Dr. Jim McIntyre: Shaping the Future at Belmont University's College of Education

How his Bruin spirit empowers educators and sparks joy across Belmont and beyond 

As Dr. Jim McIntyre pulls into a Belmont University parking garage, his personalized license plate catches the eye. The personalized plate reads "BRUIN" – a testament to his enthusiasm for the institution he now calls home.  

"I went online and was renewing my plate. I said, ‘Oh, man, I'll get one of those Belmont-branded license plates,’" McIntyre said. "I was shocked when I typed in BRUIN, and it was available." This small detail speaks volumes about McIntyre's dedication to Belmont and his role as dean of the College of Education and assistant provost for academic excellence.  

Creating Conditions for Excellence at Scale 

With more than three decades of experience in education, McIntyre brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for cultivating the next generation of exceptional educators. His journey to Belmont is one marked by a deep-seated belief in the power of education – and joy – to change lives and communities. 

"I spent the last 30-plus years of my career trying to create at scale the conditions where great instruction can happen and students can be successful regardless of their circumstances," McIntyre said. This mission has been the driving force behind his career, from his early days as a classroom teacher to his current role. 

McIntyre's path to educational leadership began in what he jokingly refers to as "the 1900s." He recalls his first teaching experience with fondness: "This is in East St. Louis, Illinois, and such a transformational experience for me and incredibly formative."  

Teaching in a challenging environment in an alternative school, McIntyre worked with students who had either dropped out or been expelled from traditional high schools. It was here that he discovered a profound truth that would shape his career: "When you minimize some of those distractions, focus on what's happening in the classroom, provide engaging effective instruction, these are great students, great kids, and they could be really successful academically." 

This early experience ignited a passion for creating educational environments where all students could thrive. McIntyre's career trajectory took him from the classroom to leadership roles in some of the nation's largest school districts. He spent 11 years in the Boston Public Schools, serving as budget director and chief operating officer. Later, he took on the role of superintendent in Knox County Schools in Tennessee, overseeing a district of 62,000 students, 90 schools and 8,000 employees. 

An Inviting Vision for the College of Education 

McIntyre's transition to higher education came unexpectedly. "I thought I was on my way back to being a superintendent again, and I got this call out of the blue from Belmont," he said. What convinced him to take on this new challenge was the visionary leadership of Belmont's president, Dr. Greg Jones. "He is such a visionary, incredible leader, great communicator, and has such a passion for this work," McIntyre said. "He convinced me what our College of Education can be, what we can do and the impact we can have." 

Since joining Belmont in 2022, McIntyre has led the College of Education through a period of remarkable growth and innovation. The college, which became its own entity in 2021, has seen enrollment increase by 50% over the past two years. This growth is particularly noteworthy given the national decline in teacher education programs. "The last decade, the number of teacher candidates in programs across countries has been down by 45%, and it's just staggering," McIntyre said. "People don't realize the magnitude of the crisis that's coming." 

'We Are Going to Be Part of the Solution' 

Under McIntyre's leadership, the College of Education has embraced innovation to address the changing landscape of teacher preparation. One significant change has been the revision of the Master of Arts in Teaching program to better serve students entering the field through job-embedded programs. 

"In Tennessee, we have job-embedded programs, so if you have a bachelor degree and you pass an exam, and you sign up for a teacher training program, you can be a teacher of record on day one," McIntyre said. This shift has required a reimagining of how teachers are prepared. 

The revised program now starts in the summer, giving students a course on classroom management and instructional strategies before they enter their own classrooms. The program has also been extended from one year to 18 months, allowing for more manageable coursework and extended support into teachers' critical second year. 

Perhaps most significantly, Belmont made a bold move to reduce tuition for master's degrees in education by 30%. "There's a huge commitment on the part of the University. I mean, amazing," McIntyre said. "We went from about $1,300 a credit hour to $1,000 a credit hour for master's degrees in education." 

This investment in affordable education demonstrates Belmont's commitment to addressing the teacher shortage crisis. As McIntyre said, "We are going to be part of the solution to make the teaching profession more accessible and more affordable." 

'Elevating the Dialog Around High Quality Education' 

Recognizing the critical role of effective leadership in education, the College of Education has also expanded its offerings to include programs in educational leadership. The college now offers a Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership in Education. 

