Former Wynn principal Sheckles claims age discrimination

Danny Sheckles is alleging that his reassignment from Wynn Elementary principal to a teacher at Campbell County High School — as well as his failed attempts to be hired as a principal at other schools in the district — is a result of age discrimination against him.

Sheckles is also alleging that he is getting retaliated against for applying to be director of schools.

Sheckles is seeking more than $500,000 in relation to the matter, as an alternative to getting restored to an administration position in Campbell County's school district, at the same pay and benefits he previously received, according to a letter from Sheckles' attorney. Broken down, that is $375,673.54 for "two years' salary, bonuses, health, disability and life insurance, retirement contributions, vacation, PTO, education and training reimbursements, and all other pay and benefits for which Dr. Sheckles received and/or would have received as Principal of Wynn Habersham Elementary School," $250,000 for "damage to reputation, pain, suffering, and anguish as a result of his discriminatory and defamatory treatment by Campbell County Schools," plus attorneys' fees.

"In lieu of filing charges of discrimination, defamation and retaliation, Dr. Sheckles is willing to enter into an agreement that would restore his status, salary, retirement contributions and benefits with the Campbell County School System at the administrative level he was receiving as Principal of Wynn Habersham Elementary School, his pain, suffering and damages to date, plus his costs and attorneys' fees to date, and/or that is necessary should he be required to file charges and/or suit to compensate him for the damages he has suffered as a result of his recent demotion," Sheckles' attorney, Karen G. Crutchfield, wrote in a letter.

Sheckles is also seeking removal of any negative personnel files with the local school board and state board, plus a mutual anti-disparagement agreement and a neutral employment reference. If he received everything he asked for, he would retire and release all claims.

Crutchfield sent the letter, dated Aug. 3, to Campbell County Director of Schools Charlotte McCoy regarding the matter.

"Please allow this letter to serve as notice of my representation of tenured educator and former administrator for the Campbell County Schools, Dr. Danny Sheckles, in regard to recent adverse, discriminatory and defamatory employment actions taken against him in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act , 29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634, et seq., (ADEA) and the Tennessee Human Rights Act, (THRA) 4-21-101, et seq.," Crutchfield wrote.

While other principals in the district were moved this past summer — such as Ben Foust from Campbell County High School principal to Jellico Elementary principal or Charli Johnson from Jellico Elementary principal to Caryville Elementary assistant principal — they still remained administrators. Sheckles did not.

"As you are aware, Dr. Sheckles was recently removed as Principal of Wynn Habersham Elementary School effective June 11, 2026, and demoted to a classroom teaching position, despite his years of experience, qualifications and credentials as both an educator and administrator with the Tennessee Board of Education, his exemplary record as a teacher and administrator for over 41 years, and despite having any negative employment evaluations or disciplinary actions in his record," Crutchfield wrote. "The only reason given for his abrupt removal from the administrative position at Wynn Habersham Elementary School, and demotion to a classroom teaching position was that 'he did not fit' with your 'new vision for the district.'"

There is no record of any past suspensions, warnings or other disciplines in Sheckles' personnel file, obtained by the LaFollette Press.

"Despite his years of experience, qualifications, and exemplary personnel record with the Campbell County Schools, Dr. Sheckles was discriminated against by Campbell County Schools a second time, when he was not considered for other administrative positions that were open within the District," Crutchfield wrote. "His application for the publicly posted position of Principal of Campbell County High School was not even acknowledged, nor was he granted an interview for this position. As more fully discussed in the attached draft EEOC Charge Dr. Sheckles is prepared to file, the educators selected for the administrative positions at Wynn Habersham Elementary and Campbell County High School were both significantly younger than Dr. Sheckles, as well as being less qualified and having fewer years of experience as both educators and administrators."

According to Campbell County Schools, the following people applied to be CCHS principal: Heather Wallace, Craig Ivey, Martha Meredith, Brad Collette, Shawn West, Danny Sheckles, Sindi Jeffers and Arthur Wright.

Ultimately Collette, who has served as an administrator at Campbell County High School, Clinton High School and Hardin Valley Academy, was chosen to be the new CCHS principal.

