Rick Binkley

Ricky W. Binkley was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He had one brother (deceased) and has one sister. He attended Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools throughout his formative years, graduating from Isaac Litton High School in 1970. While in high school, he was elected President of his class during each of the four years he attended. He lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track.

Following his graduation from high school, he attended and in 1974 graduated from David Lipscomb University in Nashville. He earned his Master of Education degree in 1976 from Tennessee State University and became a candidate for the Ed.D. degree at Vanderbilt University in 1978.

Mr. Binkley began teaching in the Metropolitan Nashville Public School district in 1974. He became interim principal at Brick Church Elementary in January 1982. He also has served as principal of the following schools: Ross Elementary, Alex Green Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Amqui Elementary, Old Center Elementary , Goodlettsville Middle School, David Lipscomb Middle School, Tom Joy Elementary, Rosebank Elementary, and is currently serving as principal of Neely's Bend Elementary. During his eleven years tenure at Amqui Elementary, the school was named as "the most outstanding public school in Tennessee" and in the top 142 schools in the nation by Redbook Magazine in 1994. This designation was based upon the community involvement and support from the thirty-one adopters. Amqui was also named POPS School of the Year during the 1991/92 school year. The Pencil Foundation awarded Mr. Binkley the Open Door Award in 1996 for community involvement. He has been actively involved with the Madison and Goodlettsville communities, even serving as President of the Madison Chamber of Commerce in 1995. The Goodlettsville Rotary Club presented him with the Community Service Award in 1995. He also served as President of the Metropolitan Nashville Elementary Principals Association during the 1993/94 and 1994/95 school years. He was selected by his peers as the 2004 Metropolitan Nashville Public Elementary School Principal of the Year.

Mr. Binkley has taught workshops on Stress Management, Parenting, Guidelines for a Successful Marriage, Conflict Management and Effective Communication.

He and his wife of 34 years, Debbie Barnes Binkley, have two children, Emily and Daniel. Emily is a high school Biology teacher in Metro Schools and Daniel is teaching English, American History, and American Folk Music in Cordova, Spain.

Mr. Binkley enjoys family outings, fishing, gardening, historical readings, exercise, and is an avid Abraham Lincoln enthusiast. Mr. Binkley and his wife have attended Riverwood Church of Christ for 28 years where he serves as Educational Director and Associate Minister.