Governor Haslam Appoints Local Teacher to State Board of Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Bill Haslam has appointed Nicholas Darnell, an eighth grade American history and government teacher in Hamblen County, to the Tennessee State Board of Education.

As a representative for Tennessee’s first Congressional District, Mr. Darnell officially joined the board in May and will serve on the State Board of Education through 2023.

A teacher of twelve years, Mr. Darnell was chosen as the East Ridge Middle, Hamblen County, and the First TN Core Region middle school teacher of the year in 2015. In the same year, he was selected by Gov. Haslam to serve on the first Governor’s Teacher Cabinet, and has advised the governor and Education Commissioner for the past three years.

Mr. Darnell also serves as a learning leader for Hamblen County by providing facilitation for Professional Learning Communities, leading professional development, and mentoring fellow teachers.



“I am very excited to have Nick join the State Board as our new teacher member and feel confident he will bring valuable insight and perspective to the Board’s policy discussions and decisions,” said Dr. Sara Morrison, executive director of the State Board of Education.

The Tennessee State Board of Education is a ten-member, governor appointed and legislatively confirmed board on policy review and development across all areas of K-12 education in the state. Through a close partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Board maintains oversight in K-12 implementation and academic standards.

The State Board of Education is the governing and policy making body for Tennessee’s preK-12 public education system. Its work touches all facets of education from accountability and evaluation to standards and teacher education. The State Board of Education is composed of 11 members representing the diversity of the state —  one from each congressional district, a student member, and the executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission whoserves as a non-voting ex officio member. Board members are unpaid governor’s appointees, confirmed by the General Assembly, and serve five year terms.

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