One has to walk through the fields of knowledge to pick its flowers. Run, and you will miss the best blossoms. — Miyuki Miyabe, The Book of Heroes

Fall Break just wrapped up here in Nashville, and like clockwork, my family stayed put. We always plan to get away, but time and money never seem to align. Still, the break offered a much-needed pause from the breakneck pace of the school year. For educators and students alike, this kind of reprieve is essential. We don’t talk enough about the toll this work takes—emotionally, physically, mentally. A week off doesn’t fix everything, but it helps reset the system.

Here’s a recap of the week’s events, and trust me—it was anything but quiet.

Des Moines: A Real-Life Education Thriller

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you’ve likely heard about the Des Moines superintendent, Ian Roberts, who was detained by ICE. Turns out, his entire professional backstory might be a complete fabrication. It’s like something out of a satire—but it’s real.

When the story broke, I pointed out that Robert Lundin—a former Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) staffer—was the district’s Chief Academic Officer. Lundin’s past isn’t quite as bizarre as Roberts’, but it’s filled with enough plot twists to warrant its own Netflix doc.

Lundin’s resume hits all the reform-world buzzwords: Teach For America alum, charter advocate, virtual schools. He served as an Assistant Superintendent under Penny Schwinn at TDOE, managing everything from charter to private schools. Before that, he ran (and lost) a school board race in Houston, where his campaign contributions read like a who’s who of education reform insiders—Chris Barbic, Leadership for Educational Equity, Bellwether, and more.

In 2020, Lundin was quietly removed from his Tennessee post amid murmurs of mismanagement with the state’s Independent Education Accounts (IEAs). Whispers swirled about unqualified families receiving public funds and questionable district interactions. Still, like most figures in the education industrial complex, he landed on his feet.

He bounced from a consulting VP role, to a communications job in Colorado’s troubled Adams 14 district, and eventually landed in Des Moines. That’s four high-level roles in a few years—all in struggling districts. Either he’s a glutton for chaos, or dysfunction follows him like a shadow. You have to ask: what kind of industry allows this level of recycling, where accountability is optional and reinvention is just another job title away?

Now? He’s on administrative leave. No one’s saying why, but it’s been two weeks, and sooner or later, that shoe will drop. The real question: Will his next employer care?

As for Roberts, he’s due in court on December 1 on charges of gun possession and falsifying employment records. He’s looking at up to 16 years.

This week, Roberts posted a cryptic message on LinkedIn comparing his troubles to a biblical storm:

“Because storms don’t just test our resilience. They reveal our anchors.”

He framed himself as a misunderstood leader, caught in a season of trial. But one has to wonder—when deception becomes part of your origin story, how do you earn back public trust? Especially when that story is unfolding in a school district already under pressure.

One thing’s for sure—this story’s not done getting weirder.

Sumner County: It’s Not Just Semantics

Let’s talk about Sumner County, where a school board meeting turned into a culture war showdown over whether to call the December school break “Winter Break” or “Christmas Break.”

The name had been “Winter Break” for over 30 years—until last year, when the board changed it to “Christmas Break” without public input.

Board member Wade Evans admitted, “We did a bad job as a board because we did not represent everyone.”

Others disagreed. Member Andy Lacy said, “Christmas is Christmas. Why do we have to offend the masses to appease the 1%?”

This is the kind of debate that often gets passed off as minor or symbolic, but it reveals something deeper: who gets to define the public space, and whose identity is centered by default. Language matters—especially in public education, where every student is supposed to feel seen. It’s not just about semantics; it’s about belonging.

In the end, it’ll remain Christmas Break. But the debate highlights how easily school boards can veer into ideological turf wars instead of focusing on, you know, education.

More Drama from Sumner

If you think that’s the end of Sumner’s drama, think again. This week, the school board renewed Superintendent Dr. Scott Langford’s contract—two years early—despite an ongoing lawsuit alleging he retaliated against a district employee.

Stephanie Miller, an instructional coordinator, claims her contract wasn’t renewed after she complained about being placed on the wrong pay scale. She also alleges the district violated Tennessee law by failing to notify her of her termination properly.

Board member Steven King expressed concern:

“If the lawsuit allegations are true… is [Langford] fit to serve?”

The board shrugged it off, arguing that Miller’s position doesn’t fall under teacher protections. Never mind that she’s a certified educator.

Let’s not forget: Langford was the Sumner County Commission Chair from 2016 to 2022. The political ties run deep. The overlap between political maneuvering and school leadership continues to raise red flags, especially when legal disputes get swept under the rug in favor of expedient contract renewals.

Vouchers, Charters, and Pipe Dreams

As the Tennessee General Assembly gears up for another session, all eyes are on school vouchers. Right now, about 20,000 students are using public funds to attend private schools. That number is expected to double next year.

But a new nonprofit, Tennessee Leads, has even bigger ambitions: 200,000 voucher students and 250,000 in charter schools by 2031.

For context, only about 4,400 students are currently enrolled in charter schools statewide.

If those goals are met, traditional public schools would serve just 550,000 students—a seismic shift.

Call me skeptical. The infrastructure simply isn’t there. It reminds me of when TDOE promised that 75% of students would be at grade level within five years. Spoiler: we didn’t even come close.

What Tennessee Leads proposes is not just ambitious—it’s radical. It would completely reshape the state’s education landscape. That kind of shift demands transparency, oversight, and real community input. Otherwise, we’re just paving the way for unchecked privatization, with public dollars funding unaccountable systems.

MNPS: Celebration or Self-Congratulation?

Back in Nashville, MNPS is gearing up for its annual “Celebration of Schools” on November 8 at Nissan Stadium.

It’s free and open to the public. Families can meet educators, explore school options, grab some giveaways, and watch the Metro Marching Classic. Parking’s free. Sounds great, right?

But here’s the rub: this event lands just after parent-teacher conference week—a time when educators are already stretched thin. Now, we’re asking them to sacrifice a weekend for a district showcase.

Let’s be honest. These events often do more to stroke district leadership’s egos than support teachers or boost morale. It’s less about education and more about optics.

And don’t forget the elephant in the room: while MNPS celebrates itself, many of its teachers are grappling with understaffed classrooms, curriculum changes, and burnout. The celebration might be flashy, but the disconnect between district PR and classroom reality is hard to ignore.

This isn’t corporate media. There’s no team. It’s just me.

Trying to keep up. Trying to keep you informed. Trying to say what others won’t.

If you value this kind of coverage, here’s how to support it:

💵 Venmo: @Thomas-Weber-10
💵 Cash App: $PeterAveryWeber
📬 Tips / story ideas: Norinrad10@yahoo.com

Categories: Education