NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam said Thursday that Education Department Commissioner Kevin Huffman is leaving for the private sector, a day after making the same announcement about his economic and community development commissioner.

Haslam didn't say specifically what either man will be doing.

In an email to The Associated Press, Haslam spokesman David Smith said, "this is a natural time for transition." He added that the governor "appreciates their service and wishes them well."

The Republican governor was re-elected in the general election last Tuesday.

Huffman's leadership has been heavily scrutinized.

In June, a letter signed by 15 Republican lawmakers demanded the Huffman's resignation, citing complaints from school administrators, teachers and students about Huffman's leadership style as his department implemented a series of changes in K-12 education.

That letter followed a petition signed by nearly half of the state's superintendents last year who argued that the Huffman had "no interest in a dialogue" with local school leaders as he made policy changes.

Haslam defended Huffman's leadership in Thursday's news release, citing reforms that he said improved student learning. Haslam said those changes led to results last year from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, that showed Tennessee students leading the nation in academic improvement.

"Improving education in Tennessee has been a top priority for our administration, and having someone of Kevin's caliber to lead the charge during this time of significant progress has made a difference," Haslam said.