Education Commissioner Visits Oneida
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Education Commissioner Visits Oneida
By Shane Gilreath
SCN Contributing Editor
[email protected]
Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizette Reynolds paid a visit to Oneida Elementary on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to observe the Oneida Special School District’s summer learning program. The visit showcased the emphasis the state places on early intervention learning as participants in the summer program seek academic advancement.
Reynolds, who was appointed Tennessee Commissioner of Education in 2023, has a storied resume, having previously served in educational leadership positions in both state government and the private sector, including having worked in education policy during the administrations of President George W. Bush during his tenure as both president and Governor of Texas.
The summer learning program at Oneida Elementary serves nearly 100 students and is specifically aimed at strengthening reading, mathematics, and other foundational academic skills, according to Kelly Posey-Chitwood, acting Director of Schools. The program also supports Tennessee’s Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI) program, which provides targeted instruction to students who need additional academic support.
What seemed obvious, as Reynolds went door to door, is that participation in Oneida’s summer programming offers a wide-range of support, among both staff and students, as students strive to exhibit proficiency that would allow each to continue to the next grade level with greater understanding.
“This is a great district,” Reynolds assured Oneida Elementary Principal Ashley Billingsley, a high compliment from the state official. The Commissioner spent time visiting several classrooms, interacting with students, speaking with educators, and observing classrooms of multiple age groups engaging in a variety of subjects.
The visit, and Reynold’s praise, highlights the district’s on-going culture of building encouragement and determination among students, where each young mind is an active participant in their own education. According to school officials, by investing in early learning and additional and individualized support, the Oneida School District can continue its mission of helping every child reach their own potential.
The Oneida program offered small classrooms with one-to-one support where classmates clearly supported one another on their education journey.
Oneida was one of several Tennessee schools selected this summer to showcase the state’s literacy and intervention programs. Throughout those visits, Reynolds has praised improving academic performance across the state and attributed it to a slew of dedicated teachers, evidence-based instruction, targeted interventions, and summer learning opportunities that help students build confidence and remain on track academically.
