Education Secretary Zoie Saunders faced a tight vote in the Senate Education Committee, with a 3-2 decision in favor of recommending her confirmation as the next education secretary. The committee’s chair, Sen. Brian Campion, along with Sen. David Weeks and Sen. Terry Williams, voted in support of Saunders, while Sen. Martine Gulick and Sen. Nader Hashim voted against her recommendation.
Saunders, who was appointed by Gov. Phil Scott and has been in the role since April 15, faced criticism for her background, particularly her time as an executive for Charter Schools USA, a for-profit corporation in Florida. Her limited experience working directly for a public school district raised concerns among lawmakers and educators.
During the 90-minute hearing, Saunders was grilled on her education policy ideas, with Hashim expressing disappointment in her lack of substantive answers. The Vermont-NEA, a state teachers union, urged its members to lobby against Saunders’ confirmation, citing her vague responses and lack of vision for public schools.
Despite the pushback, some committee members were impressed by Saunders’ knowledge and composure during the hearing. Campion praised her depth of knowledge and dedication to studying Vermont, while Williams commended her composed demeanor. However, Gulick emphasized the need for a more substantive vision for Vermont’s public education system.
The Senate is expected to vote on Saunders’ confirmation next week, where she will need the support of a majority of the 30-member body. The outcome of the vote remains uncertain as lawmakers and educators continue to scrutinize Saunders’ qualifications and vision for the state’s education system.