Haslam Announces Stephen Smith To Join His Senior Staff as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy
Smith is deputy commissioner of policy and external affairs at Tennessee Department of Education
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced that Stephen Smith will join his senior team as senior advisor for policy and strategy. Smith is currently the deputy commissioner for policy and external affairs at the Tennessee Department of Education, where he works with the administration, General Assembly and other stakeholders on key policy, legislative and legal issues.
“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. “He’s a strong addition to our team, and we’re excited to have him on board.”
Smith, 41, joined the Tennessee Department of Education in 2011 and has been central in the development and adoption of several key administration policies and reforms including revisions to the state’s education accountability system, teacher tenure reform, expansion of school choice options, modernization of the state’s teacher salary schedule, and enhancement of the state’s funding formula for education known as the Basic Education Program (BEP).
“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. “I am tremendously excited about this new role and the opportunity to work more directly with the governor on a wide range of issues to help Tennessee continue to be recognized as a national leader in education, job creation and fiscal responsibility.”
Smith is a licensed attorney and formerly worked in private practice as well as the nonprofit sector representing clients in both a legal and consulting capacity. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and law degree from the Nashville School of Law.
He and his wife, Christina, live in Williamson County and have three young daughters, Ellery, Adler and Ivey.
Smith will join the governor’s office August 2.
Haslam announced last week that Will Cromer, who has been his chief policy advisor since 2010, will leave the governor’s office in September. TennCare director Dr. Wendy Long has named Cromer deputy director and chief of staff of TennCare.