2018 Gubernatorial Race
• I believe another thing we ’ re doing right is simply setting goals . As my private sector experience has taught me , setting direct , achievable goals gives us a common direction and purpose . We ’ ve set a couple of goals as a state toward which we ’ ve made progress but must continue pursuing , namely :
• Continuing to be the fastest growing state in student achievement so we move into the top 25 in every subject ;
• Investing in teacher salaries – one of several things we need to do to make Tennessee the best place to be a teacher .
• Finishing the Drive to 55 so students and adults are prepared for tomorrow ’ s jobs .
• While it can certainly go too far , having a consistent , stable assessment is crucial for tracking student progress . I support the work that has been done to refine and improve on the assessment process and , as Governor , I will work to continue to improve that process . Teacher feedback will be a critical part of that improvement as we want to continue keeping track of student progress , while making sure that any testing we do is about quality and relevancy , not simply adding bureaucracy . Assessments are an important tool for everyone to use — students , parents , and the teacher — and I will work to ensure it ’ s used in the proper way to truly help our students grow .
In your opinion , what are the top 3 challenges still facing education in Tennessee ?
• Completing the Drive to 55 . For us to reach the goal of having 55 percent of Tennessee ’ s population having some credential past high school by the year 2025 ; we have to find ways to make Tennessee the best place to be teacher . That means teachers need support , more and better communication and input as we continue improving education in Tennessee .
• Moving beyond the traditional idea of K-12 and instead focus on “ K to J ” education — Kindergarten to Job . As Governor , I want to make it a priority to see that every student graduating has the skills and ability to get a high-quality job .
• Supporting the talent pipeline of educators in our state by investing in teachers and working to develop the best principles in the south . Without these two crucial leadership roles — teachers and principals — improving education is impossible .
What are the steps that the state and local districts need to take to address the challenges you identified ? What impact will that have on classroom teachers ?
For us to be successful in any of the areas I outlined in the previous question , we must get serious about making sure we put teachers and school leaders at the center of the conversation around school improvement . At the end of the day , learning happens in the classroom with a caring , trusted , highly effective teacher . If we are truly devoted to putting students first , our efforts to improve education must go hand in hand with proper , effective support and development for our school ’ s teachers .
Any final thoughts you ’ d like to share with our educators ?
Thank you for what you do . Teachers do so much for students – often unheralded . Teachers remain some of the greatest unsung heroes in our society . As Governor , I will work to change that and highlight how you are the key to student success . I look forward to being a part of a growing movement in Tennessee that elevates teaching ; a movement that truly celebrates the critical part teachers will play in the future success of Tennessee . I look forward to working with the more than 65,000 teachers and educators of our state to truly make Tennessee the Smartest State in the South .
For more information about me and my campaign , and to sign up to receive campaign news and updates please visit my website at randyboyd . com .