What This Story Is About
- Two former Metro Nashville teachers allege district administrators directed them to change failing student grades, backed by internal emails and resignation letters.
Why It Matters
- The former teachers allege the grade changing is to improve the overall grading performance in Metro Nashville schools.
- Diana Wills is suing the district for suspension; Hardcastle has left teaching entirely, and Metro Schools has not agreed to an on-camera interview.
For Context
- According to emails obtained by WSMV4 Investigates, principals — not teachers — have final authority over grade disputes in Metro Nashville Public Schools.
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – Two former Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers say district administrators directed them to change failing grades for students, according to internal emails and documents obtained by WSMV4 Investigates.
Samira Hardcastle, who was named the 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year at John F. Kennedy Middle School, resigned in May after eight years of teaching art in Metro Schools. In her resignation letter, she cited grade fabrication at the direction of district administrators as one of the reasons for leaving.
“And they just want me to shut up and go along with the game that they’re playing,” Hardcastle said. “And I’m not.”
‘It makes our scores look better’
Hardcastle said she believes administrators pushed grade changes for one reason…