Left-Leaning Nonprofit Continues To Advocate For Educator Diversity In Williamson County Despite New “Dismantle DEI In Employment Act”

Image Credit: Canva

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

Earlier this year, Tennessee lawmakers passed the “Dismantle DEI in Employment Act.” 

This new state law has resulted in school districts across the state throwing out diversity, equity, and inclusion policies previously in place for their hiring practices. 

However, a left-leaning nonprofit organization called One WillCo, is still advocating for “educator diversity” in Tennessee schools.

The Tennessee Conservative previously reported on this organization’s efforts to get the Confederate flag removed from the official Williamson County seal.

“You always want to hire the best person for the job because you want the best outcome for students, but if you keep hiring people who look the same, sound the same, and have the same ideas, then you know you’re not getting the best, right? Because we live in a diverse society, so we really want to be intentional about that,” Jeff Steward, Vice President of One WillCo, told News Channel 2.

HB 622/SB 1083 was sponsored in the Tennessee General Assembly this year by freshman Rep. Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville-District 68) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27).

The bill text acknowledged that the General Assembly finds local governments, local school districts and public institutions of higher education “are at their most effective” when employees “are the most highly qualified candidates for employment” with their respective employer and that “hiring decisions should be based on merit rather than any other metric.” 

The legislation passed in the House of Representatives on April 17^th by a 73-24 vote, receiving passage in the Senate just a few days later by a 27-6 vote.

Read more information about the “Dismantle DEI in Employment Act” and the changes it makes to Tennessee state law HERE.

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) board member, Erin Block, has since acknowledged that if it wasn’t for the new state law, the public school district would not be rolling back its DEI initiatives. 

“I find this particular directive the opposite of what should be intended for our school system and our society as a whole,” another MNPS board member, Abigail Taylor, stated during a July 22^nd board meeting. 

“Having a same-race teacher improves outcomes across the board. It decreases dropout risk and improves academic performance… and for white students, it shows that the exposure to different race educators contributes to dispelling stereotypes and getting rid of these implicit biases that can be so harmful later in life,” said One WillCo board member, Cory Martin, referencing a 2018 Tennessee Department of Education study.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.  You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.