The program, now entering its third cohort, combines the rigor of a traditional Ph.D. with a focus on practical leadership skills. "It's a Ph.D., so it has a research base and a traditional dissertation and is really strong on educational research, but it's also designed for practitioners," McIntyre said. 

In addition to the Ph.D. program, the college is also launching a principal preparation program. This initiative reflects McIntyre's belief in the importance of developing strong educational leaders. "If you want to be effective at scale, that's who's going to make sure there's teachers in the classroom. The focus is there, the support is there, the accountability there, the engagement is there," he said. 

McIntyre's vision for the College of Education extends beyond the classroom. He sees Belmont as a place to foster important conversations about education. "We are a place where we have good conversations about education," he said. "We have the privilege of convening different groups and hosting events here on our campus that elevate the dialog around high quality education in the state of Tennessee and beyond." 

This commitment to community engagement is evident in hosting gatherings like the Friends of Education mixer, which brings together about 300 leaders in K-12 education from across the region. The college has also hosted national convenings, such as a recent event for an organization called Groundswell Network, which focuses on high-quality alternative education. 

'I See the World Through Schools' 

Dr. McIntyre's passion for education shapes his worldview and approach to learning. His international experiences have provided valuable insights that he brings to his role at Belmont. "I see the world through schools," McIntyre said. "I like to visit schools wherever I go."  

He recently visited Belfast, Northern Ireland, where Belmont has a partnership with Queen's University. "I visited a couple of high schools in Belfast, and one of them is Lagan College. It is what they call the first integrated high school in Northern Ireland, and for them, that means Catholics and Protestants going to school together, which is a very different meaning of integrated schools than, of course, our history and context here in the United States of America." 

These international experiences have deepened McIntyre's understanding of how education systems function in different cultural contexts. "For students to be able to have that experience and just see a very different context and perspective on the world is fascinating and eye-opening and enlightening," he said. "I think every student should have that opportunity." 

This global perspective informs McIntyre's approach to education at Belmont, encouraging students and faculty to consider education's role in a broader, international context.  

Growing Leaders from Ages 3 to 22 

Closer to home, perhaps the development that McIntyre is most excited about is the upcoming launch of the Little Bruins Preschool. Set to open in January 2025, this initiative represents a bold step into the practice of education for Belmont. 

"In addition to educator training and research, we want to be in the practice of education," McIntyre said. The preschool will serve children of Belmont employees, neighborhood residents and clients of The Store, a free grocery store founded by recording artist Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, aimed at addressing food insecurity. 

For McIntyre, the preschool embodies Belmont's mission to develop leaders of character and purpose. "We believe our mission is to grow diverse leaders of character, purpose, wisdom and transformational spirit, and it doesn't just have to be 19- to 22-year-olds. It can be 3- to 5-year-olds, too." 

The preschool will not only provide a high-quality early education experience for young children but will also serve as a learning laboratory for Belmont students across various disciplines. "We have people from across campus who are informing it: occupational therapy, physical therapy, art, music, music therapy, nursing –  everyone across campus is playing a role in it." 

A Boston Boy Finds a Home in the South 

McIntyre’s own start and early education happened in his hometown of Boston, “where I grew up and loved being there for the better part of 40 years,” he said. “We moved to Tennessee about 15 years ago and just love Tennessee, love being in this state and in the South. Tennessee was just a wonderful place to raise our children." 

McIntyre's parents were both educators. His father worked at Boston College for an impressive 55 years, while his mother returned to school when McIntyre was in middle school, eventually becoming a preschool teacher. This family background in education clearly influenced McIntyre's career path. 

"I came from the world of education," McIntyre said. "I think ultimately, the attractiveness of just seeing the kind of impact that you can have on children and their future. It was just something that ultimately drew me to this profession." 

McIntyre's own family has been an integral part of his educational journey. He and his wife Michelle have been married for 26 years and have two sons, James the third and Ryan. Both boys went through the Knox County Schools system during McIntyre's tenure as superintendent. 

"They went through the system when I was a superintendent, which was always very interesting," McIntyre said. "We always told them there were no benefits to being the son of a superintendent, only additional responsibilities." 

Despite the potential challenges, both sons thrived. James graduated with an economics degree from Duke University, while Ryan recently completed his studies in philosophy and political science at Vanderbilt University. McIntyre proudly refers to them as "our aspiring adults." 

