Tennessee Firefly
Online/Digital
Named after Tennessee's official state insect, the Tennessee Firefly shines a light on the untold and under-told stories about education and government in the Volunteer State.
Since 2004, more than 2,500 newspapers have closed – and remaining media has altered its focus and coverage to survive. Decisions and policies at the state and local level have a direct impact on the lives of every Tennessean. The Tennessee Firefly seeks to strengthen our communities through factual journalism with a local focus to increase civic engagement and awareness.
Our reporters and contributors will keep you in the know with stories and commentary centered around the leaders and policies that impact Tennessee.
The Tennessee Firefly launched in 2022. Its operations are funded in part by Tennesseans for Student Success, a statewide network of teachers, parents, community leaders, and volunteers who are dedicated to supporting, championing, and fighting for Tennessee’s public school students and their futures. Source
Actions
Media Outlet details
| Scope | Local |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
Similarweb UVM
|
Request pricing |
Comscore UVM
|
Request pricing |
Recent Articles
Search ArticlesProposed Rural Charter School Receives Community Backing Ahead of Appeal
The organization that’s seeking to establish Tennessee’s first rural public charter school has received key community support ahead of its upcoming appeal.¶ The Trimble Board of Mayor and Aldermen passed a resolution on Friday to express support for Trimble Academy and encourage state leaders to give “due consideration” to Trimble Forward Alliance’s appeal this fall.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Closes all Campuses Monday
Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) closed all district campuses today after strong thunderstorms ravaged the city over the weekend, causing widespread power outages.¶ The district announced the closure Sunday at 7 p.m., and while many schools have power, more than 40 do not, according to the Daily Memphian.¶ At 6:30 p.m. Monday, the district announced that schools would reopen on Tuesday with some exceptions.¶ “MLGW (Memphis Light, Gas and Water) continues restoration work at these specific...
Businesses May be Placing a Higher Value on AI Than Schools
Recent research on artificial intelligence illustrates what some say is a disconnect between the importance that schools place on the technology versus how businesses view it.¶ Studies have found that half of middle and high schools lack AI policies, and among those that do, just 6 percent of teachers say the policies are clear.
Williamson County Schools Interim Superintendent Focusing on Learning and Listening
On June 24, Williamson County Schools (WCS) staff and families were surprised to learn that their superintendent of seven years would step down in 45 days.¶ Jason Golden had accepted a position with the Franklin Special District as the Associate Director of Finance, Administration, and Legal Services.
New Advocacy Group Opposes Legal Challenge of State Intervention
Last May, a network of organizations, community members, parents, and students came together to form Together 4 Students to advocate for accountability in Memphis.¶ The group’s founder is longtime community organizer Henry Jones, who tells the Tennessee Firefly that he’s also a parent of two students who face challenges within their own schools.¶ Jones said the goal of Together 4 Students is to ensure that every child, including his, benefits from raising the quality of classroom...
Nashville Daycare Helping Keep Public Charter School Teachers in the Classroom
Each week, millions of families in the United States drop their children off at a daycare center, and that includes teachers too.¶ In Nashville, one daycare provider is working to ensure those teachers are able to stay in the classroom by offering services just steps away.
Rutherford County’s Central Magnet Named Nation’s Best High School
U.S. News & World Report named a magnet school in Rutherford County as its top high school in the country.¶ Central Magnet School beat out nearly 18,000 other schools in the Best High Schools ranking, which is based on six performance factors including state assessments and college preparation.¶ "We’re very proud to be the home of the best high school in the nation, and the employees, parents, and students of Central Magnet School should be commended for their long history of unmatched...
Williamson County Schools Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center Opens to Students
Williamson County students can now use a brand-new facility to get a leg up on their careers before graduation.¶ Interim Williamson County Superintendent Dr. Leigh Webb highlighted the opening of the district’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EIC) campus during the board’s meeting on Monday. The EIC held its ribbon-cutting on August 7, following its December 3, 2024, groundbreaking. The 26,000-square-foot facility sits next to the existing Entrepreneurship building.
Commentary: Teacher’s Allegations of Grade Inflation Underscore a Need for Strong Accountability
The Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) board meeting on August 11, 2026, was anything but typical. Though the public comment portion of meetings frequently includes passionate and often critical dialogue from concerned Nashvillians, last week’s criticism came from a former district Teacher of the Year.¶ The comments were from Samira Hardcastle, an award-winning former art teacher at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Antioch.
Gubernatorial Candidates Take Differing Views on AI in the Classroom
Earlier this month, Tennessee primary voters picked two women to face off in November’s gubernatorial election.¶ Democratic nominee Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green and Republican nominee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn have run on very different visions for public education.