A Rossview High School biology teacher has been suspended and reassigned to work from home following what school officials described as unprofessional and inappropriate comments made about her students.
On February 11, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Director Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder issued a formal letter to Vaughn Hart, outlining a one-day suspension without pay and a change in her worksite to her home. The disciplinary action stems from a series of comments Hart reportedly left for a substitute teacher-comments that school administrators say crossed the line of professional conduct.
According to documentation reviewed by district leadership, the issue came to light in mid-January when administrators received a copy of the notes Hart had left behind for a substitute. Those notes included several pointed remarks about specific students, including labeling them as “annoying,” “immature,” and “stupid.” She also reportedly wrote, “Jesus God this class sucks!”
In a letter dated January 23, Rossview High Principal Dr. Meghen Sanders laid out the concerns in detail.
Beyond the derogatory language, the notes included a reference to three students currently in in-school suspension, with Hart expressing hope they would remain there. She also advised the substitute to “watch closely for profanity and disrespect and disruptive behavior” if those students were present.
One student was described as being “on my list,” with instructions to keep an eye on them. In multiple class periods, students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) were reportedly seated together in the back of the room with the special education teacher, away from Hart’s desk. The seating arrangement raised red flags for administrators, as it appeared to isolate students receiving special education services.
Additionally, two English Language Learner (ELL) students were given no academic expectations for the day, with Hart instructing the substitute to let them sleep or work on other class assignments. There was also a note to refer to a student by an alternate name that was not a recognized variation of their given name.
Principal Sanders also raised concerns about how the notes were handled-specifically, that they were left unsecured on Hart’s desk and could have been viewed by students.
In her defense, Hart explained that the language used in the notes was intended as casual, adult-to-adult communication meant to provide the substitute with a realistic picture of classroom dynamics-not to demean or insult students. She stated that references to students being in ISS or “on her list” were based on documented behavioral history and meant to help the substitute manage the classroom.
Hart also addressed the seating of students with IEPs, saying the arrangement was designed to provide immediate access to support from the special education teacher. Regarding the ELL students, she explained that they had already completed their assignments using modified, translated materials and were allowed independent time as a result.
As for concerns about confidentiality, Hart said she believed the notes were secure, placed within a large instructional packet intended solely for the substitute, and that she expected the substitute to arrive before students entered the room.
This isn’t the first time Hart’s professionalism has been called into question. Back in September 2025, she was reportedly addressed by an assistant principal following parental complaints.
At the time, concerns were raised about Hart discussing personal matters-specifically her relationship with her boyfriend-in class. She was instructed then to keep instruction focused solely on Tennessee Biology content standards and avoid unrelated topics.
In her letter, Principal Sanders described Hart’s recent comments as “deeply troubling,” stating they undermine the safe, respectful environment that schools are tasked with providing. “Such language damages trust, can harm students’ social-emotional well-being and is inconsistent with the expectations of educators,” Sanders wrote.
Effective February 11, Hart’s worksite was officially changed to her home, and her one-day unpaid suspension is scheduled for February 18. The district has not indicated when or if she may return to the classroom.