Governor Bill Lee
Tennessee State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37243

RE: House Bill 580 / Senate Bill 623, 112th Tennessee General Assembly

Dear Governor Lee,

As a coalition of concerned teachers, education leaders, and community members of diverse backgrounds from across all three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee, we write to you to express our disappointment with the advancement of HB580/SB623 last week in the Tennessee General Assembly and urge you to veto its passage into state law. Every single day, public school teachers in Tennessee are entrusted with the sacred responsibility of educating our state’s youth and empowering them with important knowledge, critical thinking skills, and relevant academic tools to become the future leaders of our state. This responsibility, especially in regard to the study of history, cannot fully and accurately meet the learning needs of our students when an honest inquiry of facts and critical discussions is omitted. This legislation denies teachers and students the ability to explore the difficult truths of our state and national history in light of race, sex, class, and other social markers, establishes a confusing precedent for educators to follow in the classroom, and gives the Tennessee Department of Education a challenging mandate for monitoring and enforcement.

First, the legislation fails to address the realities of classroom teaching and student discussion and offers minimal clarity on how its mandates will play out in practice. If passed, what professional development will educators and administrators be provided to incorporate this policy change by the next school year? How will our classrooms be monitored each day? In the eyes of the state, what is deemed “impartial” enough in response to student questions on controversial historical topics? How will teachers be expected to adjust lesson plans and discussion topics related to the Tennessee Academic Standards that examine race, gender, class, and other historical events and patterns of social inequality this legislation aims to curtail? Each of these questions and uncertainties is a rightful cause of concern and a source of fear for educators in our state, especially when an unlimited amount of desperately needed state dollars for our underfunded schools and districts is on the line.

Next, the legislation fails to ensure that all students’ lived experiences, identities, and cultural histories are accounted for and prohibits the truthful exploration of the disparate realities of American society we all know to exist. According to the most recent teacher diversity report from the Tennessee Department of Education, children of color comprise 37 percent of the state’s student population and 13 percent of our educators identify as people of color. If this measure is signed, the perspectives, experiences, and important classroom discussion contributions of a significant segment of our state’s education landscape would become a matter of grave confusion and could be potentially rendered illegal and punishable by the withholding of funds in accordance with state law. We must trust teachers to do their jobs and navigate difficult discussions as they always have ‒ those who commit their life’s work to the education and development of our future leaders ‒ than in the heavy hands of a rushed, ill-informed political proposal with punitive consequences for districts, schools, and students.

The Tennessee Department of Education is currently guided by its three strategic priorities of the Best For All framework: academics ‒ “all Tennessee students will have access to a high-quality education, no matter where they live”; whole child ‒ “Tennessee public schools will be equipped to serve the academic and non-academic needs of all kids”; and educators ‒ “Tennessee will set a new path for the education profession to be the top state to become and remain a teacher.” None of these three noble goals can be achieved in the absence of instruction that builds discernment and critical thinking skills required for strong, educated, and well-informed future decision-makers. Our students are naturally inquisitive, and when presented with complex scenarios emerging from Tennessee’s history ‒ from the experiences of Native American tribes from where our state’s name is derived, the impact of the slave trade, the battles of the Civil War, Reconstruction, the founding of the Ku Klux Klan, the women’s suffrage movement, the storied struggles for civil rights, and more ‒ they deserve full engagement and contextualization. To examine our collective history and controversial and strenuous episodes does not mean that educators are sharing propaganda, nor casting blame. Rather, it constitutes a teachable moment in which all of our students and their communities can take away important, lifelong lessons that inform ways to avoid the errors of the past and to move forward ‒ together ‒ toward a more just, prosperous, and unified tomorrow.

We strongly urge you to veto HB580/SB623 and allow teachers to continue to hone their craft and lead their classrooms through important historical lessons and honest social discussions without the fear of repercussion.

