Superintendent suspends teacher pending investigation after social-media post; board hears public comment

Superintendent Jason Golden said the district suspended a teacher without pay pending an investigation after a reporter brought to the district’s attention a social-media post by a Williamson County Schools employee that "glorify[ed] or trivialize[d] violence." Golden described the suspension and the steps the district will follow, and several parents, teachers and community members used the public-comment period to urge either discipline or defense of the teacher.

Golden told the board the district received a report Saturday about an employee’s post regarding the shooting death of Charlie Kirk. He said the district issued a statement to the media and notified staff, and that the district suspended the employee without pay "pending investigation," which Tennessee law allows. He outlined the process: the employee was notified of the suspension and will be given notice of the issue and an opportunity to be heard, with representation if the employee chooses. Golden said the investigation will consider the employee’s statement, any…