Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. President. She has committed that the focus she will give, not only to Alaska but to all States will not undermine, erode, or ignore public schools and that she will, in fact, work to support our public schools. She has committed to me that she will come to Alaska in order to learn from Alaska's educators, our parents, school board members, and our tribal representatives to see for herself the challenges we face. I still continue to have concerns. I think Mrs. DeVos has much to learn about our Nation's public schools, how they work and the challenges they face. I have serious concerns about a nominee to be Secretary of Education who has been so involved in one side of the equation--so immersed in the push for vouchers--that she may be unaware of what actually is successful within the public schools and also what is broken and how to fix them. Betsy DeVos must show us that she truly understands the children of Alaska and across America, both urban and rural, who are not able to access an alternative choice in education, as in so many of my communities. She must show us that she will work to help the struggling public schools that strive to educate children whose parents are unable to drive them across town to get to a better school. That she will not ignore the homeless students whose main worry is finding somewhere safe to sleep and for whom their public school is truly a refuge.…”