Respectfully signed,

Jessica Abarquez-New
High School English Teacher
Davidson County

Madalyn Adams
Middle School Educator
Wilson County

Mimi Adams
Education Assistant
Chattanooga

Ruby Aguilar
High School English Teacher Nashville

Kiah Albritton
Policy & Communications Associate, The Education Trust in Tennessee
Memphis

Armani Alexander
5th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Kyle Alexander
Instructional Coach
Nashville

Cydni Alexander
3rd Grade ELA Teacher
Memphis

Jessica Allen
Teacher, Parent
Knoxville

Zack Allen
Knox County

Jenesis Anderson
8th & 9th Grade Math Teacher
Memphis

Olivia Andrews
Special Education Teacher
Nashville

Darren Armstrong
Director, Public Engagement & Strategic Affairs
Nashville

Eric Atkins
Educator
Chattanooga

Brittany Avent
Principal, Haywood High School
Brownsville

Misty Ayres-Miranda
Director of Middle
& High School
Franklin

Ahmedina Bacevac
7th Grade Social Studies
Nashville

Nikki Baker
Health, Wellness, & P.E. Teacher
Knoxville

Lisa Baldwin
Assistant Professor of Practice
Memphis

Ruth Barry
2nd Grade Teacher
Nashville

Laura Becker
Parent
Chattanooga

Reginald Beechum
Physical Education Teacher
Chattanooga

Cartavius Black
6th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Elisabeth Bogart
7th Grade Teacher
Shelby County

Timothy Bogolin
7th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Caroline Bomstein
High School Social Studies Teacher
Memphis

Ella Bonah
Teacher
Hamilton County

Laverne Bowers
First Grade Teacher
Cleveland

Tiesha Bradley
2nd Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

LeSean Brannon
5th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Lee Brannon
School Counselor
Winchester

Anna Bratton
3rd Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Katelyn Brewer
2nd Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Angela Brown
ESL Teacher
Memphis

Beth Brown
President, Tennessee Education Association
Nashville

Jonathan Brown
1st Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Nicole Bryan
ESOL 6-8
Chattanooga

Amanda Bureau
Parent
Memphis

Dan Bureau
Parent
Memphis

Kimberly Burkley
Secondary ELA Teacher
Knox County

Natasha Burnett
Educator
Shelby County

Bridgette Burt
Special Education Teacher
Hamilton County

Eltra Butler
Parent & Higher Ed. Administrator
La Vergne

Chris C.
Educator
Cordova

Melanie Carpenter
Teacher
Chattanooga

Edwinna Carr
Educator
Clarksville

DayOnna Carson
Graduate
Chattanooga

Catherine Casselman
2nd Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Stephanie Chan
Pre-K Teacher
Chattanooga

Vrondelia Chandler
Youth Advocate and Educator
Knoxville

Isabelle Ciaramitaro
7th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Memphis

Alexza Barajas Clark, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, The Education Trust in Tennessee
Nashville

Anna Clark
8th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Clare Clarke
Educator
Nashville

Elspeth Coen
8th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Rachel Collins
School-Based Mental Health Therapist
Chattanooga

Ginger Colvett
1st Grade Teacher
Franklin

Saige Connor
8th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Jene’ Cooper
School Social Worker
Franklin County

Kara Cooper
Cosmetology Teacher
Knoxville

Heather Cooper
2nd Grade Teacher
Brentwood

Sierra Cotham
Kindergarten Teacher
Hamilton County

Erin Courtney
High School Teacher
Shelby County

Keisha Covington
Educator
Nashville

David Cowan
Assistant Principal
Rutherford County

Jennifer Cox
2nd Grade Teacher
Nashville

Hernan Crescencio
Teacher Assistant
Antioch

Andrea Criollo Echetebu
Principal
Memphis

Nikki Croft
Special Education Teacher
Nashville

Martha Crownover
High School Teacher
Chattanooga

Derrick Crutchfield
Principal
Cowan

Madeline Culver
6th Grade Teacher
Shelby County

James Cunningham
5th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Theresa Custer
Math Coach
Chattanooga

