Tennessee
Tennessee AG argues qualified doesn’t mean certified in fight over education commissioner
The Tennessee governor has “unchecked authority” to name a state education commissioner who doesn’t have to be certified to teach, according to an attorney’s general opinion published this week in response to queries regarding embattled Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds.
In an opinion published on Tuesday, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti outlines his legal opinion for why the law stating commissioners be “qualified to teach in the school of the highest standing over which the commissioner has authority” does not mean the Tennessee education commissioner has to be certified to teach with a teaching license.
In the 10-page opinion, Skrmetti points to laws established in 1919 and 1925. Skrmetti argues the requirement imposes a “general standing” that establishes the “education, experience, and strength of character necessaryto teach” rather than a specific legal certification.
Skrmetti notes several times that early 20th century General Assemblies chose to give the governor “unchecked power” to appoint commissioners without legislative approval, giving the governor power to “unilaterally judge who had the attainments necessary to lead the State’s Department of Education.”
Rep. Caleb Hemmer, D-Nashville, requested the formal opinion from Skrmetti earlier this year as reports emerged that Reynolds may not meet qualifications for the job.
According to Tennessee state code, the education commissioner “shall” have experience in school administration and be qualified to teach at a high school level. Reynolds, who has experience in school choice nonprofits and the Texas education department, does not appear to have ever taught in a classroom as a teacher or served in local K-12 administration.
Reynolds enrolled at UT Martin to seek a master’s degree and teaching license after Gov. Bill Lee appointed her to the position last year. She also misrepresented her tenure with the state to receive free tuition in the program, which the Department of Education called an administrative error. Following a Tennessean review of her enrollment and department records, a spokesperson said Reynolds repaid the tuition.
Tennessean exclusive: Tennessee education chief got tuition waiver before required six-month employment period
Democrats have continually called for Reynolds to resign in recent months, though Lee continues to back the education chief.
In his request, Hemmer sought Skrmetti’s opinion on whether the General Assembly has a pathway to respond to a commissioner appointment that doesn’t meet qualifications. Skrmetti says no.
The General Assembly likely lacks any viable route to removing the Commissioner of Education from office through litigation. The state — acting through its district and state attorneys general — may have a right to seek court-ordered removal of an unqualified state officer through Tennessee’s “quo warranto” statute. Individual members of the public likely have no direct avenue to prosecute a “quo warranto” action or other removal litigation.
Most recently, the Department of Education pointed to a state law and State Board of Education rules aimed at helping address teacher shortages as evidence that Reynolds is qualified for the position.
The rules allow the commissioner to issue temporary permits to people — based upon work experience, degrees held, subject expertise and progress toward obtaining a Tennessee license — to enable them to teach. A spokesperson has said Reynolds is qualified under these rules but has not issued herself a temporary permit.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Vivian Jones contributed to this report.
That was fun. Kentucky took care of business on Senior Day in a big way, beating Tennessee Tech 42-10. Nick Roush and Adam Luckett are live outside Kroger Field to talk about it on another happy KSR Rapid Reaction.
There was a lot to like from today’s win, but I imagine Nick and Adam will start with Cutter Boley’s play. The redshirt freshman quarterback was spectacular, finishing 18-21 for 236 yards and a passing touchdown and another touchdown on the ground on a 30-yard scramble. Cutter’s quarterback rating today was 195.8. Yes, that was against an FCS squad, but you couldn’t ask for much more from him or the Cats today. Kentucky is now 5-5 with road games at No. 14 Vanderbilt and No. 20 Louisville to close the season.
That’s enough from me. Hear more about the win from Nick and Adam below.
More Postgame Content on the KSR YouTube Channel
Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.
Tennessee
East Tennessee high school football playoff scoreboard | Scores & highlights from round two
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Round two of the high school football playoffs is in the books. Check out scores from across East Tennessee by classification below.
Highlights from every game our Varsity All Access cameras were at are also posted below.
Watch Varsity All Access each Friday at 11:00 all season long on WVLT.
CLASS 6A
Maryville 47, Riverdale 18
CLASS 5A
Sevier County 42, Walker Valley 7
Halls 42, Lawrence County 14
Lincoln County 39, Powell 37
Central 38, Columbia 28
CLASS 4A
Greeneville 35, White County 0
Anderson County 44, Stone Memorial 14
Red Bank 34, Gibbs 7
Alcoa 49, Upperman 28
CLASS 3A
Gatlinburg-Pittman 35, Forrest 14
CLASS 2A
Eagleton 17, Grundy County 6
Marion County 35, South Greene 0
Gordonsville 21, Oneida 6
CLASS 1A
Coalfield 39, Jo Byrns 14
Sale Creek 22, Rockwood 14
South Pittsburg 49, Oliver Springs 0
Clay County 52, Midway 21
DIVISION II-AAA
Baylor 35, Knoxville Catholic 7
DIVISION II-AA
Battle Ground Academy 42, Grace Christian Academy 14
Lausanne 35, CAK 6
Copyright 2025 WVLT. All rights reserved.
