It took nearly three and a half hours for the Obion County School Board to hear facts and testimonies that led to the dismissal of South Fulton High School Agriculture and tenured teacher Bryant Driver.
Driver was dismissed on charges of unprofessional conduct stemming from accusations brought about by a female student, that occurred on a school related trip in March.
Samantha Collier, 18, was the first called by John Miles, who represented the school administration, to testify.
Collier sat in a chair between the tables of Driver and his lawyer Virginia McCoy, and Director of Schools David Huss and Miles, and gave her testimony.
During her testimony, Collier said she had been a member of Future Farmers of America, FFA, for four years. Driver is the club’s advisor. During her senior year, the group traveled to Gatlinburg, Tenn.
According to Collier, several members of the group, including Driver, were at TGI Fridays, a restaurant, the night before the group was scheduled to return home. During dinner, she received a phone call from her mother while at the table. After the phone call, Collier said Driver began to display “weird” behavior.
Following dinner, Collier said she was told Driver wanted to talk to her and she should meet him at the condo, where he chaperoned the boys who were on the trip. Collier, who was staying at a different condo shared by the girls, said she had asked a female chaperone to accompany her to the condo. “I thought he was going to get on to me about smoking on a school function trip,” Collier testified.
Driver then instructed Collier to come into his room and close the door. It was then Collier claimed Driver informed her he was getting a divorce, and that he was willing to wait for her. Collier said she then told Driver she needed to get some rest or she would be in an ill mood the following morning.
In an opening statement, Miles said Collier told her mother of the incident, who then contacted school officials.
According to South Fulton High School principal Adam Stephens, Driver denied he made any reference to sex, however he did say he had feelings for her, adding he did not ask for it, one day it was just there.
During Driver’s testimony, he admitted he loved Collier.
“She had been about driving me nuts, not in a bad way,” Driver said. Driver defended himself on the insubordination charge which resulted from his refusal to leave a school related meeting after being placed on suspension without pay.
“In my opinion it was open to the public, I felt like I needed to be there,” Driver said.
Driver’s minister, Mickey Hanks, testified on behalf of Driver. According to Driver’s long- time friend Jim Davis, Driver did confide in him about the situation.
“I shared with him, I did not think it was good judgment on his part, however, I did believe him when he told me nothing immoral happened on that night,” Davis said.
During the deliberation, several school board members shared their thoughts of both charges brought against Driver, including insubordination in refusal to leave a school-related meeting following suspension, and unprofessional conduct, in regard to the incident involving Collier.
“It breaks my heart to have to deal with this,” Vice-Chairman of the board Jimmy Smith said.
“I’m sorry I can’t go for that. Maybe she was an adult, but she was also his student,” board member David Lamb said.
Driver was terminated following charges of unprofessional conduct with a 6- 0 vote.
However, regarding the insubordination charge, a motion was made for a 30- day suspension without pay, with counseling. That motion carried with a 6-0 vote as well.
According to Assistant Director of Schools, James Faulkner, Driver’s position with South Fulton High School, has been filled by Phillip Darnell.
