MATTHEW HAWN v. SULLIVAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ET AL. - Articles

All Content

MATTHEW HAWN v. SULLIVAN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ET AL.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 29, 2026

Head Comment: FRIERSON oncurring in part and dissenting in part

Court: TN Court of Appeals

Attorneys 1: Janet S. Hayes and Chris W. McCarty, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the appellants, Michael Hughes, Mark Ireson, Randall Jones, Evelyn Rafalowski, Paul Robinson, Mary Rouse, Matthew Spivey, and Sullivan County Board of Education.

Attorneys 2: Richard L. Colbert and Sarah M. Ingalls, Franklin, Tennessee, for the appellee, Matthew Hawn.

Attorneys 3: Alice O’Brien, Katherine E. Lamm, and Chad Nowlan, Washington, DC, for Amici Curiae National Education Association and The National Network of State Teachers of the Year.

Judge(s): DAVIS

This appeal concerns a local board of education’s decision to dismiss a tenured teacher. The teacher sought judicial review of his dismissal in the trial court. The trial court found no grounds for dismissal and reversed the board’s decision. The board appeals. We conclude that the teacher was insubordinate in showing his class a video containing profanity without parental consent. However, this lone act of insubordination did not warrant the drastic step of dismissal given the teacher’s long record of good service. We affirm the trial court’s judgment as modified.

Attachments: