Haslam Lays Out Next Steps From Education Summit

  • Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Governor Bill Haslam on Wednesday announced the process for a public review of the state’s K-12 academic standards in English language arts and math.  The process is in partnership with the State Board of Education and will include input from educators and citizens from across the state.   

Academic standards are typically reviewed in Tennessee every six years.  With these standards now in their fourth year, and with the discussion happening in Tennessee and across the country about Common Core state standards, Governor Haslam believes this is the appropriate time to take a fresh look.

“One thing we’ve all agreed on is the importance of high standards in Tennessee,” Governor Haslam said.  “This discussion is about making sure we have the best possible standards as we continue to push ahead on the historic progress we’re making in academic achievement.”

In the coming weeks, a website will be available to every Tennessean to go online, review each current state standard and comment on what that person likes, doesn’t like, or would suggest should be changed about that particular standard. 

The Southern Regional Education Board, as a third party, independent resource, will collect the data in the Spring and then turn that information over to be reviewed and analyzed by professional Tennessee educators.  The governor has asked the State Board of Education to appoint two committees, an English Language Arts Standards Review & Development Committee and Math Standards Review & Development Committee, as well as three advisory teams for each of those committees.

The advisory teams will review Tennessee’s current standards and gather input to make recommendations to the two committees, which will then propose possible changes to the State Board of Education.

The two standards review committees will each be made up of six Tennessee K-12 educators and two representatives from Tennessee higher education institutions for a total of 16 Tennessee professional educators. 

The two committees will receive input from three advisory teams each, for a total of six.  The advisory teams will be grouped by K-5th grade, 6th – 8th grade and 9th – 12th grade, and each team will be made up of six Tennessee K-12 educators and one representative from a Tennessee higher education institution for a total of 42 Tennessee professional educators.  

The following have been appointed to serve:

Math Standards Review & Development Committee

·        Committee Chair: John Prince, McNairy County Schools, director of schools

·        Jamie Parris, Hamilton County Schools, director of secondary math and science

·        Julie Martin, Williamson County Schools, assistant principal

·        Cory Concus, Tipton County Schools, 9-12 teacher

·        Michael Bradburn, Alcoa City Schools, kindergarten teacher

·        Holly Anthony, Tennessee Technology University, associate professor of mathematics education

·        Stacey Roddy, Hamilton County Schools, director of elementary math and science

·        Stephanie Kolitsch, University of Tennessee Martin, professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

Math Advisory Team K-5

·        Advisory Team Leader: Stacey Roddy, Hamilton County Schools, director of elementary math and science

·        Kimberly Osborne, Murfreesboro City Schools, assistant principal

·        Jamelie Johns, Hamilton County Schools, elementary math coach

·        Michael Bradburn, Alcoa City Schools, kindergarten teacher

·        Theresa Feliu, Kingsport City Schools, fourth-grade teacher

·        Brandy Hays, Lebanon Special School District, 3-5 math teacher

·        Jo Ann Cady, University of Tennessee, associate professor of math education

 

Math Advisory Team 6-8

·        Advisory Team Leader: John Prince, McNairy County Schools, director of schools

·        Amber Caldwell, Bradley County Schools, mathematics coordinator

·        Sherry Cockerham, Johnson City Schools, district math coach

·        Darcie Finch, Metro Nashville Public Schools, numeracy coach

·        Angela Webb, Putnam County School System, seventh-grade math teacher

·        Holly Pillow, Trenton Special School District, math coach and interventionist

·        Emily Medlock, Lipscomb University, assistant professor, College of Education

 

Math Advisory Team 9-12

·        Advisory Team Leader: Stephanie Kolitsch, University of Tennessee Martin, professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

·        Rory Hinson, Gibson County Special School District, assistant principal

·        Chelsea Spaulding, Rutherford County Schools, assistant principal

·        Joseph Jones, Cheatham County School District, district math coordinator

·        Cory Concus, Tipton County Schools, 9-12 teacher

·        Kimberly Herring, Cumberland County Schools, 9-12 teacher

·        Beth Morris, Lincoln County School System, 9-12 teacher

English Language Arts Standards Review & Development Committee

·        Committee Chair: Shannon Jackson, Knox County Schools, supervisor of reading and English language arts for secondary schools

·        Susan Dold, Shelby County Schools, literacy advisor

·        Jami Corwin, Sullivan County Schools, secondary English language arts curriculum coordinator

·        Jaime Greene, Hamblen County Schools, 6-12 instructional coach

·        Tony Dalton, Hamblen County Schools, pre-kindergarten-first-grade district instructional coach

·        Shannon Streett, Cannon County School District, sixth-grade English language arts and science teacher

·        Susan Groenke, University of Tennessee, associate professor of English education

·        Candice McQueen, Lipscomb University, dean of education

 

English Language Arts Advisory Team K-5

·        Advisory Team Leader: Candice McQueen, Lipscomb University, dean of education

·        Debra Bentley, Johnson City Schools, supervisor of instruction

·        Stacy King, Greenville City Schools, instructional specialist

·        Tony Dalton, Hamblen County Schools, pre-kindergarten-first-grade district instructional coach

·        Kerri Newsom, Lake County School System, first-grade teacher

·        Cathy Dickey, Greenville City Schools, first-grade teacher

·        Kelsea Cox, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, first-grade teacher

English Language Arts Advisory Team 6-8

·        Advisory Team Leader: Shannon Jackson, Knox County Schools, supervisor of reading and English language arts for secondary schools

·        Jaime Greene, Hamblen County Schools, 6-12 instructional coach

·        Meghan Little, Metro Nashville Public Schools, chief academic officer for KIPP Nashville

·        Terri Bradshaw, Blount County Schools, literacy leader

·        Jessica Daigle, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, eighth-grade English language arts teacher

·        Tequila Cornelious, Franklin Special School District, instructional facilitator

·        Terri Tilson, Tusculum College, assistant professor

English Language Arts Advisory Team 9-12

·        Advisory Team Leader: Susan Groenke, University of Tennessee, associate professor of English education

·        Brandi Blackley, Tipton County Schools, assistant principal

·        Elaine Hoffert, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, English language arts curriculum consulting teacher 

·        Autumn O’Bryan, Cleveland City Schools, principal

·        Tammy Marlow, Macon County Schools, 9-12 teacher

·        Jessica Mitchell, Hardeman County Schools, 9-12 teacher

·        TJ Wilson, Williamson County Schools, 9-12 teacher

Recommendations are expected to be made to the State Board of Education by the end of 2015.

The standards review is the first of several initiatives Governor Haslam plans to pursue coming out of ongoing discussions with educators across the state and the education summit he co-hosted with Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell on Sept. 18, in Nashville.

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