Meet our Founders
Burrus Cox
Burrus Cox is an accomplished educator with experience teaching and leading in three high-performing charter schools in Nashville, most recently at Valor Collegiate Academies. Known for delivering exceptional student outcomes, Burrus has earned Level 5 TVAAS scores—the highest possible rating—for six consecutive tested school years. Over the past six school years, his students have consistently ranked in the top 5% districtwide for both academic achievement and growth.
Burrus now brings his passion for educational excellence to the next chapter of his work: launching The Gate School, a public charter school serving grades 6–8.
In his free time, Burrus enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, serving at his local church, and playing golf.
Meet our Founders
Jim Leckrone
Jim Leckrone is a veteran school leader with more than 25 years of experience in education, including 15 years as the founding principal and current School Director of East End Preparatory School in Nashville.
As founding principal, Jim built East End Prep from 80 kindergarten students to a K–8 school serving over 800 students, establishing it as one of the highest-performing open-enrollment charter schools in Tennessee. Under his leadership, the school has consistently achieved top-quartile results while serving a majority economically disadvantaged population and has been recognized multiple times as a Tennessee Reward School and a U.S. News & World Report Best School.
Jim brings deep expertise in instructional leadership, data-driven improvement, and school operations. He has built strong faculty teams, developed systems that drive student achievement, and created a school model that integrates academics, arts, and athletics.
At The Gate School, Jim leads the design and execution of school systems and operations, ensuring the model is both academically strong and built for long-term success.