The family's move from Boston to Tennessee was a significant change, but one that has brought many rewards. McIntyre recalls a conversation with his older son after they had been in Tennessee for a while: "I asked him, 'Do you ever miss anything about Boston?' And he said, 'Well, yeah, I only miss a few things, you know, family, the food and the sports.' I said, ‘Buddy, is there anything else? Those are the three big ones.” 

Sports, in fact, remain a strong connection to their Boston roots. "We like to say that, you know, our children were 5 and 8 years old when we moved from Boston to Tennessee, but they still are Celtics fans, Patriots fans and Red Sox fans," McIntyre said. "So we like to say we raised them right, but they're also Tennessee Vols fans. They're now Belmont fans, and they went to Duke and Vanderbilt. So they're fans of those institutions as well." 

This blend of Northern roots and Southern living has given McIntyre a unique perspective that he brings to his work at Belmont. His personal journey from Boston to Nashville, from public school administration to higher education leadership, has shaped his approach to education and community building. 

"I am just so delighted and honored to be here at Belmont University," McIntyre said. "This is an institution that has great leadership, is doing remarkable, impactful work and is doing it in a way that is faith-animated, and a way that will really contribute to the flourishing of individuals and the thriving of communities." 

Creating a Welcoming Environment for Students 

One of the hallmarks of Belmont's College of Education is its tight-knit community. McIntyre and his team have worked hard to create a welcoming environment where students feel supported and connected. 

Juan Jose Escamilla Vargas, a current student (education policy, '26), shared his experience: "I remember the first time I met Dean McIntyre. He knew my name and knew my school, which was really weird. That first interaction was the moment I had a good feeling about what Belmont's College of Education would feel like as a community. And I haven't been proven wrong since." 

This sense of community is fostered through intentional design of both programs and physical spaces. The education suite on the fifth floor of the Ayers Academic Center has become a hub for students and faculty alike. "We tried to create a welcoming environment for our students," McIntyre said. "In our entry area, we put a couch and snacks and our students come between classes, or if they are working on something, they might come and be here, and it's wonderful." 

The college has also created a demonstration classroom that mimics an elementary school setting, complete with child-sized furniture and educational decorations. This space serves as a lab and allows students to practice teaching techniques and explore different classroom configurations. 

'The Most Important Thing We Do' 

The College of Education's commitment to its students doesn't end at graduation. McIntyre and his team have implemented several initiatives to support alumni as they enter the workforce. 

"We do ongoing professional development for alumni," McIntyre said. "Once a month, usually on a Thursday evening, we have speakers or presenters who will do an online session around a specific topic that's of interest for our alumni." 

These sessions often feature alumni presenters sharing their experiences and strategies, creating a valuable network of support and continued learning. 

Additionally, the close relationships formed between faculty and students during their time at Belmont often continue well beyond graduation. "Those relationships continue. And I think there's a lot of mentoring that continues to go on beyond their time here," McIntyre said. 

Despite the challenges facing the education sector, McIntyre remains optimistic about the future of teaching. His message to those considering a career in education is clear: "Do it. It is such an important job. We need great people in the classroom." 

He acknowledges the difficulties of the profession but emphasizes its profound impact: "It is the most important thing that we do to grow and develop young people and help them to reach their full potential. It is, it's important work, it is mission-driven work. It’s a calling. And if you feel that calling, listen to it and act on it." 

For McIntyre, the rewards of teaching far outweigh the challenges. "There is no more fulfilling job, I think, in the world than seeing a young person learn and grow and reach their full potential." 

'The Future is Bright for Belmont University' 

McIntyre's enthusiasm for the work ahead is palpable, and it's infectious. "Belmont is one of those institutions that is having an outsized influence and impact on our community, on our state, on our society and beyond," he said.  

In a testament to his dedication to Belmont, the College of Education has created miniature replicas of his personalized "BRUIN" license plate as keychains, which are given out to prospective students during campus visits. It's a small but meaningful gesture that encapsulates the warmth, creativity and sense of community that McIntyre has fostered – qualities that are sure to continue shaping the next generation of educators. "The future is bright for Belmont University and for our College of Education," McIntyre said, "and we're looking forward to continuing great work."