DeVos Looks to Reassure, Pledging ‘Students Come First’ in First Speech to Ed Dept
On her first day as Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos aimed to reassure the employees of the department that she is not the uninformed enthusiast she was made out to be during her contentious confirmation process. Speaking to the Education Department employees in Washington, D.C., DeVos emphasized the importance of finding common ground and prioritizing the needs of students. The fact that the event was broadcasted live on C-SPAN, a rarity for the typically low-profile Education Department, is a testament to the attention and controversy surrounding DeVos as she begins her tenure. After Vice President Mike Pence cast a historic tie-breaking vote in favor of confirming DeVos, her nomination battle finally came to an end.
Over the past few weeks, DeVos has faced criticism for her perceived lack of knowledge about education policy, particularly regarding laws protecting students with special needs. Additionally, her unwavering support for charter and private school choice has raised concerns that traditional public schools may suffer. Civil rights groups, women’s groups, and advocates for LGBT students also opposed DeVos, fearing that she would not adequately protect the educational opportunities and safety of these students. In her introductory remarks, DeVos indirectly addressed these concerns by emphasizing the importance of supporting struggling students, special needs students, and their families.
DeVos highlighted the department’s responsibility to protect students and ensure that classrooms foster curiosity and safety. She expressed her commitment to working together with the employees to achieve this goal. DeVos also displayed a sense of humor, acknowledging the drama surrounding her confirmation process and referring to her infamous comment about schools needing guns to protect against grizzly bears.
Grateful for the unwavering support of her husband and family, DeVos thanked them during her speech. The DeVos family, who are billionaires and the co-founders and owners of Amway, have utilized their wealth to promote school choice and support Republican causes and candidates. DeVos has vowed to decline the education secretary’s salary and only accept $1.
DeVos, who pledged to challenge department norms and listen to the ideas of long-serving employees, received support from the career civil servants within the department. She delivered her speech alongside these employees, who have led the various agencies of the 4,400-member department throughout President Trump’s tumultuous transition.
Phil Rosenfelt, the deputy general counsel and a respected long-serving civil servant, introduced DeVos and expressed optimism about a smooth transition as the department works towards common goals, even if they have different approaches. Comparing the introduction of DeVos and her team to his daughter’s wedding, Rosenfelt described it as the merging of two families to form a better education family.
Critics have argued that DeVos lacks the necessary experience to run a federal agency with an annual budget of $68 billion. However, during her speech, DeVos assured everyone of her open-door policy and willingness to collaborate with anyone, regardless of their support for her nomination, in order to improve educational opportunities for American students.
On her first day at the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos was met with protesters expressing their dissatisfaction. The @Alt_DeptofED Twitter account shared a photo of demonstrators greeting DeVos with raised fists as a symbol of resistance. Not only were demonstrations taking place outside the Education Department’s headquarters in Washington, but there were also plans for additional protests at 10 regional offices across the United States.
It is worth noting that The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation had previously provided funding to from 2014 to 2016. Campbell Brown, who serves on the boards of both and the American Federation for Children (which Betsy DeVos used to chair), had no involvement in the reporting or editing of this article.
To stay updated on news like this, you can sign up for newsletter. By doing so, you will receive stories directly in your inbox.
