A teacher from Metro Nashville Public Schools has been dismissed following an investigation that revealed he used artificial intelligence to modify images and videos of students without their consent. This decision was confirmed this week by the Metro Nashville Board of Education after a unanimous vote to terminate Mario Mumphery, who had been teaching exceptional education at Nashville Big Picture High School since 2004.
The Board's decision followed recommendations from district officials, with Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle labeling the teacher's actions as “unprofessional conduct” inappropriate for someone in the teaching profession.
In a dismissal letter dated July 7, Battle outlined reports from several students who claimed that Mumphery recorded them during class and subsequently manipulated these recordings with AI, without any permissions granted. Some students specifically noted that these altered videos depicted them dancing in ways they found inappropriate, while other images falsely represented them in personal or family contexts. One report indicated that the teacher created cartoon-like alterations of students' photos, which was unsettling to those involved.
The document further details that Mumphery shared these AI-generated visuals with other students, with allegations that he publicly displayed a video featuring two boys dancing inappropriately. Other students recounted issues with AI-generated clips suggesting offensive movements, with one describing a “gay dance” that made peers feel uncomfortable.
Additionally, the dismissal letter raised concerns regarding Mumphery’s communication with students outside of school hours. Reports indicated he texted students, inquired about their locations, and expressed frustration if they did not reply promptly. His interventions during students' personal conversations were also noted as inappropriate by school leadership.
Following a thorough investigation involving interviews with students, Principal Brenda Diaz reported the findings to both the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS). DCS is currently investigating the matter but cannot share more details due to confidentiality laws. The Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed that Mumphery has no history of arrests in Davidson County, but declined to provide comment on whether any criminal investigation is active.
This incident highlights the growing implications of artificial intelligence in educational settings, prompting Metro Nashville Public Schools to release guidelines for staff on the appropriate use of AI. These guidelines explicitly instruct employees to avoid inputting students’ names, images, or any identifiable information into AI tools and discourage the alteration of authentic student-related media.
While the dismissal records cite breaches of district policies regarding staff-student interactions and ethics, they don’t directly reference the AI policy in relation to the dismissal recommendation.
J.C. Bowman, the Executive Director and CEO of Professional Educators of Tennessee, emphasized the need for schools to reassess how they govern the use of AI, noting the rapid developments in technology that educators must now navigate. He anticipates that lawmakers might respond to this incident, potentially leading to stricter regulations around AI usage in schools.
The dismissal letter, citing relevant Tennessee law, concluded that Mumphery's conduct warranted termination. It also mentioned that he had previously faced a three-day unpaid suspension in January due to inappropriate conduct involving a student.
Currently, Mumphery has the opportunity to appeal the dismissal through the district's established process, although efforts to reach him for comment have not received a response at this time.
