State Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) has joined a growing number of officials calling for the resignation of Tennessee’s education commissioner, Lizzette Reynolds. Having assumed the position in July, Reynolds has already faced a barrage of criticism regarding her performance and qualifications.
Earlier this year, state Democrats pointed out that because Reynolds doesn't appear to have teaching experience and her primary residence was in Texas, she doesn’t qualify for the position. A representative from the governor’s office told the Scene at the time that Reynolds is qualified for the job and is currently enrolled in an education program through UT Martin.
On Friday, The Tennessean reported that Reynolds had received tuition assistance for that education program — assistance that she didn’t qualify for because she hadn’t worked in Tennessee long enough. A representative from the Tennessee Department of Education told The Tennessean that the tuition assistance was “an administrative error” and that Reynolds paid the money back.
“I think that’s wrong,” Warner tells the Scene. “I think she's misrepresented herself and may have committed some crimes — I don't want to say that she has, I think that should be up to a jury. But definitely, I think it's time for her to step down.”
Warner's criticism of Reynolds extends beyond the tuition scandal and includes the commissioner’s performance in legislative committees. Reynolds is expected to help Gov. Bill Lee expand the private school voucher system statewide. Warner opposes the governor’s voucher plan but says Reynolds “struggled with answering the questions that the committee has for her.”
“To be quite frank, we think she's unqualified for the job,” says Warner.
Though he confirmed that some of his Republican colleagues share his concerns, Warner declined to name them.
