Kevin Huffman, right, a vice president at Teach for America, speaks at a news conference after being named education commissioner at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Gov. Bill Haslam and wife, Crissy, look on. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)By ERIK SCHELZIG, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed Kevin Huffman, vice president of public affairs at Teach For America, as his education commissioner.
Haslam announced the appointment at a news conference at the Capitol on Thursday, saying that he selected Huffman after a nationwide search.
The 40-year-old Huffman is a former corps member of Teach For America, an education organization that places recent college graduates in low-income public schools. He also holds a law degree.
Huffman will take over for acting Commissioner Patrick Smith, who led the state’s Race to the Top Oversight Team under former Gov. Phil Bredesen.