Miami

South Florida Educators Voice Concern Over Devos' Nomination

She’s a billionaire from Michigan who has spent years and millions of dollars promoting charter schools and denigrating public education in that state. Now Betsy Devos is a senate vote away from becoming the Secretary of Education, alarming those who think she’s unqualified for the job.

Karla Hernandez-Mats, with the United Teachers of Dade, opposes Devos confirmation.

“This is not about party lines, this is about doing what’s right for children and our children deserve better than this,” said Hernandez-Mats.

The United Teachers of Dade joined the National Teachers Unions in criticizing Devos when she showed little knowledge of educational policy at her senate confirmation hearings. Devos refused to say guns don’t belong in schools, drawing ridicule for citing a school in Wyoming’s bear country.

Two Republican Senators have said they will not support Devos, who has never worked in a school system and supports spending taxpayer dollars on private school vouchers.

“I’m worried about funding. I’m worried about a leader who has no education background trying to make education policy on things she has no knowledge of,” said Mats.

Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho says if Devos is confirmed, she needs to educate herself about the nation’s public schools.

“I think Secretary Devos needs to have a greater level of interaction with greater America, where 90% of kids are taught with teachers and principals across the country to make a more hopeful perspective of the reality of education in America. It is not as dark as some people paint it. It needs to be improved, but it is through collaboration, not accusation, that we get that done,” said Superintendent Carvalho.

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