WILLIAMSON COUNTY — Jason Golden resigned from his position as Superintendent of Williamson County Schools on Tuesday, June 23. Golden will assume the role of Associate Director of Finance, Administration, and Legal Services at Franklin Special School District on August 7.

The Williamson County Board of Education approved Golden's contract extension one week before his resignation was announced. School board member Marjie Johnson made a motion to defer the vote on his contract extension until September during the June monthly school board meeting. School board member Donna Clements seconded the motion to defer the vote.

The motion to defer the vote did not pass. Board members Tony Bostic and Johnson voted to defer the extension vote. Clements abstained from both the vote to defer and the vote to extend Golden's contract. Bostic and Johnson were the only two members to vote against extending the contract.

Golden issued a statement to staff regarding his decision. "This decision was not an easy one. I have truly valued my time in this district and the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated, passionate and talented educators and staff," Golden wrote. "Together, we have made meaningful progress on behalf of our students, and I will always be grateful for the relationships we have built and the work we have accomplished." He added, "It has truly been an honor to serve this community. Thank you for everything you do each day and for the support, care and professionalism you bring to your work." In his resignation notice, he stated, "I thank you all for the time you have served our students and community on the Board of Education and with you all the best."

School board member Jay Galbreath shared comments on social media. "The case Margie made, and the case Donna echoed, wasn't built to tell the whole story. They want Golden gone," Galbreath wrote. "They just want to get there without anyone being able to point to a vote that says so: dress it up as fairness to a future board, attach it to growth metrics, defer it to a different month, anything other than standing up and saying plainly what they actually believe."

School Board Member Eric Welch also posted on social media. "The toxic elements and individuals that refused to support our Superintendent, despite leading the district to the highest academic achievement and growth scores in the state, now own whatever comes next," Welch wrote.