Two weeks into her tenure as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education, Lizzette “Lizzy” Gonzalez Reynolds is garnering positive reviews.
“I found her knowledgeable, approachable, and willing to listen,” said State Representative Kevin Raper (R-Cleveland).
Raper, vice chair of the House education instruction committee, told The Tennessee Star, “She didn’t strike me as someone who thinks they have all the answers. Rather, as someone who is willing to listen, and consider the experiences of others.”
State Representative Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka), chair of the House Education Instruction subcommittee, echoed those comments.
“My initial impression is that she is not someone overly concerned with photo-ops, and all about getting her hands dirty doing the work.” he said.
Early impressions show promise of a less tumultuous time for state education policy under Reynolds. A marked change from her predecessor, Dr. Penny Schwinn, who often found herself frequently mired in controversy over staffing challenges, critical race theory (CRT), library books, and the state textbook adoption process.
Over the last year, Schwinn spent considerable time traveling outside of Tennessee, even as the state’s local education districts wrestled with changes to literacy instruction and school funding. Reynolds indicated in her early meetings that she intends to spend less time traveling out of state and more time on state business.
J.C. Bowman, executive director for Professional Educators of Tennessee, told The Star, “Commissioner Reynolds was refreshingly straightforward and direct, which will benefit her and all of us in public education in Tennessee. Her candor will be crucial in collaborating effectively among all stakeholders and policymakers.”
“As we have witnessed previously, the lack of candor leads to dysfunctional environments for all. Educators need to know that state leaders hear them, and will take concerns seriously. Parents need to know how their children are performing academically,” Bowman added, “Lizzette Gonzales Reynolds has started out well. I hope she continues down this path, and we look forward to working together for educators and children.”
Reynolds most recently served as the vice president of Policy for the Foundation for Excellence in Education, an education foundation founded by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush after he split from his previous foundation, Chiefs For Change. She is the first Tennessee Education of Commissioner not drawn from the ranks of Chiefs for Change since 2011 when then-Governor Bill Haslam appointed Kevin Hoffman to the position.
Schwinn, who resigned in May, now serves as a senior fellow for the Walton Family Foundation and FutureEd.
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TC Weber is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. He also writes the blog Dad Gone Wild. Follow TC on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]. He’s the proud parent of two public school children and the spouse of a public school teacher.
