Social Media Controversy Erupts After MNPS Holiday Party

NASHVILLE, TN -- A party for Metro Nashville Public Schools Central Office employees featuring high-end door prizes sparked a Twitter controversy with MNPS's public information officer blocking critics.

The controversy began when MNPS Public Information Officer Michelle Michaud, in now-deleted tweets, shared photos from the party that included Santa handing out envelopes of cash to attendees.

NewsChannel 5 Chief Investigative Reporter Phil Williams screenshotted Michaud's tweets.

On Facebook, a Central Office employee said there were at least 100 door prizes including a 65-inch television, according to WSMV.

“That would have paid for an entire class’ worth of books. That would have paid for pencils,” a teacher told the station. “That’s the big deal is that we're struggling with resources.”

Michaud took to Twitter to say that "all Metro employees were invited" to the event; there are 11,000 MNPS employees. Officials with the Metro Nashville Education Association, the teachers' union, asked where the invitation to teachers was sent.

Michele Sheriff, an MNEA rep, was then blocked by Michaud, according to a tweet.

MNPS said the prizes were donated by "corporate partners" such as Walmart and Olive Garden.

Some teachers told WSMV the invite list demonstrated the disconnect between the Central Office and the classroom teachers.

"That they’re more important than we are," she told the station. "And they’re not the ones there on the front lines teaching kids every day, so it makes us feel very stepped on. ... I want to know why they could get these things and they couldn’t get us resources."

Michaud declined an on-camera interview with Channel 4 and a request for an official statement. Director of Schools Shawn Joseph did not respond to NewsChannel 5's request for comment.

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