‘It's the angriest and most disappointed I've ever seen our teachers': Williamson County school board adopts new science curriculum, rejects committee recommendation
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Williamson County Schools has faced some resistance after the board adopted a new science curriculum that rejected the recommendations of a committee and most teachers within the school system.
'The dismissal of the teachers' recommendation and the committee's recommendation in this case is really a low blow,' Former WCS teacher, Charity Hazen, told News 2.
Williamson County school board debates AP Psychology textbook due to LGBTQ+ content
Before changing career paths and accepting a job in the corporate world, Hazen was a teacher in Williamson County for nearly a decade.
'I was just completely floored to see the board not just not take the teacher's recommendation, but to truly go in the complete opposite direction…to me, it was just a shocking departure from the advice and expertise that our teachers bring,' Hazen added.
Last Monday, board members voted seven to two to adopt a K-8 science curriculum called STEMscopes, which only 7% of K-second grade teachers, about 10% of third-fifth grade teachers, and zero middle school teachers recommended.
However, WCS board member and scientist Dr. Claire Reeves said the STEMscopes curriculum offered more evidence of student success than the teacher and committee recommended options, adding the textbook wouldn't just 'teach to the test.'
'It allows for prioritizing the hands-on piece and print materials that will give parents and kids greater exposure to science on a daily basis,' Reeves said in last week's board meeting.
However, some teachers shared concerns about the textbook reading like an encyclopedia and loosely aligning with standards.
'I really was discouraged by the fact that no middle school teachers chose the curriculum that the board ultimately did,' former WCS board member K.C. Haugh told News 2.
One Tennessee law relating to school districts reads that board members 'shall make their adoption upon recommendations of such committees.'
'There are times when things were close and that we would ask pointed questions, but honestly, it should be rare [to override the teacher recommendations],' Haugh said. 'To be honest, it's unfortunate when that happens because this is a collaborative process.'
Current WCS board member Eric Welch has served the district for about 15 years and was in the minority to support the teachers' and the committee's recommendation.
'Right now, it's the angriest and most disappointed I've ever seen our teachers,' Welch said of teacher morale within the district.
⏩
STEMscopes will be the curriculum assigned to teachers for the next several years unless a current WCS parent, student or teacher challenges the use of instructional materials.
News 2 reached out to one current WCS teacher who said educators have been advised not to do media interviews, but Welch said dozens of teachers have emailed him since the vote, saying they feel disrespected by the board's decision.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
National Hurricane Center has made changes to forecasting – What you need to know
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1st, and since last season, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that they made some changes to their forecasting. The National Hurricane Center has made several updates to its forecast protocol and graphics in order to improve messaging, accuracy, and more advanced warning. According to the National Hurricane Center, the cone of uncertainty will be 3-5% smaller than in years past. This will better pinpoint where the hurricane will go. The cone of uncertainty, also called the potential track area, is the forecast of where the center of the storm will be in the next five days. 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be busy: How that could impact Tennessee They will continue to make the experimental forecast graphic that includes inland tropical alerts. Tropical Storm watches and warnings, along with Hurricane watches and warnings, are overlaid on top of the cone of uncertainty. This makes it easier to see the scope of the impacts the wind will have on inland areas. Here's a comparison of the old look and the experimental look. Along with the addition of the inland watches and warnings, they also made some slight changes to the cone of uncertainty. The old way drew the cone of uncertainty with a different pattern for forecast days 4 and 5. Now, the 5-day forecast cone of uncertainty will look the same throughout. Continuing with the theme of improved forecast accuracy, the National Hurricane Center will issue alerts and forecast cones earlier for storms that have yet to form. This means the NHC will have the ability to issue tropical advisory products up to 72 hours before the anticipated arrival of the storm. The old way was just 48 hours ahead of the storm's forecast arrival. ⏩ The NHC will also start issuing a rip current risk map. This product was added because, according to the NHC, during the past decade, there has been an increase in surf and rip current fatalities in the United States. Below is an example of what it will look like. The rip current risk map will be issued when there is one or more named storms in the ocean. They will use information from local National Weather Service offices to determine the risk of rip currents. The National Hurricane Center said it would like more feedback to continue improving its messaging and forecasts. To give feedback to the NHC, go here. Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kelly Donoghue receives the News 2 Cool Teacher award