Jessica Cymbal
7th Grade Reading Teacher
Nashville

Chandler Davenport
9th Grade World History Teacher
Hamilton County

Katie David
7th & 8th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Natasha Davis
High School Educator
Davidson County

Heather Davis
Teacher
Jackson

Andrea Davis
Educator
Smyrna

Gabrielle Day
8th Grade Reading Teacher
Nashville

Casey DeFord
Educator Developer
Davidson

Bianca Delgado
3rd Grade Teacher
Memphis

Tiffany Dellard
Hermitage

Rene Dillard
Education Policy
Nashville

Chappel Dillingham
3rd Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Rev. Tricia Dillon Thomas
Clergy and Parent
Chattanooga

Binh Doan
Educator
Memphis

Shani Dowell
Former Teacher, Founder
Nashville

M.T. Dumas
Student Support Coordinator
Davidson County

Elizabeth Durbin
4th Grade ELA & Social Studies Teacher
Chattanooga

Morgan Dyer
2nd Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Debbie Eaker
Kindergarten Teacher
Chattanooga

Amanda Eddington
9th & 10th Grade Humanities Teacher
Memphis

Amanda Edens
5th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Tiffeney Edmondson
Paraprofessional
Madison

Courtney Edwards
4th Grade Teacher
Knoxville

Lauren Edwards
High School Inclusion Teacher Shelby County

Cathy Emerson
School Psychologist
Memphis

Jasmine Farrow
Principal
Chattanooga

Tonia Fidler
3rd Grade Teacher
Davidson County

Cora Fisher
5th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Benjamin Fisher
Elementary PE Teacher
Chattanooga

Madeline FitzGerald
2nd Grade Teacher
Nashville

Zephanie Flippin
Music Teacher
Hamilton County

Sally Foster
Associate Director of Talent
Nashville

Aaron Fowles
7th Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Rebecca Fowlkes
Nurse Practitioner
Chattanooga

Albert Franklin
Chemist
Memphis

Lurlynn Franklin
Educator
Memphis

Kerissa Frazier
School Counselor
Davidson County

Mary Friskics-Warren
Education Supporter
Nashville

Judith Gallagher
Hamilton County

Jessica Garcia-Guajardo
Middle School ELL Teacher
Nashville

Catherine Gatewood-Keim
Professor
Clarksville

Dana Gentry
8th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Diarese George
Executive Director, TECA
Montgomery County

Brittenee George
11th & 12th Grade Teacher
Montgomery County

Kiya Gholson
Middle School Teacher
Memphis

Allison Gill
High School Social Studies Teacher
Knoxville

Keilani Goggins
National Center for Teacher Residencies
Murfreesboro

Chasitie Goodman
Assistant Principal
Davidson

Vilmaris E. González
Sr. Manager of Engagement & Operations, The Education Trust in Tennessee
Nashville

Alexia Gotway
7th Grade Teacher
Pleasant View

Keunta Graham
Educator
Hamilton County

Timothy Grant
At Risk Coordinator
Clarksville

Joseph Grassi
Computer Science Teacher
Nashville

Leah Green
3rd Grade Teacher
Shelby County

Timothy Green, Jr.
Co-Founder, Memphis Restorative Justice Coalition
Memphis

Zachary Grimes
Student Teacher
Murfreesboro

Jaime Grimsley
Consultant, Promise54
Knoxville

Bree Grosshandler
Community Member
Hamilton County

Paolo Guazzini
7th Grade Spanish
Nashville

Joseph Gutierrez
Community Advocate
Nashville

Chris Haliburton
Principal
Brownsville

Anna Handley
6th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Alvin Haney
7th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Japho Hardin
High School Teacher
Chattanooga

Tenesha Hardin
Educator
Montgomery County

Delvis Hargrove
School Office Manager
Nashville

Jasiri Harper
French Teacher
Chattanooga

Koedy Harper
Content Lead, 3rd Grade Teacher
Memphis

Daryl Harrison
Educator
Chattanooga

Jill Harry
High School Lead Teacher
Knoxville

Katie Harston
Educator
Hamilton County

Grover Harwell
Principal
Brownsville

Melody Hawkins
8th Grade Teacher
Knoxville

Anthony Hayes
6th Grade Teacher
Davidson

Maria Heerdt
Family Engagement Specialis t
Hendersonville

Marina Hefner
6th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Sheyla Helm
Admin. Records & School Financial Payroll
Nashville

