Minnesota educators hope for the best with DeVos

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ST. PAUL, Minn. Jan. 31, 2017 – Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement Tuesday in response to the party-line vote by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to forward the nomination of Betsy DeVos to the full Senate for confirmation as U.S. secretary of education.

“Educating a child requires engaged parents and a team of qualified, committed educators stretching from the classroom, to the principal’s office to educators in the district, campus, state and federal levels. Today, a Senate committee moved, on a party-line vote, to disrupt that team by approving Betsy DeVos, who has actively worked against the sort of neighborhood schools the vast majority of Minnesota students attend,” Specht said.

“The nomination now moves to the full Senate for a vote. In the meantime, the educators of Minnesota hope Ms. DeVos discovers compassion for students with special needs. We hope she will insist all schools that receive the taxpayers’ money will be held accountable to the same standards of quality and transparency. We hope she demonstrates a talent for management and cooperation that’s missing from her resume. And we hope she’s a quick study for the multitude of policy details her new job requires. In short, we will hope for the best.”

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.