Midstate elementary school principal resigns amid questions over TCAP test integrity

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Maury County elementary school principal has resigned, and according to sources, his conduct with a group of low-performing during TCAP testing in April is now under investigation.

On May 2, Maury County School Superintendent Lisa Ventura sent a letter to parents at Randolph Howell Elementary STEM School, saying that principal Dr. Michael Ford submitted his resignation a week earlier, on April 25, 2024.

The letter did not disclose why Ford was stepping down, with Superintendent Ventura writing “[s]pecifics regarding personnel cannot be disclosed or discussed, and it came as a shock to many Howell Elementary parents.

“It was shocking to see that and it’s just really sad to see him step away,” said Brianna McGeachy whose son attends third grade at the school. “He’s been there a long time, and he’s really loved.”

The letter not only notified parents of Ford’s resignation, but it also set out to dispel rumors that some Howell students might be forced to retake their state assessment tests.

Because the district did not elaborate, McGeachy says it led to some confusion over whether TCAP testing played a role in Ford’s departure.

“It would be nice to know exactly what happened,” said McGeachy.

While a spokesperson for Maury County Schools said the district has no comment about Ford stepping down, WSMV4 Investigates has learned that Ford is facing scrutiny for allegedly compromising the integrity of TCAP testing for more than 30 students.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source with the School Board who was briefed on the situation by the school district’s attorney and superintendent, and a parent whose child was involved, tell WSMV4 that when TCAP testing began, Ford pulled a group of low-performing into a separate classroom.

Both sources say Ford proctored the students’ testing, and they completed the written portion on their own.

However, according to our sources, when it came to the multiple-choice part of the test, Ford allegedly told the students not to fill out their scantron bubble sheets. Instead, the sources say that Ford told the students to mark their answers in their testing booklets, and he would fill out their scantron sheet later.

Those sources tell WSMV4 Investigates that the district found out what Ford allegedly did when a teacher at Howell Elementary blew the whistle.

Ford was reportedly suspended by the district, then resigned the following day.

One day later, Vice Principal Beth Hamilton abruptly retired. According to our source on the school board, Hamilton was the school’s test administrator and was responsible for collecting the students’ TCAP tests.

However, at this point, there is no indication that Hamilton was involved in what happened, and the district will not comment on her retirement.

WSMV4 Investigates called Ford to ask him about the allegations, and he responded by text, saying: “I am looking forward to the truth coming out. Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the advice of legal counsel. As soon as I am able, I will be glad to share.”

According to our source on the school board, state education officials and the testing company Pearson, traveled to Howell to oversee the students’ multiple choice test answers were accurately transferred to scantron answer sheets and recorded.

WSMV4 Investigates contacted the Tennessee Department of Education, asking if it was the state agency involved in the Howell Elementary incident. At the time of publication, a department spokesperson said he was looking into the matter and would let us know.

For McGeachy, the allegations came as a major surprise, and now she hopes the district comes forward and explains to parents what went on during the test period in April.

“It just doesn’t seem fair to the other students,” she said. “And TCPA is stressful, for these young kids and parents. So, a little transparency would be nice. It doesn’t have to involve any people, any of the students or anything, just basically what happened. Tell us.”

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