NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mayor John Cooper today named Robert Fisher as deputy chief of staff. Fisher will report to Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff Bill R. Phillips. In June 2020, Fisher joined Mayor John Cooper’s team as his senior advisor for education, responsible for supporting Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Nashville’s higher education institutions and other public, private and nonprofit organizations dedicated to learning.
In Fall 2020, Fisher helped MNPS design their plan for spending the $24 million in federal pandemic relief dollars that Mayor John Cooper allocated for Metro Schools – including laptops and internet “hot spots” for quality virtual learning. Fisher also supported Mayor John Cooper’s advocacy efforts to secure more local education dollars from Congress’ latest round of pandemic relief funds, as well as move Nashville’s K-12 teachers closer to the top of Tennessee’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution schedule.
“Robert brings a deep commitment to public service and organizational excellence to our team,” Mayor John Cooper said. “I’m confident his leadership abilities will help everyone on our team to maximize their own talent and dedication as they serve the people of Nashville.”
As Deputy Chief of Staff, Fisher will support all the mayor’s policy initiatives to create a Nashville that works for everyone.
“The people of Nashville have been a constant inspiration to the Cooper team, steady and selfless despite the unparalleled challenges our city has faced,” Fisher said. “I’m grateful to Mayor John Cooper for the opportunity to be a champion for them.”
Fisher will also continue as a senior policy advisor with an emphasis on education.
About Robert Fisher
Fisher is a public policy professional who has committed his career to serving children, young people and families in Tennessee. Before joining Mayor John Cooper’s team, he was a director for strategy and innovation at Shelby County Schools in Memphis.
He is a Rhodes Scholar and holds a master’s degree in education and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