According to Campbell County Schools, Sindi Jeffers, Mary Seiber, Raymond Day, Danny Sheckles and Arthur Wright applied to be Elk Valley principal this year, with Seiber getting the job.

"Another example of how Dr. Sheckles has been treated adversely as a result of his age and tenure, is the treatment of a younger, female district administrator, who received a formal reprimand for an alleged violation of the Teacher Code of Ethics, but who was not demoted, reassigned, or reduced in pay or benefits," Crutchfield wrote. "This younger, female administrator, who is approximately 37 years

old, remained in district administration through reassignment to an assistant principal position, despite receiving documented disciplinary action. In contrast, Dr. Sheckles has no history of disciplinary actions, no reprimands, no performance improvement plans, and no documented performance concerns, yet he was removed from administration, demoted to the classroom, and had his pay, benefits and retirement contributions significantly reduced. In addition to being discriminatory, this demotion is defamatory – demoting Dr. Sheckles from an administrative position to a classroom position suggests to his colleagues and the community that there is a disciplinary reason for such significant reduction in position and pay."

Crutchfield was referring to Johnson, who received a written reprimand earlier this year regarding an alleged incident in April.

"Charli was seen on a recording of the incident pulling glasses off of a student's face," according to the reprimand notice. "It was also visible on the recording that she was upset and had her hand/finger within the personal space (inches) from the student's face."

Johnson hadn't gotten a warning before, and the corrective action was this: "written reprimand from interim director of schools to document and discuss the conduct with student as shown on recording."

Tiffany Bruce said more than 25 people contacted McCoy in an effort to keep Johnson from getting reassigned.

"Also, the glasses that were allegedly pulled off of that student's face were not prescription glasses," Bruce said. "They were sunglasses from a party that were star-shaped."

McCoy told the LaFollette Press she could not comment on personnel matters.

"It would appear that the current administration of Campbell County Schools is making a concerted effort to embarrass, humiliate, and disparage Dr. Sheckles, and damage his personal and professional reputation, in an effort to force him to retire," Crutchfield wrote. "Dr. Sheckles will not retire or voluntarily quit under these circumstances. Dr. Sheckles cannot help but believe that in addition to his age, tenure, and years of experience with Campbell County Schools, he is being retaliated against because he was one of the candidates for the position of Director of Schools for Campbell County Schools."

The letter from Crutchfield sought a response on or by Aug. 17.

"Unless Campbell County Schools is willing to immediately discuss a resolution of the discriminatory and defamatory actions it has taken in regard to Dr. Sheckles' employment, Dr. Sheckles intends to file charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (EEOC), and the Civil Rights Enforcement Division (CRED) of the Tennessee Attorney General's Office on or before August 17, 2026," Crutchfield wrote.

According to the school district, Martha Meredith, Kristy Bloy, David Seals, Nikki Lawson, Sammantha Ashley, Allison Poston and Heather Wallace applied to be Wynn principal this year, with Poston getting the job.

"Please also allow this letter to serve as a Request/Notice that Campbell County Schools has a duty to preserve, segregate and protect from destruction, all physical evidence, documents, and data, including but not limited to, calendars, budgets, personnel records and evaluations of all administrators in Campbell County Schools, documentation of the decision making process and personnel recommendations submitted to the Board of Education, or any of its Members for the 2026-27 school year, all electronically stored data or communications in any form (i.e., typed or hand written, audio, video, etc.), or that is contained or maintained in any county, school, and/or intranet, software application, social or other media platform, that is, or may be relevant to any claims made by Dr. Sheckles and/or defenses raised by Campbell County Schools in this legal matter. See, e.g., 29 C.F.R. § 1602.14; Tennessee Public Records Act, (TPRA), § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A), Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-503- 504; and Rule 34 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure," Crutchfield wrote. "Please note that not only is it a crime for public records to be altered, modified or destroyed under Tennessee Law, sanctions may be imposed for even accidental or negligent spoliation of evidence. Tatham v. Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., 473 S.W.3d 734 (Tenn. 2015)."

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