On June 26, Commissioner Michael Williams announced that Ryan Franklin will become the Associate Commissioner for Educational Leadership and Quality, effective immediately. Mr. Franklin is the Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner. He will replace Michele Moore who has resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Prior to joining TEA as the Senior Policy Advisor to former commissioner Robert Scott, Mr. Franklin served on the staff of the Senate Education Committee. A former English teacher, he is a respected educator with experience in a variety of policy areas, deep content knowledge, external relationships and strong management skills. Mr. Franklin will provide leadership to the department as TEA searches for a permanent Associate Commissioner.
In addition to Mr. Franklin, Dr. Tim Miller joined the staff of the department earlier this month as division director. Dr. Miller came to TEA from Cleburne ISD where he served as superintendent for three years after two years as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Programs. He is a former teacher and administrator in North East ISD and Judson ISD and has also served as an adjunct professor for the University of the Incarnate Word and Concordia University.
As Associate Commissioner, Michele Moore managed the launch of the pilot teacher and principal evaluation systems. She coordinated TEA efforts with the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), teacher certification and preparation. She had a wide range of policy experience in the legislative branch, including a stint on the staff of the Senate Education Committee.
Earlier in the month of June, TEA Chief Legal Counsel David A. Anderson announced his retirement, effective August 31. Anderson has been General Counsel to the Texas Education Agency since 1994 and has worked with seven commissioners including Mike Moses and Jim Nelson and two interim commissioners. He previously was Special Assistant to Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, Counsel to the Economic Analysis Center at the State Comptroller's Office and a Hearings Examiner at the Comptroller's Office. Anderson is one of the most respected public officials in Texas. Commissioner Williams announced that Deputy Chief Counsel Von Byer would serve as the Interim Chief Counsel upon Anderson’s retirement.
In the Standards & Programs Department, Associate Commissioner Monica Martinez recently tapped Kelly Callaway as Interim Director of the Division of Instructional Materials and Educational Technology. She takes over that division after the retirement of John Lopez earlier this spring. Ms. Callaway has managed a number of program areas in the Curriculum Division during the past decade.