Smith County board upholds suspension of teacher after reading multiple allegations

The Smith County Board of Education voted to uphold the director of schools' suspension of tenured teacher Jason Robert Smith, finding that if the charges as presented were true they would merit suspension but not termination. The board's decision followed a lengthy presentation of allegations and a pair of roll-call votes.

Legal counsel presented a written statement enumerating allegations that span multiple incidents, including an April 10, 2026 classroom encounter in which a student reported being told, according to the charges, "get a 0, burn in hell, I don't care." Counsel said the charges include repeated boundary violations, alleged requests that a female student lift her sweatshirt, and the promotion in class of a play described in the charges as containing repeated profanity and sexual references. Counsel read the statutory bases cited in the document, including Tennessee Code Annotated sections 49-5-501 and 49-5-1003.

Board members debated whether to pursue termination or to uphold the director's suspension. A motion to terminate (made on the assumption that the alleged facts were true) failed on a roll call. The board then voted to uphold the suspension without pay through the end of the school year. The chair directed that Mr. Smith and his attorney be notified of the board's action and that a copy of the charges be provided to the minutes via text.

Several board members stressed the limits of the night's action. One member noted that the board's vote answers a narrow statutory question: whether the alleged acts, if true, would warrant suspension or termination. Counsel explained that Mr. Smith may request an impartial hearing officer to examine evidence, hear witnesses and make findings, and may appeal thereafter.

Community members and some board members urged caution and context. A public commenter who identified herself as connected to the program urged that further investigation and conversation occur. Another board member said he had known Mr. Smith for years and expressed reluctance to vote to fire.

The board recorded its votes by roll call and announced the outcome: the motion to terminate did not carry; the subsequent motion to uphold the suspension passed. The director and counsel were instructed to notify Mr. Smith and his attorney about next steps, including his right to a hearing and appeal.