“No one has done more to support education reform in Tennessee than Senator Douglas Henry,” Kane, a leader in education reform in Nashville, said. “He has taken action when others have only talked about reform, and I am optimistic about what he can do in the future to continue to champion progress for children.”

 

“Senator Henry is a public education reformer who, year after year, successfully fights on Capitol Hill for the interests of Nashville school children,” said Fox, Chairman of the Metro School Board. “While Nashville´s public school system engineers a massive turnaround, I am relying on Sen. Henry´s continued leadership in the General Assembly to help make this transformation successful.”

 

“I am honored to support a man who continues to do so much for Nashville’s schools, its students and their families,” Coverstone, a former Metro School Board Member, said.

 

Senator Henry, who wrote the original legislation establishing charter schools in Tennessee, expressed his gratitude.

 

“I am humbled and honored to have the support of David, Alan and Jeremy, along with the other leaders in education who have been gracious enough to support me,” he said. “When I wrote the original charter school legislation, I knew it would take innovative thinkers like them to make the concept work here.”

 

Other leaders in education who have endorsed Senator Henry for re-election include former Metro School Board Chairs Betsy Walkup and Dewey Branstetter; current Metro School Board Members Mark North and Karen Johnson; former Metro School Board Members Kathleen Harkey, Chris Norris and Kathy Nevill; Dr. Hazel O’Leary, President of Fisk University; and former national President of the NEA Dr. Helen Pate Bain.

Senator Henry has been a champion of education in Tennessee. He has worked closely with Governor Bredesen, playing a key role in obtaining the Race To The Top funds and supporting the Governor’s efforts to raise teacher pay and expand access to Pre-K programs. Senator Henry also sponsored and passed legislation to help curb the dropout rate by making it easier for young teen-age mothers to stay in school.

 

“Senator Henry played a critical role in helping me secure Race To The Top stimulus funds so we can bring about real reform in public education,” Governor Bredesen said.

 

“He also championed our Pre-K program, protecting it from partisan attacks and working to expand its reach to young children across the state.”