Lizzette Reynolds currently serves as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education. She was sworn in on June 29, 2023.  

During her tenure, the Tennessee Department of Education has implemented strong literacy and learning acceleration policies leading to historic academic gains thanks to the hard work of districts, administrators, and families, as student scores rebound from impacts of the pandemic. Further, Tennessee students achieved the highest 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate since ELA standards were reset in 2017.  

Additionally, Reynolds has overseen the department’s continuous efforts to ensure that all students have access to high-quality, post-secondary credentials of value so students are prepared to achieve future success through strong academic and workforce readiness opportunities. 

Reynolds previously served as the Vice President of Policy for the Foundation for Excellence in Education. She has also served as Deputy Legislative Director for then-Governor George W. Bush, Special Assistant in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs for U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Regional Representative for U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, and Chief Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency.   

Reynolds earned her undergraduate degree from Southwestern University and is currently seeking a Master’s of Science in Education from the University of Tennessee-Martin.