Biography

Originally from Huntsville, Ala., Rachael Milligan joined the Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning and Innovation at Lipscomb in August 2013 and served as a Program Director before becoming Managing Director. She taught social studies at the middle school level for nine years, both in Arkansas and in Tennessee. Prior to joining the Ayers Institute, Milligan served as an assistant principal in Williamson County, Tenn. Additionally, Milligan has been director of 21st Century Community Learning Centers and a house parent at the Tennessee Children’s Home.

In 2017, Milligan was named as an assistant dean in the College of Education. She teaches courses in instructional coaching and instructional practice and she loves engaging with teachers and leaders across the state through the Ayers Institute’s many partnerships. She has served on numerous advisory boards, including the Tennessee Transformational Leadership Alliance and the Tennessee Personalized Learning Task Force. She is married to Matt Milligan who works in Lipscomb’s Institute for Conflict Management. They have three children and enjoy traveling. In her work at Lipscomb, Rachael Milligan loves being a thinking partner with teachers and leaders as they work to strengthen their practice for the benefit of students.