Bredesen appoints new leader for state department of education

A senior education official has been promoted to lead the state’s education department following former commissioner Tim Webb’s resignation last week.

Gov. Phil Bredesen on Monday named Bruce Opie, a 34-year veteran in the education field, as the new commissioner of the Department of Education. The promotion comes less than a week after Webb, set to become the new superintendent of Cheatham County schools, announced his resignation.

Opie has served as the department’s deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner for legislation and policy, director for the state’s special schools and as the department’s executive director for curriculum and instruction. Opie has worked at the department since 1985.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the employees of the Department of Education to achieve our public education improvement goals and will do everything I can to help assure a smooth transition as a new administration begins in January,” Opie said in a written statement.