MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont Governor Phil Scott Thursday defended his pick of a Florida education administrator as the state’s new education secretary.
The governor on Friday announced his appointment of Zoie Saunders to lead the Agency of Education. But the choice sparked immediate criticism from Democrats and Progressives who say Saunders doesn’t have enough experience in public school systems.
Saunders served for three months as a school administrator in Broward County and before that worked in promoting charter schools. One-third of Senators have expressed concern over the appointment and could scuttle her confirmation, a rarity for the governor’s cabinet choices.
“Disturbingly, all these false accusations and judgments appear to be based on the state she currently lives in, and a cherry-picked part of her resume that’s been turned into a boogeyman with no attempts to understand her work or the value her experience could bring for Vermont kids and schools,” Scott said. “Frankly, I’m embarrassed by the message it sends, that a smart, extremely capable professional woman, who has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for kids and addressing inequity for impoverished communities and families, is being villainized simply because of the state she currently lives in. And that legislators would believe what they read on Twitter, and jump to conclusions about her experience, goals and perspective without ever speaking to her.”
The Senate education committee would begin Saunders confirmation process leading up to a vote in the full Senate.