My Letter of Resignation

June 3, 2024

Dr. Langford and Sumner County School Board Members:

After twenty-nine years of working for Sumner County Schools, I considered it part of my family. Not only did I work for Sumner County, but my children went through Sumner County Schools, where they forged relationships that still exist today. In all the years I have been in Sumner County, I have been led to believe that we, as educators, should invest ourselves in our school community, advocate for our students, and strive to provide the best education possible. However, I have seen, this year in particular, that is not true, or it is only true when it is convenient to certain individuals.  

During the twenty-nine years I have served in Sumner County, I have had the privilege of teaching at Howard Elementary, Lakeside Park Elementary, and Jack Anderson Elementary. I became a Teacher Leader in the very first year of the program and continued on to become a Lead Educator at Jack Anderson and Station Camp. Finally, I came to Benny Bills Elementary as an assistant principal and then principal. Throughout my career, I have served in numerous leadership roles, and the county has invested in me as an educator. I earned my Instructional Coaching certification with the first cohort to go through Lipscomb University and then continued on to earn my Ed.S. When the opportunity arose to complete my doctorate at Lipscomb University, I again joined the first cohort and completed that degree. I have committed my career to Sumner County Schools and to the process of continuing to grow as an educator.  

Throughout my entire career, I have consistently received excellent scores on evaluations and received positive feedback for my work. During my 6 years as principal at Benny Bills Elementary, I have fully invested myself in the school and community. As a result, I have transformed the culture of the school into what it is today. This year, for the first time, we celebrated growth in our scores. This growth is attributed to the work I have put into that building for the past 6 years, the hard work of the teachers who have stuck it out in spite of difficulties, and it happened in spite of the complete lack of support from our central office staff and district leadership. 

Throughout my years as principal, I have done nothing but advocate for the needs of Benny Bills Elementary. Over the past six years, I have watched behavior issues grow. Each year at the end of the school year, I have staff come to me in tears because they are choosing to leave Benny Bills Elementary for their own mental well-being or because they do not want their own children to attend BBE. Teachers come to school each and every day only to be yelled at, hit, kicked, or even spit on; however, they still sit down with these students and hug them, talk to them, and work to teach them. They work together to try to find ways to reach these difficult students and move them forward in spite of the enormous obstacles that are placed in their path. Students have to exist in their classrooms in fear of another student’s explosive behavior. They have to endure room clears because of extreme behaviors. They themselves are often the ones who are hit, kicked, or hurt during these outbursts; however, this year, in particular, I have repeatedly been told it is a “tier I problem” when in reality, I see it is so much more than that.          

The move from the principal of a building with no history of reprimands and no conversations about the need to improve or change to the role of an assistant principal is an insult to the work that I have invested in this school district. It is a demotion that is not justified with the work history I have demonstrated over the past 29 years. To be told that I am “too consumed” with the school when all I have done is advocate for the needs of teachers and students is an insult to the work I have invested in this school. If I am no longer able to continue as the principal of Benny Bills Elementary, then I regretfully submit this letter as my resignation from Sumner County Schools.            

Sincerely, 

Kathy Vinson