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School Superintends Criticize Education Department

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — More than 60 Tennessee school superintendents have signed a petition calling on the governor re-evaluate the leadership at the Tennessee Department of Education.

The superintendents say Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman's office, as the letter words it, "has no interest in a dialogue" with the heads of school districts around the state.

The petition says superintendents' efforts to improve their schools are being thwarted by low teacher morale because of policy changes on the state level.

Tullahoma City Schools Superintendent Dan Lawson wrote the letter. He says the final straw came when a veteran teacher told him recently that she was leaving.

“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.”

A spokeswoman for Huffman says the commissioner has not reviewed the letter and that he’s focused on student achievement and improving education in the state.