State Board of Education selects Educator Advisory Team to review ELA standards

A stock image of children reading. 

The Tennessee State Board of Education has selected 21 educators from across the state to join its Educator Advisory Team (EAT) to review Tennessee’s current English language arts (ELA) standards, a recent announcement said.

According to the board’s announcement, the members were selected from 297 applications, which was the highest number the State Board has received for such roles. The members will utilize comments based on the board’s public feedback survey and their personal experience as distinguished educators.

The board’s announcement said the EAT will be separated into committees based on grade bands, with six current Tennessee K-12 educators and one higher education professional per committee. Each committee is led by a chair and vice-chair who facilitate revision discussions, track all edits, and ultimately serve on the Standards Development Committee in December 2024. It added that EAT in-person working sessions will be held throughout this week at the State Board of Education office in Nashville.

The members are as follows:

• Tiana Hubbard, Cleveland City Schools

• Meredith McMackins, Dyer County Schools

• Karen Sewell, Freed-Hardeman University

• Nicolle Moore, Greeneville City Schools

• Leigh Ann Potter, Hamilton County Schools

• Riley Brewer, Knox County Schools

• Amanda Boyd, Lenoir City Schools

• Rachel Peay Cornett, Lipscomb University

• Tammy Marlow, Macon County Schools

• Benita Villines, Marshall County Schools

• Nathan Harmon, Meigs County Schools

• Josef Woody, Memphis Shelby County Schools

• Samantha Singer, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

• Jeni Moore, Milan Area Schools

• Brytany Stewart, Milan Area Schools

• Courtney Gray, Monroe County Schools

• Diana Cook, Putnam County Schools

• Mandy Smith, Rutherford County Schools

• Trent Smith, University Schools

• Leticia Skae-Jackson, Williamson County Schools

• Luke Anderson, Tennessee Tech University

Luke Anderson of Tennessee Tech University (Photo from Tennessee Tech) 

Luke Anderson, one of the three higher education faculty members named to the Advisory Team by the State Board of Education, said in an announcement from Tennessee Tech that he plans to use his experience and expertise within the team to support educators and students.

Earlier this semester, Anderson was one of three Tech faculty members to manage the university’s nearly $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education promoting college readiness in nearby Upper Cumberland counties. The project marks the second-largest grant in Tech history.

Anderson said in the announcement that ELA proficiency is critical for K-12 students since they are required to take it each year. He added that “clear and reasonable standards help ensure all students leave high school with the literacy skills they will need for success in their adult lives.”

“I am passionate about English education because it helps students find their own voice, then they learn how to use that voice powerfully and persuasively on important topics,” explained Anderson. “It also teaches them empathy through listening to the voices of others, whether those voices are authors from centuries ago or peers sitting next to them in class.”

Learn more about the Tennessee State Board of Education’s ELA Educator Advisory Team at www.tn.gov.