NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he wanted the state's embattled education commissioner to remain in his administration for a second term but it didn't happen.

The governor told reporters after a speech to business leaders in Nashville on Friday that Kevin Huffman's departure wasn't aimed at cleaning the slate with critics of the commissioner for his lead role in the state's education overhaul that has included to the implementation of Common Core standards and changes to teacher tenure rules.

"I wanted Kevin to stay, I wanted to be real clear about that," Haslam said. "Kevin decided what was the right thing for him to do for him and his family."

Huffman announced Thursday that he had decided to step down but said that heavy criticism from some Republicans and teachers groups did not play into his decision.

Haslam said he will cast a wide net to find a successor, but added that a Tennessean candidate would have a built-in advantage by already being familiar with the state's education picture.

"It's no secret we have a lot to work through in terms of education issues in the coming years," he said.

The governor has launched a review of Common Core education standards over the course of the next year, and urged critics to hold off on legislation seeking to dial back those rules while that study is underway.

"We really are trying to get to the right answers," Haslam said. "For us it's never been about Common Core — it's about how do we have higher standards that will produce better outcomes for students in Tennessee."

"If you really want Tennessee input with the standards, you have to replace what we have with something" he said. "And that will take a while."

While it's unclear when Haslam will settle on a successor for Huffman, he will have another chance to explain his thinking to very interested parties when he speaks at the annual convention of the Tennessee School Boards Association in Nashville on Monday.