This commentary is by Mark O’Maley of Concord. He has worked in secondary and higher education for close to 30 years.
As the Vermont Senate prepares to hold a confirmation vote on the potential next secretary of education for the state of Vermont, I urge Vermonters and our elected officials to ask themselves: is this appointee whom we the citizens of Vermont really want in charge at the Agency of Education at this pivotal moment we find ourselves at?
My lifelong background in education and being deeply student-centered gives me serious pause over Gov. Phil Scott’s appointment of Ms. Zoie Watson Saunders, M.Ed to be the next secretary of education. Indeed I have major reservations about her qualifications to lead the Vermont Agency of Education for the following reasons:
1.) Ms. Saunders does not possess a terminal degree in education or otherwise — she has a 30-credit master’s degree from Vanderbilt University, and it is not directly related to teaching or working with students. This degree would not allow her to teach on the college level — more importantly, it would not allow her to teach on the elementary or secondary levels in public schools — without licensure.
The most recent Vermont secretaries of education — Rebecca Holcombe, Daniel French, Heather Bouchey — have all possessed a doctoral degree. There are major differences between an M.Ed such as Ms. Saunders holds and the Ed.D and Ph.D degrees. I deeply hold that one’s own education, paired with real teaching and school administration experience, is paramount in a position such as secretary of education. Ms. Saunders does not possess that knowledge or experience based on her credentials and resume that Gov. Scott has presented.
2.) Ms. Saunders is not licensed to teach, and to the best of my knowledge has never been a teacher nor worked in the classroom — public or private. Nor has she been a principal of a school or superintendent of a school district. Additionally I see no evidence that she has served on a school board, nor has she has worked directly with students and families. To me, all of these deficiencies disqualify Ms. Saunders from being confirmed and serving as in the Vermont secretary of education position.
3.) Ms. Saunders extensive work with/for charter schools is concerning. A core belief I have personally encountered from many charter schools nationwide is that they feel they are entitled to public funds, but often insist they have no accountability to the taxpayer and voter, as they weaken public education. There are many outstanding questions about her work with charter schools for sure, and questions about how that work on her part is at odds with Vermont’s public education systems.
4.) It appears Gov. Scott and his team paid no attention to the surveys done by the Vermont School Boards Association, Vermont Superintendents Association and the Vermont Principals Association — which clearly voiced the needs Vermont educators and educational leaders had for a new Secretary of Education.
His ignoring this input is deeply disappointing and concerning. In so many ways I believe Gov. Scott has done a great job for Vermont and Vermonters through some very difficult times during his terms, but with this appointment of Ms. Saunders and his failure to fill the secretary position for so long, he has failed Vermont’s students and citizens spectacularly.
5.) As Vermonters, we are facing hard upcoming conversations and decisions concerning school spending, budgets, property taxes and potential consolidation of school buildings within towns and districts. These are issues the local schools boards and administrators will be on the front line for. It would stand to reason that someone who actually lives and works in Vermont should be at the helm of the Agency of Education for these decisions we will have to wrestle with. As one of my local state reps recently said to me “we need a leader who understands — and has lived — our history, and still can think afresh about our next stage”.
I can suggest that the disastrous appointment of Parwinder Grewal from Texas to the presidency of the newly emerging Vermont State University serves as an example of a non-Vermonter making horrible education decisions for Vermonters — and it should serve as a warning to us all. We saw how that played out, and the cost Vermont paid.
It just makes no sense to me whatsoever, and indeed should serve as a lesson for Gov. Scott, the Vermont Senate and Vermonters statewide when considering the appointment of Ms. Saunders. To lead the Agency of Education, we need someone who understands how diverse, unique and complex Vermont and Vermonters are.
That Ms. Saunders is from Florida currently is of no importance whatsoever — regardless of what any cruel online comments say. That she is not from, living in, or has ever lived in Vermont — paired with that she is not a teacher — is of utmost importance. You wouldn’t want someone who, say, lives in Chicago, being the state representative or senator for Saint Johnsbury, Bennington, Winooski, Castleton or Wilmington, would you? Why then does Gov. Scott think we need someone who comes from far away making educational choices for our students and towns?
With these concerns in mind, I ask all Vermonters to contact their state senator and to urge them to do what’s best for Vermont’s children and families, education system and towns by not confirming Zoie Watson Saunders to the position of Vermont Secretary of Education. Send Gov. Scott back to the drawing board to select a qualified Vermonter to this crucial position.
