Alex Cain's Troubling Public Records From Knox County Schools
This picture is from the front page article on the June 12 edition of the Knox News Sentinel. Click here for this article.
Response to Alderman Cain's Claim Regarding His Termination
June 12 - Knox News Sentinel Front Page Article
Since the Knox News Sentinel article appeared, the Cain support team, and his attorney, Daniel Herrera, have been on a mad tear about this site. Good for them! They should be outraged. Not at this site, but at Mr. Cain's long-standing pattern of unacceptable behavior.
Just The Facts, Ma'am. Just the Facts. With Regard to the "Separation Notice."
An automated HR form sent to the state Department of Labor does not erase a signed reprimand from the Superintendent. A 'lack of work' implies a position was eliminated. The public record explicitly shows his contract was non-renewed because video footage caught him bullying colleagues and violating the school board's civility code. The facts are in his permanent file, and he signed his name acknowledging them.
In public school systems, a Separation Notice is a generic, automated HR document required by the state Department of Labor for unemployment processing when a contract ends. However, a "non-renewal" due to a disciplinary termination is drastically different from a standard layoff. He is attempting to use a bureaucratic rubber stamp to erase a mountain of documented disciplinary actions.
The Separation Notice is included below for your reference.
The Reality Behind the "Lack of Work" Narrative
The Separation Notice is a Bureaucratic Form, Not an Exoneration: A Separation Notice is a standard administrative document issued by Knox County Schools to the Tennessee Department of Labor for payroll and contract-end tracking. It does not overwrite, cancel, or replace the explicit disciplinary files housed in a teacher’s permanent personnel record.
Non-Renewal is the Legal Mechanism for Termination: Because public school teachers operate under annual or tenured contracts, the legal and administrative method for terminating an employee for misconduct at the end of a school term is a formal non-renewal of their contract.
The Record Proves a Pattern of Disciplinary Violations: His permanent file tracks five separate allegations of unprofessional conduct spanning over a decade, culminating in explicit, documented policy violations.
Official Reprimand for Actions Involving a Student: The personnel file contains a formal Written Reprimand issued specifically for inappropriate or unprofessional actions directed toward a student.
Documented Workplace Bullying and Intimidation: The final termination files explicitly document verified allegations that he attempted to "intimidate and bully" a professional colleague in the workplace.
Caught on Video Violating the Civility Code: The final notification reveals that school administration reviewed building camera footage, which captured him engaging in a confrontational manner in direct violation of School Board Civility Code (B-230) and Qualification and Duties of Teachers (G-280) policies.
The Superintendent's Signature Outweighs an HR Form: The formal Written Reprimand and Non-Renewal Notification was issued and signed directly by then-Superintendent Bob Thomas on April 8, 2021. The letter explicitly states his contract was not being renewed as a direct consequence of this confrontational behavior and harassment—not due to budgeting or a lack of available teaching positions.
He Acknowledged the True Record in Writing: On April 8, 2021, Mr. Cain signed the actual termination and reprimand notice, explicitly writing his signature beneath the statement: "I also understand that my personnel file is a public record." He was fully aware that the true, documented reason for his departure was a disciplinary termination, regardless of any automated state separation paperwork issued months later in September.