Nashville teachers allege district pressure to fabricate grades

Former Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers are alleging that district administrators pressured them to fabricate failing grades for students. Samira Hardcastle, the 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year at John F. Kennedy Middle School, resigned in May after eight years of service, citing grade tampering as a primary reason.

During a Metro Schools board meeting, Hardcastle testified that she was instructed to change a student's failing grade following intervention from a parent. When she refused, district administrators reportedly altered the grade themselves. Hardcastle expressed concern that such practices create “false entitlement” in students. She also alleged that teachers are discouraged from reporting behavioral issues to protect the district's reputation.

A second former teacher, Diana Wills, also alleged in resignation documents that administrators directed her to change failing grades. While administrators claimed Wills failed to notify parents of failing marks as required by policy, Wills maintained that the pressure to alter grades was systemic.