I am a taxpayer, a community member, and a former alderman in the City of Tullahoma. I care deeply about the standards we set in our schools because they directly shape the future of our community.

Recently, the Director of Schools reprimanded Dr. Monica Blake-Beasley for making unprofessional comments about Charlie Kirk. That step addressed her words, but it did nothing to resolve the bigger, ongoing issue — the Pride flag still hanging in her classroom. Even more concerning, the principal of Tullahoma High School defended the flag in writing, claiming it aligned with the school’s “climate and culture.”

This is about more than one teacher. It’s about standards and the example our schools set for all students. Classrooms should be neutral environments, focused on education and free from political or social activism. If one political or social flag is permitted, then every flag must be permitted — and that opens the door to division, distraction, and conflict.

I have served in local government, and I’ve seen firsthand how divided symbols create unnecessary controversy. A classroom should be one of the few places where unity is emphasized above all else. Our children deserve to walk into classrooms knowing they will not be singled out, pressured, or made to feel less welcome because of a symbol hanging on the wall.

Coffee County recognized this very issue and took decisive action. On September 8th, their School Board voted to require only the American flag and the Tennessee state flag in every classroom. They acted without public pressure, without controversy, and without waiting for a problem to escalate. They simply understood that unity matters, and they chose to preserve it.

Tullahoma should follow that same standard. As a community, we should expect no less. Our schools exist to educate, not to promote political or social agendas. Allowing political or activist flags undermines fairness and distracts from learning.

This petition calls on the Tullahoma School Board to:

1. Remove the Pride flag and all political or social flags from classrooms.
2. Adopt a clear policy that only the American flag and the Tennessee flag may be displayed in classrooms.
3. Ensure classrooms remain neutral spaces dedicated to education, not activism.

I am asking you to join me in signing this petition, not as a partisan issue, but as a matter of common sense and community standards. Coffee County has already demonstrated that this approach works. It is now up to Tullahoma to show that we, too, can place unity, education, and neutrality above division and politics.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for consistent policies, respectful classrooms, and the idea that our schools should be safe, neutral spaces for every student. Let’s send a clear message to the Tullahoma School Board: it’s time to act.

Only the American and Tennessee flags belong in Tullahoma classrooms. Nothing else.