Candice McQueenNASHVILLE -- Gov. Bill Haslam today named Dr. Candice McQueen, a teacher and dean at Lipscomb Univerity, as his new education commissioner.
"There's nothing that's as important to me as governor as what we're doing in education, and I'm thrilled to have Dr. McQueen join our team," Haslam said in a news conference announcing her appointment.
The 40-year-old McQueen succeeds current Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who shook up Tennessee's education establishment and became a lightning rod for criticism as he pushed policies tying student-test scores to teacher evaluations and pay as well as Common Core education standards.
McQueen said she is "truly grateful for the opportunity and I am looking forward to working hand in hand with the Department of Education and with the folks in this room and beyond with this important work."
"Tennessee is headed in the right direction," McQueen said. "We need to remember that. We're the fastest improving state in the nation in terms of student learning. We can claim that. We're making a real difference in the lives of children and in the future of our state."
And, McQueen said, "we've got more work to do. We want every child, every child in our state to have a fantastic teacher and to be in a classroom that is invigorating and joyful so that they can have a successful future."
She said she wants "to listen" to parents and education leaders. Educators accused Huffman of not listening enough to them.
As Lipcomb's dean, McCrae oversees the university's College of Education, which under her six years of leadership has achieved national recognition for its preparation of teachers. She also oversees Lipscomb's Pre-K-12 schools and is a university senior vice president.
Unlike Huffman, a former top Teach for America executive who was criticized for not being a professional educator, McQueen is, having worked as a classroom teacher at both elementary and middle school levels.
She also has been an ardent supporter of Common Core standards. Earlier this year Haslam faced an uprising in the Legislature from critics, forcing him to postpone tests aligned to Common Core standards for a year.
The governor is now reviewing those standards which were adopted by most states. The governor has said whatever changes are made must maintain high standards. McQueen said she agrees.
"I think the future of Common Core will certainly depend on how we look at our standard review process," she told reporters. "I'm going to ensure that it is done very well and we are doing all the requirements and changes that need to happen. Certainly I'm in favor, as I know the governor is, of high standards … and so we're going to make sure we're keeping high standards."
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