NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Gov. Bill Haslam says he was disappointed to hear of a petition signed by nearly half of the states' school superintendents that raised serious concerns about Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman.
The Republican governor in a letter to superintendents released yesterday stood by Huffman and the initiatives he has championed, saying that the commissioner has brought a "new perspective and dynamic energy to education reform in Tennessee."
Dan Lawson, Director of the Tullahoma City Schools, wrote and circulated the letter. Lawson told WMOT he doesn’t think Huffman has any interest in dialogue with local officials.
“As we look at that kind of decision making taking place in all of our schools, we as leaders in education have to stand up, we have to note those challenges that we face and we’ve got to realize that education is much more than some number on a test.”
Governor Haslam concluded his latter with a call for "a fresh approach to communication" between the school districts and state education officials.