Tennessee Teacher of the Year quits after accusing school of directing her to change students failing grade
A Tennessee teacher who was named Teacher of the Year has quit after accusing the school district of directing her to change a failing student’s grade.Samira Hardcastle, named the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year at John F.Kennedy Middle School in Antioch, Tenn., submitted her letter of resignation in May after eight years teaching art in Metro Nashville Public Schools.“District leaders asked me to fabricate grades for a parent who sat in the office for hours until her daughter’s failing grades were changed,” Hardcastle said in an impassioned speech at Tuesday’s school board meeting.“It creates false entitlement.
What happens when these kids lie, cheat and cry their way through school and end up as future doctors, police or politicians? When will you protect the future of our society?” she demanded.Hardcastle accused the district of allowing that same parent, whom she said had harassed more than 30 teachers, to continue entering school property.“Teachers have filed police reports and entire schools have had restraining orders against her,” Hardcastle alleged.“Yet she is still allowed onto the property showing up to fill tricks her child didn’t earn and filming other students.
When will you stop prioritizing parents’ feelings over the safety of our students?”The grade dispute began when Hardcastle gave the student a failing mark for not finishing an art project, which prompted the student’s parent to intervene and administrators to tell Hardcastle to change the grade, according to WSMV4.Hardcastle refused to do so, though the administrators changed it anyway, the outlet reported.A Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesman said Hardcastle’s claim “does not fully reflect what occurred,” adding that there was “no written schoolwide policy at the time that prohibited the student from being given an opportunity to complete the work” and that the student ultimately finished the project and received a grade.Hardcastle also raised concerns...