Former education commissioner Wayne Lewis has a new job, and it’s not in Kentucky

Wayne D. Lewis Jr., who just resigned under pressure from Gov. Andy Beshear’s newly appointed Kentucky Board of Education, was on Monday named the inaugural Dean of the College of Education at Belmont University at Nashville, according to a news release from Belmont.

Belmont’s School of Education includes undergraduate and graduate programs of study.

“I am often in the position of announcing exciting new construction projects at Belmont, but it’s even more rewarding to announce the addition of such a remarkable leader. Dr. Lewis will help build academic programs in our School of Education, and I could not be more pleased to welcome him to Belmont, “ Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said in the news release.

“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve as Belmont University’s inaugural dean of the School of Education. There is not another institution in the country with a history, mission and story like Belmont’s,” Lewis said in a news release. “I look forward to joining the students, faculty, staff and leadership in January as we work together to aggressively build on Belmont’s rich tradition of preparing the most important resource in education: teachers.”

Beshear reorganized the state board of education last week on his inauguration day and within another two days, Lewis had resigned after meeting with Beshear’s newly appointed Kentucky Board of Education. Beshear had promised the reorganization throughout his campaign in hopes that the new board would remove Lewis. Beshear had pledged to support public education and teachers in the state, many of whom had a tumultous relationship with Beshear’s opponent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and weren’t happy with Lewis’ advocacy of charter schools or his pursuit of teacher absence records on days when educators protested at the General Assembly.

Lewis was hired in April 2018 on the same day that board members appointed by Bevin forced the resignation of then-Commissioner Stephen Pruitt. Bevin had issued an executive order appointing seven new members to the board to fill seats left vacant when previous members’ terms had expired.

Lewis holds a master’s degree in urban studies and public administration from the University of Akron in Ohio, with post-baccalaureate studies in special education in mild/moderate disabilities from the University of New Orleans. He holds his Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from North Carolina State University, according to the Belmont news release.

Prior to being hired as Education Commissioner, Lewis taught as an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies and as an affiliated faculty member with the African American and Africana Studies Program at the University of Kentucky, where he also chaired the Educational Leadership Doctoral Programs. He is a former middle and high school special education teacher, having taught in public school districts in Louisiana New Orleans Public Schools and St. Charles Parish Public Schools and in North Carolina.

In his new position, Lewis will chair the Teacher Education Council at Belmont and oversee undergraduate and graduate programs for teacher licensure, and new programs that are developed in education.

Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said that creating the position for the first dean of education will allow Belmont to lay the ground work to increase programs and enrollment.

He said, “We wanted to find a different kind of leader to build our ‘dream’ of a College of Education, who will lead the faculty and staff in the School of Education to develop and deliver world-class programs designed to educate teachers for students in our community and our world as the next generation of compassionate, confident and committed leaders in the classroom and beyond.”

New Kentucky Board of Education chairman David Karem said board of education members will launch a national search for a new state education commissioner. A national search did not happen when Lewis was hired as commissioner.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Department of Education General Counsel Kevin Brown had left the state to work at Jefferson County Public Schools as General Counsel but is returning to KDE this week as interim education commissioner.

Brown is not in the running for the permanent job.

This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 11:59 AM.