A teacher shall give the Director of Schools notice of resignation at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of the resignation. A teacher who fails to give such notice, in the absence of justifiable extenuating circumstances, shall forfeit all tenure status. The Board may waive the thirty (30) days notice requirement and permit a teacher to resign in good standing.  The conditions under which it is permissible to break a contract with the Board are as follows:  

1. The incapacity on the part of the teacher to perform the contract as evidenced by the certified statement of a physician approved by the Board;  
2. The release by the Board of the teacher from the contract which the teacher has entered into with the Board.  

Any teacher on leave shall notify the Director of Schools in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of return if the teacher does not intend to return to the position from which he has taken leave. Failure to render such notice may be considered a breach of contract.

Upon a breach of contract, the Board, upon a motion recorded in its minutes, may file a complaint with the Commissioner and request the suspension of a teacher’s certificate. After the Commissioner has provided the teacher an opportunity for defense during a hearing, the Commissioner may suspend the certificate for no less than thirty (30) and no more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days.

Legal References:  

1. T.C.A. § 49-5-508. 
2. T.C.A. § 49-5-706. 
3. T.C.A. § 49-5-411.