Sevier County substitute teacher investigated after gun threat report
Parents question hiring process after Northview Junior Academy incident
What This Story Is About
- Sevier County Schools is investigating a substitute teacher accused of threatening to retrieve a gun from his car and return to Northview Junior Academy.
Why It Matters
- The incident has raised concerns among parents and the community about student safety and the district’s substitute hiring process.
What Happens Next
- Sevier County Schools’ investigation is ongoing, and the substitute has been told to stay off school property pending its outcome.
For Context
- Substitutes in Sevier County must be 21 and pass a TBI fingerprint-based background check focused on criminal history.
Catch Up
SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - Sevier County Schools is investigating a substitute teacher after students at Northview Junior Academy reported he threatened to retrieve a gun from his car and return to school.
Tangi Chifici, a Sevier County mom, shared her concerns after the district confirmed the investigation.
“Hearing that a substitute potentially could harm my niece or my nephew’s scares the life out of me,” Chifici said.
District confirms mixed reports
Sevier County Schools said it received mixed reports about what happened. The district confirmed students reported the substitute made reference to a firearm and potentially issued a threatening statement Tuesday afternoon.
The district said the substitute was immediately pulled from class. No weapon was found. He was told to leave school property pending the investigation.
Chifici said she remains concerned about the incident.
“I really hope the school board just moving forward does some intense, you know, trainings and background checks and, you know, just teaching the kids more safety, involving the teachers and substitutes, and moving forward, this is something that doesn’t ever happen again,” Chifici said.
According to the district’s website, applicants must be 21 years old to become a middle or high school substitute. After an application and interview, substitutes complete a TBI background check, which uses fingerprinting and focuses on criminal history.
A request for an interview with the district about its hiring process was not granted. A spokesperson said they were not available, and the district did not respond to a follow-up request for a statement.
Sevier County Schools said it remains committed to student and staff safety.
This is a developing story.
Copyright 2026 WVLT. All rights reserved.
