Early last week, Cumberland County Schools launched an internal investigation for Cumberland County High School Visual Arts teacher David Wilcox, 35, who violated students’ rights in the classroom.
Cumberland County Schools concluded the investigation with a suspension letter that stated Wilcox was to be placed on a two-day suspension without pay Jan. 8-9. Director of Schools Rebecca Farley issued the letter to Wilcox on Jan. 7.
The Cumberland County Director of Human Resources Neeli Jolley informed the Cumberland County Finance Department on Jan. 7 about Wilcox’s two-day suspension without compensation.
Returning from suspension, Wilcox resumed classroom teaching Monday, Jan. 12. However, CCHS Principal Cassie Warner, or a designee, will henceforth be required to review his lesson plans weekly.
The Crossville Chronicle independently requested the personnel records and communication regarding disciplinary actions from Cumberland County Schools to verify the information on social media.
As reported first by the Chronicle last week, the internal investigation was launched because Wilcox questioned students about personal topics in a school assignment.
CCHS parent Brittany Barrett Seymour told the Chronicle at that time that Wilcox asked the students to complete a questionnaire assignment called “Two Worlds” that had the following categories for the students to fill out: age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status and sexual orientation.
During the investigation, Farley stated in her letter to Wilcox that he requested that his art students complete a “Ring of Culture diagram.” Wilcox confirmed this information on Jan. 5 to Cumberland County Schools via a written statement/email, according to Farley’s suspension letter.
Farley cited Cumberland County Board Policy 5.201 — Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers to Wilcox regarding the explanation of the suspension.
According to policy 5.201, “A Director of Schools/designee may suspend a non-tenured teacher for incompetence, inefficiency, neglect of duty, unprofessional conduct and insubordination.”
Farley also cited that Wilcox violated Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-6-1308 by not providing prior notice to the students’ parents about the subject matter and Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-5-1003 by not adhering to federal and state law.
Farley said in the suspension letter that she learned that Wilcox had already received a reprimand from Warner earlier in the school year to “remain more aware and respectful of such professional boundaries.”
Farley cited that Wilcox disregarded the Tennessee Code of Ethics in the matter of the “ethical canons” in the code that an educator shall “(9) Not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement; (19) Maintain a professional approach with the student at all times.”
Farley said that it was clear, based on the amount of feedback from parents, that asking for the information from the students could have exposed them to embarrassment.
Farley warned Wilcox that any additional “missteps/issues” in the matter would result in “more serious discipline, up to and including your dismissal as a Cumberland County Schools employee.”
“I hope it never comes to that, as I hope you will thoughtfully consider what happened here and learn from the same as your career progresses,” said Farley in the suspension letter.
The Chronicle reached out to Wilcox for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
Seymour told the Chronicle she and some additional parents intended to speak at the upcoming Cumberland County Board of Education meeting Jan. 22.
In accordance with board policy 1.404, the public comments must adhere to that policy, which states “comments shall be limited to topics listed on the agenda.” The Wilcox investigation is not on the agenda as of Thursday afternoon.