Ryan Helm
High School Social Studies Teacher
Nashville

Parker Henry
Middle School ESL Teacher
Memphis

Dania Henry
2nd Grade Teacher
Davidson County

Alexia Hernandez
8th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Sheira Hicks
4th Grade ELA Teacher
Shelby County

Ranata Hickson
8th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Kristen Hill
Memphis

Haley Hodgson
2nd Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Hannah Hogan
11th & 12th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Lemuel Holifield
Pre-Service Educator Trainer
Lebanon

Neven Holland
4th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Chris Holmes
Executive Principal
Goodlettsville

Mary-Owen Holmes
U.S. History Teacher
Nashville

Julia Holt
K-4 Teacher
Brentwood

Danielle Hooper
Teacher
Chattanooga

Matthew Hooper
Middle School Spanish Teacher
Memphis

Trey House
Middle School Teacher
Nashville

Emily Howard
Professional Learning Developer
Shelby County

Christie Howell
Teacher, 1st Grade EL
Davidson County

Vivian Hubby
High School Spanish Teacher
Memphis

Megan Hubler
Kindergarten Teacher
Chattanooga

Kayla Inclán
9th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Gwendolyn Jackson
Secondary Special Education Educator
Knoxville

Canadra Jenkins
8th Grade Teacher
Clarksville

Oronde Jenkins, Sr.
Licensing Manager
Hermitage

Elizabeth Jepsen
8th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Carol Johnson
Chattanooga

Jessica Kaljaj
Educator
Knoxville

Elizabeth Kamath
Special Education Teacher
Memphis

Jess Kellogg
Parent
Christiana

Randi Kersey
High School SPED &
Math Teacher
Memphis

KeAnna Kilpatrick
School Library Media Specialist
Clarksville

Karyn Kinnon
7th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Ella Koehl
6th Grade Teacher
Davidson County

Tiffany Ku
Educator
Nashville

Shawn Kurrelmeier-Lee
Chief Reading Officer
Hamilton County

Mindy Lane
Therapist
Hamilton County

Tory Lang
Middle School Science Teacher
Shelby County

Tammy Lauderdale
2nd Grade Teacher
Madison

Faith Laughlin
University Professor
Hamilton

Jose Lazo
Educator
Rutherford

Keshia Lee
7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher
Clarksville

LaGenia Lee
8th Grade History Teacher
Franklin

Wilma Lefler
High School EL Teacher
Nashville

Andrea Leray
7th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Pennie Leggett
Chattanooga

Lerkenda Little
4th Grade Teacher
Shelby County

Corie Llera
Nashville

Devonya Longino
Parent
Germantown

Erika Lowe
Educator
Memphis

Rebecca Lucas
Professor
Alcoa
Barbara Lussier
Educator
Brentwood

Susan Lydon
Educator
Hamilton County

Brian Lynch
Teacher
Hopkinsville

Chelsea Macomber
6th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Erin Magliozzi
Teacher and Coach
Memphis

Erika Martin
Instructional Coach
Chattanooga

Juan Pablo Martinez
Manager, Alumni Experience, TFA Nashville-Chattanooga
Nashville

Bianca Martinez
6th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Cameron Mashburn
School Social Worker
Hamilton County

Sarah Mason
3rd Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Robbin Masters
School Network Director
Nashville

Karlena Mayfield
EL 1st Grade Teacher
Nashville

Dr. Aleisha McCallie
Assistant Principal
Hamilton County

Andrea McClain
Educator
Nashville

Susan McClough
3rd Grade Teacher
Memphis

Donagrant McCluney-McDaniel, PhD
High School Educator
Davidson County

Allison Mckibben
5th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Dedrick Messenger
K-4 Teacher
Christiana

