NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Published reports say that nearly twice as many Metro-Nashville teachers retired this year than in years past.
According to a report in the Nashville Business Journal, last year 117 teachers retired, while at the end of the 2012 school year more than 200 retired.
Nashville's News 2 spoke with Sylvia Hix who explained her decision to retire after working in the school systems for nearly 40 years.
She said her decision was based largely on the negative impacts of the Tennessee Value Added Assessment, which is a teacher evaluation system that went into effect during the 2011-2012 school year.
"It's been very demoralizing. I really think it has affected the morale of many, many teachers," said Hix. "I love the children, I still do. I'm going to miss them."
Hix told Nashville's News 2 she does not regret her decision, but will miss the job she loved for four decades.
"Being with kids everyday has been a part of my life for 40 years," she said, "To not be around that is kind of scary, kind of sad."
Hix said than even more teachers would be retiring before the start of the upcoming school year if they could.
"A lot of teacher friends I have say they would like to be in my shoes and be retiring as well," she said.
Davidson County students are set to return to school on Wednesday, August 1.
*The Nashville Business Journal contributed to this report.
