Betsy DeVos’s first weeks as education secretary have not gone smoothly. First, she was blocked from entering a Washington D.C. public school, and last week, the Education Department’s Twitter account misspelled the name of W.E.B. Du Bois.
Now, she’s getting thrashed by that same D.C. middle school from which she was originally blocked after DeVos criticized the teachers employed there. To say whomever is running the Jefferson Academy Twitter account is pissed is an understatement.
After all, look at this rant after DeVos was quoted as saying, via Townhall, “[The teachers are] waiting to be told what they have to do, and that’s not going to bring success to an individual child. You have to have teachers who are empowered to facilitate great teaching.”
DeVos, it should be noted, has never been a teacher nor she does she have any experience with public schools. The school was not so eager to hear her criticisms.
This is what Sec. DeVos said about our teachers after her visit. Needless to say, we're about to take her to school… @dcpublicschools pic.twitter.com/Wcx1YyqDHL
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
First, the secretary visited the classroom of Ashley Shepherd and Britany Locher, a dynamic co-teaching team that differentiates for the…
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
needs of students ranging from a first grade level to an eighth grade level in reading. They build amazing relationships with students and..
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
maintain a positive classroom environment focused on rigorous content, humor, and love. They aren't waiting to be told what to do.
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
Then she saw Latisha Trent in action. Ms. Trent has been at Jefferson for 3 years, and each year her students grow MULTIPLE grade levels…
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
in Math. EVERY student realizes his or her maximum potential in Ms. Trent's room. She isn't waiting to be told what to do.
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
Then the Sec. met Band teacher Jessica Harris, who has built our Music program from the ground up. Ms. Harris pours her heart into her work.
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
Ms. Harris is patient, kind, relentless, and reflective. She is everything you want in a teacher. She isn't waiting to be told what to do.
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
Morgan Markbreiter was there as well. Ms. MB has unleashed the passion of countless students through her Video Game Design course. MB also..
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
runs our INCREDIBLE after-school program, which provides FREE tutoring and enrichment to our kids. She isn't waiting to be told what to do.
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
JA teachers are not in a "receive mode." Unless you mean we "receive" students at a 2nd grade level and move them to an 8th grade level.
— Jefferson Academy (@JATrojans) February 18, 2017
The Twitter account also retweeted a few takes similar to this.
Whenever I need to see a committed staff and great instruction and see true transformation, I visit @JATrojans. You should too.
— Jacqueline Greer (@JacquelineinEd) February 18, 2017
All of it led to DeVos softening her stance on Twitter on Saturday morning.
.@JATrojans Your teachers are awesome! They deserve MORE freedom to innovate and help students.
— Secretary Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 18, 2017
.@JATrojans Great teachers deserve freedom and flexibility, not to constantly be on the receiving end of government dictates.
— Secretary Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) February 18, 2017
But if there’s a lesson here, it’s this. DeVos—who was only barely confirmed by the Senate—doesn’t seem to have much credibility with many of those involved with public schools. It also seems she has plenty of homework to do in order to actually build it.