Tennessee's education system is getting a new voice. Lt. Governor Randy McNally recently tapped Marsha Johnson from Clarksville, for a seat on the State Board of Education.
Join us in welcoming Marsha Johnson as our new Tennessee State Board of Education member. She will represent the seventh congressional district. MORE: https://t.co/PbvQkSOhZJ pic.twitter.com/KYMEbsztWK
— TN State Board of Education (@SBEd_TN) May 22, 2024
She'll start her five-year stint at the Board's next meeting on May 31, bringing to the table a whopping 35 years of teaching experience in both Tennessee and Kentucky. Her career highlights include snagging a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics back in 2001, a nod to her work with military families at Fort Campbell's Dependent Schools. Despite throwing in the teaching towel in 2014, Johnson, who's married to Representative Curtis Johnson, remains rooted in Clarksville, TN.
In a statement, Lt. Governor McNally had only praised for the new appointee. "As a dedicated career educator, Marsha Johnson’s talent and experience will serve the Tennessee State Board of Education well. With over 35 years in K-12 schools, Marsha has taught many different grades and many different subjects. I am confident her contributions to the commission will serve our state and its students well," he said, according to a release from the State of Tennessee website.
The Tennessee State Board of Education, the decision-making body when it comes to state educational policy, sports a diverse 11-member roster. Each congressional district gets a seat plus one for a student member, and the executive director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, who joins as a non-voting ex officio. None of the board members, including Johnson, get paid for their service, but they're expected to have a real zest for lending a hand to education in Tennessee.
Dr. Sara Morrison, the executive director of the State Board, chimed in, expressing excitement over the newest addition. "Marsha's extensive experience as a former educator makes her well-versed in the work of the Board. We are excited to see how she plans on expressing her opinion when voting on our rules and policies," Morrison stated.
