Tennessee Conservative News Seeking Public Assistance With Information On Religious Firing Of Jefferson County Schools Employee

Image Credit: David Seal

The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal]-

On or about October 16, 2025, the director of Jefferson County, Tennessee schools sent the school board a text message announcing the firing of an employee for “passing out religious material.” Beyond that, the district is not transparent with additional details.

A second employee was reprimanded for religious activity according to communication with board members. 

Freedom of religion is a critical component of the First Amendment and we need your help in obtaining information on this unfolding issue in Jefferson County.

The Tennessee Conservative News reached out to the Director of Jefferson County Schools seeking answers to 15 questions related to the announced religious firing and one religion-based employee reprimand. The director declined to answer our questions.

“After consideration of your request, I wanted to inform you that I will not be providing any answers to your questions on recent employee disciplinary actions.” – said. Dr. Tommy Arnold

Those questions included requests for the following.

Name of School Where Policy Offences Occurred

Specific District Personnel Policies Violated

Position of Employee(s)

Type of Religious Material(s) in Question

Where the Offences Occurred

Number of Students Impacted

To see a complete list of questions presented to the school director, a link is provided HERE.

According to the communication, the personnel action was taken within the two weeks preceding the date of the text message. Based on information obtained by a second records request, a Classroom Assistant, Receptionist, and Attendance Secretary separated from employment from the district on October 1, 2025, and a Cafeteria Worker on October 2, 2025.

No other district employee separated from the school district between October 3, 2025, and the date of the text message from Arnold to school board members.

The Tennessee Conservative News has confidentially inquired through third parties including Jefferson County teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, maintenance workers, teacher’s aides, and other school district workers to obtain information on the religious firing and employee reprimand.

No information has surfaced on the religious firing or on the religion-based reprimand. 

A group of citizen activists is reviewing school system policies and procedures with the aim of exploring district policies that would have permitted the religious firing of an employee and a reprimand of another. So far, the school district has not identified a specific policy that it used to justify the religious firing of the employee.

Our inquiries on this matter have apparently changed the mode of communication between the director of schools and board members as evidenced by the following email communication. The director is issuing caution to board members about potential records requests for their phone records. No such records have been requested during this investigation.

If you can provide the Tennessee Conservative News with any information about the religious firing or the employee reprimand in the Jefferson County School District, please contact us at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com

Our aim is to obtain answers to critical questions that have constitutional implications. All correspondence will be kept confidential.

About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.