Jaclyn Michael
College Instructor
Chattanooga

Rebecca Michaels
Reading Interventionist
Chattanooga

Bobby Miles
Principal
Nashville

Crystal Miller
Educational Assistant
Antioch

Kevin Miller
4th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Shemece Mills
Teacher
Hamilton County

Brecia Mitchell
Teacher & Paraprofessional
Davidson County

Ally Moore
Kindergarten Teacher
Hamilton County

Malorie Moose
Wilson County

April Morris
Teacher
Chattanooga

MaKenzie Mosby
7th Grade Math Teacher and Grade Level Chair
Oak Ridge

Marlene Moxness
High School Physics and Computer Science Teacher
Nashville

Kaitlin Mullen
1st Grade ELA Teacher
Nashville

Abigail Music
School Counselor
Chattanooga

Gordon Myers
Pastor
Arlington

Shetaria Neal
Restorative Practice RA
Knoxville

Katherine Nelligan
Content Specialist, Dean of Curriculum & Instruction
Nashville

Lagra Newman
Principal
Nashville

Tremeta Norman
Family Involvement Specialist
Nashville

Gary Norris
3rd Grade Teacher
Murfreesboro

Cassie Norton
U.S. History Teacher
Nashville

Amy Nystrand
4th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Daven Oglesby
Exceptional Education Teacher Antioch

Greg O’Loughlin
High School English Educator
Nashville

Sarah Olivo
Educator
Chattanooga

Henry Oston
Educator
Hamilton County

Madeline Otting
4th Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Erica Outlaw
6th Grade Teacher
Clarksville

Trina Owens
Special Education teacher
Memphis

Brittany Paschall
Teacher Resident
Nashville

Haley Pavlovich
4th Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Kathryn Pawley
3rd Grade Teacher
Hamilton

Alyssa Pearman
8th Grade ELA Teacher
Jackson

Darlene Perry
Teacher
Nolensville

Rebecca Peterson
Teacher Educator
Brentwood

Adriene Petmecky
Mental Health Therapist
Chattanooga

Adena Petsch
Academic Dean
Nolensville

Sherrye Phelps
2nd Grade Teacher
Davidson County

Ann Pickens
High School Social Studies Teacher
Cleveland, Bradley County

Bridget Pincham
Educator
Davidson County

Kelsey Pingry
School Based Therapist
Signal Mountain

Olivia Poindexter
5th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Tanjarae Porter
Dance Educator, Reading Specialist
Nashville

Marisa Porter
2nd Grade Teacher
Hamilton County

Meili Powell
Literacy Coach
Memphis

Joseph Powell
Memphis

Alyssa Prindl
High School English Teacher
Nashville

Chelsea Pugh
Paraprofessional
Davidson County

Gini Pupo-Walker
State Director, The Education Trust in Tennessee
Nashville

Rosemary Quinones
Bilingual Cultural Mentor
Memphis

Courtney Rayburn
Educator
Rutherford County

Luis Rodriguez
High School Teacher
Chattanooga

Jucinta Rome
Social Worker
Birchwood

Peter Rosenberger
Junior Seminar Teacher
Memphis

Ariel Rouse
Educator
Cordova

Jessica Rozell
8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Nashville

Whitney Rushing
Educator
Franklin

Shauna Russell
Director of Academics
Kingston Springs

Sherell Sago
8th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Daniel Saint James
7th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Evetty Satterfield
Champion for Black Children Knoxville