People want to move to Nashville and Middle Tennessee, and the region continues to experience rapid growth. But challenges remain, along with the opportunity to shape its development.
How can Nashville area balance low taxes, growth and quality services?
The 14-county region in the Nashville area grew by more than 3,000 people a month from 2010 to 2020. This growth brings opportunities and challenges.
Wochit
The Urban Land Institute and PwC recently released the 47th annual Emerging Trends in Real Estate® report and for the eleventh year, Nashville made the top ten “markets to watch” this year at number six.
Nashvillians don’t need a report to alert them that Nashville and Middle Tennessee continue to grow and develop at an astonishing rate, for an incredibly long run. We see the cranes, carefully make our way through construction zones, meet new neighbors and co-workers, and marvel (and sometimes mutter) at new offices, residential developments, hotels, retail and restaurants.
The challenges that come with Nashville’s continued growth
So, what does the Emerging Trends Report tell us?
First, while Nashville’s growth may appear to be going like gangbusters, there is significant uncertainty facing those who invest in development, as well as the architects, engineers, developers, construction workers, and many others involved in creating new development. The report notes several issues. All of which are present in Nashville, including the following:
- Economic and financial issues, such as interest rates and the cost of capital, concerns about job and income growth, and, of course, inflation.
- Issues specific to development, including the cost and availability of labor; federal, state and local regulations and where they conflict; and increasing operating costs driven by tariffs and inflation.
- Finally, social and political issues impacting development include immigration policy, which affects both the workforce and demand for new development; the cost and availability of housing; and the divide between political parties.
What Nashville and Middle Tennessee have going for them
Second, the report highlights why Nashville again made the top ten — what trends, decisions and investments we have going for us. As the report notes, demand for new homes, offices, industrial and retail spaces is driven by demographics, immigration and domestic migration.
The Sun Belt, and Nashville in particular, continues to be welcoming for jobs and residents. While many Sun Belt cities have seen their 2021-2022 migration slow significantly, Nashville and Middle Tennessee continue to experience strong domestic migration.
Why?
Nashville and Middle Tennessee are known for having both a moderate climate and a welcoming regulatory and tax environment. We boast access to the Southeast and the country. We have a trained workforce and a number of colleges and universities educating the next generation. We’re also known for valuing creativity and being welcoming. For all these reasons and more, we continue to draw new residents, which drives growth.
We know, then, that Nashville and Middle Tennessee continuously rank highly for both investment and development, and we have some ideas on why.
The connection between growth and quality of life
But what does this mean for our city?
Investment, development and growth impact all Nashvillians and Middle Tennesseans. On a very basic level, these are jobs. Jobs in investing, building, using and re-using buildings. Each of these jobs pays our neighbors, who invest their wages back into Nashville through restaurants, stores, services and other local businesses, creating even more jobs.
Growth leads to quality of life, but not only in a physical way.
Do you like the building? Does it feel welcoming? Does it add to the neighborhood?
But growth also improves quality of life as it circulates wages, creates demand for new jobs, and adds to the city’s coffers to buy services such as parks, libraries, fire stations and police departments that we value.
Meanwhile, how we undertake investment, development and growth also impacts each of us. Our city has had recent, sometimes tough, conversations on investing in transportation and transit. We’ve discussed whether to allow new types of housing to address our housing shortage. We’ve considered how to invest in aging infrastructure as we serve current residents and accommodate new residents and businesses.
What Nashville’s ranking really means and the work ahead
As the executive director of ULI Nashville, representing our 1,100+ members in all disciplines related to land use and development, I am thrilled that Nashville once again made the top ten “markets to watch” across the US in the Emerging Trends in Real Estate®. I’m happy about what it signals for our members, especially in a moment like 2025, when there is a lot of uncertainty.
But I am more focused on what the ranking means — what Nashville’s strength means — for how ULI Nashville, our partners and Nashvillians can work together to harness and shape growth in our city.
A high ranking feels validating, but we all know that maintaining this pace of growth — while trying to preserve our welcoming culture, watch out for our neighbors and consider what changes are coming and how we can prepare — is a challenge.
ULI Nashville and its members are here to be partner. We want to connect, inspire and lead. We are bringing our perspective to the tough conversations about how we grow and strengthen Nashville. The Emerging Trends in Real Estate® report is just the beginning. The real work is in conversations on mobility, housing, infrastructure and creating places Nashvillians deserve.
Jennifer Carlat is the executive director of ULI Nashville, A trusted convener, collaborator communicator and educator of best practices on all aspects of city building.
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