Deputy Education Commissioner Stephen Smith is Gov. Bill Haslam’s new senior adviser for policy and strategy, Haslam announced Monday.
As deputy commissioner, Smith was the Tennessee Department of Education’s liaison with the administration and General Assembly on policy and legislative and legal issues — experience that Haslam said was key to his appointment.
“Given our focus on education, Stephen has already been integrally involved with our office on a number of initiatives and issues over the past six years. I’ve always appreciated his professionalism, grasp of the issues, and relationships with the legislature and stakeholders throughout the state,” Haslam said in a press release.
In six years at the department, Smith, 41, helped develop several education policies that have defined Haslam’s tenure, including changes to the state’s education accountability system, reforming teacher tenure, expanding school choice options, and this year, updating the state’s funding formula for education known as the Basic Education Program.
“I have been very fortunate these past six years to work in the Tennessee Department of Education and be part of Governor Haslam’s successful efforts to improve student achievement in this state,” Smith said.
Smith will join the governor’s office August 2.