CHS timeline, fallout of alleged grade changing
Former CHS Principal Dan Jenkins left a handwritten resignation letter in April 2024. The date of resignation was presumed to be April 12, 2024, even though the note listed May 12 as the effective date..
In a 17-page document outlining the process for the termination of tenured teacher Rachel Jones and non-tenured teacher Clay Turpin, and the resignation of CHS Principal Dan Jenkins, Parrott said he and central office staff began the investigation because, “something was amiss at CHS.”
The document does not outline what first brought the situation to the attention of the superintendent.
However, once the investigation began, it showed CHS students coded for credit recovery did not have end of course testing, yet those students did show up in credit recovery codes as complete.
The investigation found that “multiple” CHS students were on track for graduation but had not completed the required course work.
The investigation also noted that “a number” of CHS graduates from the previous school year (2022-23) may not have completed or passed required testing.
All of the issues were self-reported by the Anderson County School System to the Tennessee Department of Education.
FIRINGS and RESIGNATION
Parrott and central office administrator Suzi Schmidt met with Jones and Jenkins separately on April 12 with the intent of placing them on “suspension status” pending the completion of the investigation.
The document said Jones accepted her suspension and “expressed remorse.” Jenkins, however, turned in a handwritten, one-sentence letter of resignation saying, “I resign my post effective 5/12/24.” Parrot noted Jenkins’ resignation was actually effective April 12, the day of the meeting, and was confirmed later by means of texts from Jenkins.
The initial findings were turned over to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney General Dave Clark “in case the situation also called for a criminal investigation.” All interviews by the Anderson County School System were halted until given a “green light” by the Sheriff’s Office and Clark’s office.
Beginning March 25, the system worked to identify CHS seniors who appeared not to be on track to graduate, and meetings were set up with them and their families.
After being given the “green light” from law enforcement, Jones was again interviewed on May 2. Jones detailed how she was asked by a school counselor in January 2023 to enroll a student in virtual courses. She said she asked Jenkins to confirm the move, which he did. She was told, “Get him out, like now.”
Jones confirmed the student’s record showed he had completed five courses in eight days.
She confirmed that 485 score changes had been recorded through Oddyseyware – a credit recovery software – under her account and she admitted to skipping questions and skipping assignments so the students could achieve the required grades.
Jones confirmed other CHS students had received similar grade changes by skipping or taking out assignments. She said it started with a couple of students “here or there,” and grew.
Jones said it was not the only time something like that had happened.
“It felt like a lot last year (2022-23),” she said.
“Last year was probably the worst year – the worst year – for all of that,” she told school system investigators Schmidt and Assistant Superintendent Greg Deal.
Jones said it was “not as bad” during the 2023-24 school year, but she informed Jenkins she wouldn’t do it anymore.
Jones said that is when teacher Clay Turpin was given oversight of the credit recovery program.
Turpin was interviewed April 26 and 29 by Schmidt and Deal.
His interview was called “less initially forthcoming,” but there were still a number of revelations and admissions.
Turpin said he received no training on the credit recovery functions.
He said he was initially trying to get the in-school suspension position at CHS when Jenkins suggested he also take on the credit recovery role.
He had been told he would receive training for the credit recovery role, but eventually he was simply asked if he “had the hang of it.”
Turpin said he was initially under the impression that students enrolled in Edgenuity – another credit recovery program – had taken whatever course they were behind in and failed. He said he later learned there were CHS seniors who were getting their required credits for courses through credit recovery and Edgenuity.
He said he learned he had students who were seen as “troublemakers” and it was his role to “get them done as soon as possible and get them out of school.”
Between Jan. 5,and April 15, Turpin’s Edgenuity account showed 1,009 student grade changes.
Turpin said he had been told by Jenkins and “multiple school counselors” to “keep his students’ grades above 60.”
Turpin admitted to going through grades and changing them to be above 60. He added “others were doing it and aware of it … if this is wrong somebody would stop us doing it.”
Jones and Turpin were fired for unprofessional conduct, insubordination, and neglect of duty on May 8.