William Troutt, president of Rhodes College in Memphis, has been appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to the nine-member State Board of Education, state officials confirmed Tuesday.
He will replace fellow Memphian Teresa Sloyan, executive director of the Hyde Family Foundation, who has served since her appointment in 2008 by then-Gov. Phil Bredesen.
The board works closely with the Tennessee Department of Education to review and develop policy on issues ranging from academic standards to textbooks. Members serve five-year terms.
Troutt has been president of Rhodes since 1999. He previously was president of Belmont University in Nashville. The Bolivar, Tenn., native received his doctoral degree from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and his bachelor’s degree from Union College in Jackson.
“His wealth of experience in Tennessee education will be invaluable to the board,” said Sara Heyburn, executive director of the board.
Troutt is scheduled to attend his first board meeting on April 10. Like Troutt, other board members added since the last legislative session — Cato Johnson of Memphis, Wendy Tucker of Nashville, and Lillian Hargrove of Cookeville — must be confirmed by the Tennessee General Assembly.