Republicans Call Tennessee Education Commissioner’s Credentials Into Question

Image Credit: tn.gov & State Representative Todd Warner / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

Some House Republicans have now joined in calling for the resignation of Tennessee’s Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds. 

State Representative Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill-District 92) is speaking out after Reynolds recently admitted to falsifying documents in an attempt to obtain a college tuition waiver funded by taxpayer dollars. Reynolds is currently taking teacher certification classes at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

According to a report by The Tennessean, Reynolds signed documents twice during her first two months of being Commissioner that stated that she had been a state employee for more than six months. Tuition waivers are only available for employees after that six-month period.

Following the Tennessean’s report, the Tennessee Department of Education stated that tuition was paid due to “an administrative error.” They stated that Reynolds personally repaid those funds after realizing the mistake.

Warner isn’t buying it, and he says teachers and administrators in his district are not either.

“She committed a crime…,” Warner stated. “I think she should resign, and if she won’t, I think the governor should definitely ask for her resignation.”

Warner went on to say that the fact that Reynolds does not have a teaching license is a “slap in the face” to teachers across the state.

This is an issue that House Democrats brought up earlier this year, stating that Reynolds is “legally unqualified” to be the Education Commissioner.

Representative John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville-District 55) stated back in January that “the Commissioner shall be a person of literary and scientific attainments and of skill and experience in school administration.” He then noted that there was no evidence of school administration experience, literary writings, or scientific achievements in her resume.

“It is utterly offensive to think that our governor left the state to hire someone less qualified than thousands of Tennessee educators to run what is arguably one of the most important departments in our state government,” Clemmons said.

The Department says Reynolds has no plans to resign the position.

Republican Representative Jody Barrett (R-Dickson-District 69) also says he hopes questions about the Commissioner’s qualifications “are addressed to the satisfaction of the citizens of Tennessee soon.”

Governor Lee’s office has yet to respond to questions, instead stating that they are grateful for “the work she is doing to serve Tennessee students.”

Not all Republicans are ready to see Reynolds ousted, however. Some are opting to remain silent on the alleged lack of qualifications.

With no response to concerns over Reynolds’ falsified documents or lack of credentials, Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby-District 11) said, “The Governor has the right and responsibility to place whomever he desires into his cabinet.”