Tennessee Code Title 2. Elections § 2-19-201

(1) “Election” includes all elections, local, municipal, primary, general, state, federal and special and any election in the state or any county, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, but does not include referenda or issues submitted to a vote of the people, political convention or caucus;

(2) “Public funds” and “public lands, offices, buildings, vehicles and facilities” include those owned and supported principally by public money appropriated from the state treasury. “Public lands, offices, buildings, vehicles, and facilities” include those owned and used by a local education agency (LEA);

(3) “Public officers and employees” means all employees of the executive branch of the state government, or any department, division, or agency thereof, and all appointed officers and employees of any educational institution, establishment, corporation or agency supported principally by state funds, including teachers. Popularly elected officials, officials elected by the general assembly, qualified candidates for public office, members of the governor's cabinet, and members of the governor's staff are expressly excluded from this part, except for § 2-19-202; and

(4) “Teacher” means any person employed in a public school system as a teacher, helping teacher, teacher's aide, librarian, principal, supervisor, director of schools, or member of the administrative staff.