What a hatchet job by Michelle Willard. The Principal hired her, not Bill Spurlock. That “fact” was apparently made up by Michelle Willard. Candace has a Master’s degree in education. She is qualified and has good reputation in the school, another fact ignored by Michelle Willard. If I was a female, I would be incensed that it was implied I did not get a job based on my merits. She will have interaction with students and teachers not like Michelle Willard claims. There could not have been any investigation conducted. I would like to hear her response. Waiting.

Everything in this article is accurate. The principal hiring her is the same as daddy Spurlock hiring her... C'mon. They're all one big happy fam. Qualifications have nothing to do with it. The fact is, precious daughter has been taken "off the front lines" and will have far less contact with life-threatening hazards. It is an in-your-face, aggressious crime for "the powers that be" to make the supreme executive decision to place our children in harm's way at the worst of this pandemic yet... And, TN is one of the states second to CA, NY, FL, and TX with the highest number of Covid cases and deaths. Get the kids away from each other, abide by WHO and CDC guidelines... And, public servants, stop with the self-serving attitudes.

Michelle Willard--your profile says "Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist and Award-winning newspaper reporter." This piece fell way short. Perhaps "opinion writer" is more appropriate.

Sp. edit— egregious It is an in-your-face, egregious crime for "the powers that be" to make the supreme executive decision to place our children in harm's way at the worst of this pandemic yet...

I agree with Randy and well written Michelle Randy’s word(exactly right Randy) Everything in this article is accurate. The principal hiring her is the same as daddy Spurlock hiring her... C'mon. They're all one big happy fam. Qualifications have nothing to do with it. The fact is, precious daughter has been taken "off the front lines" and will have far less contact with life-threatening hazards. It is an in-your-face, aggressious crime for "the powers that be" to make the supreme executive decision to place our children in harm's way at the worst of this pandemic yet... And, TN is one of the states second to CA, NY, FL, and TX with the highest number of Covid cases and deaths. Get the kids away from each other, abide by WHO and CDC guidelines... And, public servants, stop with the self-serving attitudes.

Please be informed before publishing articles bashing people and their families. The article is full of inconsistencies. If you think otherwise, you a very misinformed. A. The principal hires the position, not the Director of Schools. B. She did in fact leave her ONE classroom with maybe 125 students to now work ALL OVER THE BUILDING with all ~1,200 students, observing all teachers, co-teaching lessons with teachers, and attending PLC meetings with all subjects in all 3 grades. Seems to me that if Spurlock made this decision, he put his daughter further at risk than if she had stayed in her ONE classroom with her ~125 students. C. Spurlock has a stepson that is a well thought of administrator at one of the largest comprehensive high schools in this district. Guess he forgot to save him from the ~2,000 students he comes in contact with on a daily basis. D. Spurlock has a grandson in one of our elementary schools. I would say your article is full of inconsistencies, Michelle. I encourage you to educate yourself.

And for the love of God people... Spurlock did not decide to send kids back to school. That decision was voted on and decided by the school board. Seriously, turn your brains on and educate yourselves. School board meetings and work sessions are available for anyone to attend or watch on YouTube.