Tennessee State Board of Education Summer Externship
The Tennessee State Board of Education (“State Board”) is seeking a qualified law student1 to serve as a Summer 2026 extern. The position will be filled for a ten plus (10+) week period during the summer term, between late May and mid-August. The State Board expects the extern to work up to approximately thirty (30) hours per week in a hybrid remote/in-person role. The externship is currently eligible for course credit or monetary compensation, up to $3,000 in total. This position offers an opportunity to learn how the State Board works to uphold a high bar for educator licensure and further the State Board’s efforts to ensure all students are safe and have access to great teachers. This position’s work will primarily be within the educator license discipline area, with a focus on case management and administrative litigation. The extern will also work with the General Counsel to conduct legal research on K-12 education policy and laws affecting the State Board’s work, including analyzing and revising State Board rules and policies.
About the Tennessee State Board of Education
The Tennessee State Board of Education’s mission is to ensure policies and systems are in place so that all students are prepared for success after graduation. The State Board is charged with complete jurisdiction over the issuance of K-12 educator licenses in Tennessee. This includes reviewing educator misconduct and determining appropriate license discipline action, including denial, formal reprimand, suspension, or revocation of an educator’s license. We collaborate closely with various stakeholders across the state to ensure equity, oversight, and transparency in K-12 education policy.
Core Responsibilities and Expectations
• Provide legal representation to and legal services on behalf of the State Board of Education.
• Effectively manage educator misconduct cases, including identifying and obtaining necessary evidence and preparing cases for litigation and/or review by committees and State Board Members.
• Represent the State Board, with counsel oversight, or support counsel at administrative hearings and/or mediations.
• Draft case summaries, various notices and filings, pre-hearing motions, and memorandums of law.
• Assist the General Counsel and staff with policy filings for the Joint Government Operations Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly and provide research support on various K-12 education topics as needed, such as:
o Conduct legal research and writing on a variety of topics relevant to education or employment law.
o Work closely with the General Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, and Secretary of State to draft, revise, file, and promulgate all Board-approved rules in accordance with Board statutory authority and the UAPA.
o Provide legal advice to the State Board and Board staff regarding administrative procedure, ethics and conflict of interest requirements, open meeting and open record laws, and other areas of education law, such as curriculum and instruction, special education, and charter schools. o Analyze state and federal legislation impacting K-12 schools in Tennessee.
How to Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to Mr. Alex Anderson, Associate Counsel, at Alex.Anderson@tn.gov. Applicants should highlight their desire to receive course credit or monetary compensation, as well as their preferred window of availability. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interviews may be virtual or in-person and will be conducted in mid- to late-March 2026, with a decision expected no later than mid-April. 1
* Qualified applicants are those that are eligible for a law student practice license under Tenn. Sup. Ct. Rule 7 § 10.03, which requires completion of at least half of the required course of study. Applicants from both full-time and part-time programs may apply