Making a lasting difference in the lives of students, Media Technology and Math teacher Mrs. Kelly Donoghue is regarded as an influential and multi-talented educator at Summerville High School. She's also a former News 2 Chief Photojournalist. Mrs. Donoghue receives our last News 2 Cool Teacher Award for this school year. Kelly Donoghue has been a teacher at Summerville High School for twelve years, teaching Math and Engineering. She is in her ninth year as the Media Technology teacher, teaching a film and broadcasting course. Media Technology has a weekly news show that shares stories developed by students that impact or celebrate the lives of other students, complete with weekly news meetings, with Donoghue serving as the news director. Students also create a short film from start to finish. It's a role that comes easily for Donoghue. The New Jersey native served as a Chief Photojournalist for News 2 for six years. Students and school leaders say they love Donoghue's sense of humor, her passion, and the expertise she brings to the classroom every day. Mrs. Donoghue says her students have changed her life, and she feels Blessed. Congratulations, Mrs. Kelly Donoghue! Even though the school year is wrapping up, you can still nominate a Cool School, Teacher, or Principal for this upcoming school year. Send an email to Octavia Mitchell at omitchell@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Summerville High School's Dr. Michelle Leviner named a News 2 Cool Teacher
Very smart, funny, genuine, and cool are just some of the words Summerville High School students and school leaders use repeatedly when they talk about Media Technology and Math teacher Mrs. Kelly Donoghue, and for us here at News 2, we can add three more words to the list: talented former colleague. Dorchester District Two for our last Cool School Teacher report for the 2024-2025 school year. Kelly Donoghue has been a teacher at Summerville High School for 12 years, teaching Math and Engineering. She is in her ninth year as the Media Technology teacher, teaching a film and broadcasting course. It's a role that comes easily for her. The New Jersey native made her way to the Palmetto State 25 years ago and served as a chief photojournalist for News 2 for six years. After the birth of her first daughter, the mother of two changed course. She went back to school and received her master's degree in Secondary Education, specializing in Math from the Citadel. 'I really enjoyed teaching when I started. It was something that was fun for me. People had to listen to me because I think I'm funny sometimes, so to have a captive audience was really something I enjoyed,' said Donoghue. 'I didn't realize how much of an impact it would have on my life. I didn't realize how much the kids would change me, and I would change them. I know we talk a lot about the impact teachers have on students, but students have an impact on teachers, too. They are like our children. I do think those relationships we build with those kids…is probably the most important thing we do all day.' Donoghue began her career in education teaching Math and Engineering. Due to her background in television news, she was asked to teach Media Technology, a film and broadcasting course. 'She is really an amazing teacher, who has served in a lot of different ways. She's been a math teacher, an engineering teacher, and now she's our Wave TV teacher,' said Summerville High School Principal Dr. Michelle Leviner. 'We're really excited because she brings real-world experience coming from News 2 and the media. To bring that genre and experience to our students so they can learn and experience it. We are the only school in Dorchester District Two to have a news media program, so it's exciting for our kids. We're very, very lucky to have her, and she's an integral part of the Green Wave.' Media Technology has a weekly news show that shares stories developed by students that impact or celebrate the lives of other students, complete with weekly news meetings, with Donoghue serving as the news director. In this class, students create a short film from start to finish. Donoghue says, 'Every time they make an accomplishment in my classroom, or in their own life, it's a big deal, and I like to celebrate those things with them. They're amazing kids.' 'I think she's the coolest teacher here. Ms. Donoghue she was just such a great teacher, so fun to be around, so funny, always super helpful. I couldn't help myself to come back the next year, and the year after that, and I'm here again. I think she's a great person. I think genuinely one of the best teachers we have at this school, because she is passionate about what she does and she's also skilled in it. I just want to thank her for being the amazing woman that she is and for teaching us so many lessons over the years,' said eleventh-grade student Dominique Dawson. Senior Solomon Mellott says, 'I don't think she realizes how much of an impact she has had on me, but she definitely has. Mrs. Donoghue is one of, if not the most influential, people in my life besides my mom. When I came to my freshman year in her classroom, at the time I wanted to be a librarian or astronaut, then through her exposing me to journalism and teaching me how everything works, I realized the love I have for every part of the process, and I realized what I want to do. She's really funny and really smart, and she's really really good at identifying what different students' strengths are and directing them toward what they need to do.' Next school year, Mrs. Donoghue is hoping to start a podcast for the program. When asked how she feels being named a Cool School Teacher, she responds, 'Kind of crazy to think that I'm cool. I think my younger daughter would disagree, but I think I'm cool you know. I'm just excited that somebody else noticed, excited. I'm kind of a geek. I'm kind of a nerd. I joke and kid around, but I wouldn't think they view me as cool, so it's neat to see they think I'm cool too. I think I'm cool, but they think I'm cool. I'm not brainwashing them or anything, laugh.' Although the story of her classroom journey has a unique beginning. Donoghue says she is thankful for her new focus. 'The kids are what make it worth it at the end of the day. You don't have to pay me a ton of money, you don't have to tell me you like me every day. It's about the kids. It's about doing what's best for the kids. At the end of the day, it's about being here for them. I'm just very Blessed, very Blessed.' Even though the school year is wrapping up, you can still nominate a Cool School, Teacher, or Principal for this upcoming school year. Send an email to Octavia Mitchell at omitchell@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
