaches through Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), one of two organizations offering free English classes inside NPL branch libraries. The Branch offers classes at branches as well, and NPL’s own English Conversation Clubs give learners a low-barrier place to practice between sessions — no registration required.
English language learning is just one piece of what Adult Literacy at NPL makes available to Davidson County residents. The program connects adults to classes in Hi-SET preparation, digital skills, U.S. citizenship, and secondary education and career prep. NPL also maintains a county-wide directory of adult education classes, so anyone who calls looking for a next step can find one.
The Adult Literacy program also deploys Mobile Labs to nonprofit partners across Davidson County, putting laptops, iPads, and Wi-Fi into the hands of learners at pop-up computer classes citywide. For learners who need something more personal, Book a Librarian connects anyone in Davidson County to one-on-one help, free of charge, no library card required.
Adult Literacy at NPL is made possible by private philanthropic support through the Nashville Public Library Foundation, with generous investment from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Gifts to NPLF are what keep these programs accessible, staffed, and growing.