Haslam names Candice McQueen new ed commissioner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam has named a top education official at Lipscomb University to be the next Education Department commissioner.
The Republican governor announced Wednesday that he’s chosen Candice McQueen. She will replace Kevin Huffman, who announced last month that he’s leaving for the private sector.
Haslam had said he was considering someone in Tennessee who would have a built-in advantage by already being familiar with the state’s education picture.
McQueen was appointed senior vice president of Lipscomb’s College of Education in January after being credited with overseeing the rise of one of the nation’s top education programs. McQueen also serves as dean.
She is seen as having a strong grasp of Common Core academic standards, which have been phased into Tennessee’s classrooms over the past four years.
