State Board of Education Announces Educator Advisory Team to Review Current Math Standards

Monday, June 15, 2026 | 10:56am

Today, the State Board of Education announced the selection of its 21-member Educator Advisory Team (EAT) to review Tennessee’s current Math Standards. The members were selected from 205 applications and will use comments from a public feedback survey administered in April 2026, along with their personal experience as distinguished educators, to review the current Math Standards.

The EAT is separated into committees based on grade bands (i.e., K-5, 6-8, & 9-12) with current Tennessee K-12 educators and higher education professionals in each 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 September 2026.

The EAT members are as follows:

K-5 Grade Band

  • Angela Rowe, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Chair & SDC Member
  • Melissa Roberts, Scott County Schools, Vice-Chair & SDC Member
  • Abbie McClure, University of Tennessee – Martin, SDC Member
  • Season Epps, Rutherford County Schools
  • Mara Jobbins, Collierville Schools
  • Chanieya Martinez, Tennessee Public Charter School Commission
  • Brooke Taylor, Lebanon Special School District

6-8 Grade Band

  • Rachel Jernigan, Rutherford County Schools, Chair & SDC Member
  • Rhea Carmon, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Vice-Chair & SDC Member
  • MaryBeth Boswell, Wilson County Schools
  • Christopher Enix, Campbell County Public Schools
  • Kelsey Johnson, Tennessee Public Charter School Commission
  • John McConnell, Austin Peay State University
  • Melanie Peel, Chester County Schools

9-12 Grade Band

  • Melinda Pierce, Lenoir City Schools, Chair & SDC Member
  • Beth Fugate, Bradley County Schools, Vice-Chair & SDC Member
  • Holly Anthony, Tennessee Tech University, SDC Member
  • Kyla Johnson, Memphis Shelby County Schools
  • Ashley Miller, Sevier County School System
  • Jessica Slayton, Metro Nashville Public Schools
  • Debbie Sudduth, Bedford County Schools

The EAT in-person working sessions will be held July 20-24, 2026, at the State Board of Education office at 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243. Working sessions are open to the public to view. Please notify Josh Walton, josh.walton@tn.gov, if you plan to attend the working session in person.

Under Tennessee statute (T.C.A. §§ 49-1-311-313) and State Board Policy (Standards Review Policy 3.209), the State Board of Education is charged with reviewing and approving the English Language Arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies standards at least every eight years. Each standards review process follows the same, almost two-year rigorous, legislatively directed process to promote collaboration and transparency. This process entails significant public feedback and coordination across educators, state government, and appointed representatives.

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