Students and parents urge board to restore North Davidson ag teacher after reassignment

Dozens of students and several community members told the Davidson County Board of Education on May 5 that removing one agriculture teaching position at North Davidson High School will reduce course options and damage the school’s FFA program.

Levi Russell, a ninth‑grade student at North Davidson High School, said administrators informed students last week that the school is "losing an agriculture class and teacher," and warned the change would eliminate classes such as small engines and reduce offerings in ag mechanics. "By removing the position, we are not only losing six possible agriculture classes, but many students are losing the opportunity to take an agriculture class," Russell said.

Other students described the role as central to the school's community and future pathways. "Agriculture education is by far one of the most important departments in our school system," said Olivia Romblad, who told the board she had registered for multiple agriculture courses that she now may not be able to take. North Davidson FFA president Lindley Brinkley said the program helps members network with professionals and that removing course sections could deny about 50 incoming freshmen entry to FFA this fall.

Students and parents offered differing estimates of the scale of the program. Danica Reagor, a North Davidson sophomore and county officer, told the board "we have over 400 students currently enrolled in some sort of agriculture class, and an additional 150 upcoming freshmen signed up for an ag class next year." Other speakers said the upcoming freshman cohort alone included "over 50" students who had signed up for introductory agricultural coursework. These enrollment figures were reported by speakers and reflect what they said at the meeting.

Several students noted a rule of the National FFA Organization: to be a chapter member, students must be enrolled in an agriculture course. Speakers warned that cutting courses will shrink FFA membership and reduce leadership opportunities. "To be in the FFA, you have to be in an ag class," Skyler Sitton said. "With losing this teaching position, we are losing six ag classes. Students will run out of course options and won't be eligible to be in the FFA anymore."

Speakers repeatedly asked the board to "reconsider" the staffing decision and to preserve classes and advisors who provide hands‑on instruction and career pathways. Several student speakers named Leanna Byerly as the teacher who was reassigned or whose position was removed; they said Byerly has served as a teacher and FFA advisor who inspired students and helped prepare them for college and careers.

Board members did not take immediate action on any staffing change during the public‑comment period. The superintendent and other district staff later continued the meeting agenda on curriculum and operational items.

The public comments on agriculture took up a sustained portion of the meeting’s public‑comment segment and drew multiple students, parents and community members to the podium to ask the board to reverse or revisit the staffing decision.