Carole Scates
Parent, Educator
Smyrna

Penny Schmitz
ESL Teacher
Memphis

Benjamin Scott
21st Century Skills Teacher
Nashville

Devon Scott
Educator
Nashville

Molly Scott
Kindergarten Teacher
Shelby County

Elizabeth Self
Teacher Educator
Nashville

Natalie Sessoms
Ed-Tech Sales Research & Ed Non-Profit Coordinator
Nashville

Rachel Sherbakoff
Academic Dean
Nashville

Bria Sibley
Teacher
Chattanooga

Bria Sibley
Teacher
Chattanooga

Kellie Simbulan
6th Grade Math Teacher
Shelby County

Jessica Simmons
Educator
Franklin

McCormick Sinclair
Graduate Student, Vanderbilt
Nashville

Samantha Singer
Literacy Coach
Nashville

Marcy Singer-Gabella
Teacher Educator
Nashville

DeAnn Smallwood
Educator
Memphis

Sheri Smith
Middle School Counselor
Winchester

Yashica Smith
Counselor
Nashville

Joshua Smith
Integrated Math High School Teacher
Nashville

Madison Socks
9th Grade Biology Teacher
Nashville

Ashlyn Sparks
10th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Sarah Stackhouse
2nd Grade Teacher
Nashville

Marcus Stanton
Educator
Knox County

Tawanda Starks
Paraprofessional
Nashville

Brennan Steele
7th Grade Teacher
Memphis

Barbara Stengel
Educator
Lancaster

Hannah Stephens
First Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Colton Stephens
Instructional Coach
Chattanooga

Amber Stewart
High School Spanish Teacher
Memphis

Ana Stinson
Classroom Teacher
Chattanooga

Tanisha Taylor
Special Education Teacher
Montgomery County

Shante Telfer
Educator
Nashville

Michael Tharpe
HR Coordinator
Clarksville

Shanacia Thomasson
6th Grade Teacher
Clarksville

Zaia Thombre
Director of Talent and Strategic Development
Hermitage

Portia Thompson
7th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Chattanooga

Jade Thornton
College Counselor
Memphis

Holly Tilden
Teacher Educator
Nashville

Daniel Tilden
Pediatrician
Nashville

Ally Tilley
School Director
Nashville

Israel Tovar
Teacher
Nashville

Josalyn Tresvant
Elementary PLC Professional Learning Coach
Cordova

Emma Trout
Dean of Academic Operations
Nashville

David Tuttle
Orthopedic Engineer, Father of Kindergarteners
Memphis

Anna Tuttle
Dietitian
Memphis

Rick Vanosdall
Citizen, Parent, Learning Advocate, Author
Thompsons Station

Dr. Edna Varner
Educator
Hamilton County

Liza Vaughn
Literacy Coach
Nolensville

Kathryn Vaughn
Elementary Art Teacher
Covington

Meredith Waites
2nd Grade Teacher
Nashville

Lauren Walker
University of Memphis Staff
Bartlett

Shannon Ward
2nd Grade Teacher
Franklin

Iletha Washington
Educator
Shelby County
Jenna Watson
Social Studies Teacher
Knoxville

Brady Watson
Knoxville

Dr. Tamara Welsh
Educator
Chattanooga

Yolanda West
Pre-K Teacher
Goodlettsville

Shandra West-Currie
Dean of Culture
Davidson County

BriAngela Weston
4th Grade Teacher
Nashville

Jashari White
School Based Therapist
Chattanooga

Reginald M. White
Manager, External Relations
The Education Trust in Tennessee
Nashville

Taylor White
6th Grade Teacher
Shelby County

Courtney Wilkes
Curriculum & Instruction Leader, Literacy Coach
Nashville

Angela Willbanks
K-4 ESL Teacher
Memphis

Arthur Williams
Instructional Coach
Chattanooga

Sonji Williams
Teacher
Chattanooga

Rosalyn Williams
Assistant Principal
Adams

Gerald Williams
Middle School Teacher
Hamilton

Jean Wills
Educator
Brownsville

Angelica Wright
1st Grade Teacher
Antioch

Lydia Wright
8th Grade Science Teacher
Nashville

Rochelle Wright
Franklin

Alexis Wyatt
3rd Grade Teacher
Chattanooga

Dr. Troy Yarbrough
6th grade teacher
Murfreesboro

Misti Yearby
Clerical Assistant
Chattanooga

Christa Young
Kindergarten Teacher
Hamilton County

Anthony Zermeno
High School Teacher
Chattanooga