Teachers and administrators are our greatest resource and the only way we can successfully address this issue of an under performing educational system is by utilizing this resource. Reform and merit pay are my legislative priorities to solving Tennessee’s education problems.

To begin with, teachers and administrators who motivate their students to perform above the norm should be paid above the norm and those who motivate students to perform exceptionally well should be paid exceptionally well. Those administrators and teachers who do not have the gift of education should be helped to find other professions. This is how the business community works and we need to bring these same principals to the education world.

Other legislation that I have co-sponsored involves charter schools. It is paramount that Tennessee must provide the availability of safe and passing schools for students who currently attend failing schools. I have also co-sponsored legislation which identifies and moves students from academic settings to a vocational education environment. Not all children excel in academics, but can in vocational education settings. Finally and most importantly, the General Assembly must begin to lessen the influence of the Department of Education and return authority back to the school principal and classroom teacher.