safety
Former Nashville high school teacher accused of rape, other charges involving student, police say
By Caleb Wethington at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· June 25, 2026
· 1 min read
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A former 10th-grade English teacher is facing an 18-count indictment in connection with an alleged sexual relationship she had with a student in 2025, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.Police said that 32-year-old Kadija Kuykendall was fired from Whites ...
Key takeaway Police said that 32-year-old Kadija Kuykendall was fired from Whites Creek High School in August 2025 after she disclosed details of the alleged interaction with a colleague.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The indictment of a former Whites Creek High School teacher on multiple charges, including aggravated statutory rape, raises concerns about student safety and the effectiveness of school protocols in preventing such incidents. The fact that the alleged relationship was disclosed to a colleague in August 2025, leading to the teacher's termination, suggests that internal reporting mechanisms were triggered, but the question remains whether these measures were sufficient to prevent harm. As the case moves forward, the community will be watching to see how Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Metro Nashville Police Department respond to and learn from this incident. The school district's policies and procedures for addressing teacher-student relationships and reporting suspicious behavior will likely be scrutinized, and any potential gaps or weaknesses will need to be addressed to ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Get more The Nashville stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A former 10th-grade English teacher is facing an 18-count indictment in connection with an alleged sexual relationship she had with a student in 2025, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.Police said that 32-year-old Kadija Kuykendall was fired from Whites ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Caleb Wethington at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter