Senate committee holds confirmation hearing for Education Secretary Zoie Saunders

In a small and crowded room, the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday held a more than 90-minute confirmation hearing for Zoie Saunders, Gov. Phil Scott’s pick for the next secretary of education.

Despite the contentious nature of Saunders’ nomination, particularly over her prior work experience, the hearing proceeded mostly smoothly.

“Your nomination has garnered a tremendous amount of interest,” Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, chair of the committee, said in kicking off the afternoon.

Divisiveness nationwide is at an all time high, he said and “democracy is under threat.”

“Democracy is about process, and this hearing is an essential part of that process. Dismissing someone prior to such a process is not only disconcerting to me, it’s also disconcerting to many Vermonters,” Campion said.

Saunders’ background working for the for-profit education management company Charter Schools USA guided many of the afternoon’s questions both explicitly and implicitly.

“In every state that I’ve worked, charter schools are public schools,” Saunders said. “I’m here because I believe in the power of public education.”

Based on her first week on the job, Saunders said she’s heard from school leaders that the state is looking for a “unifying vision” for the education system that would take into account education finance, education quality, enrollment, facilities and workforce development.

“Growing mental health needs” of students, Saunders said, was also a “key theme” she’s heard from Vermonters.

Saunders mostly declined to answer questions about current ideas for Vermont’s public education system, saying she needed to spend more time listening to teachers and school leaders and analyzing data before she could recommend specific policies.

While the majority of the hearing proceeded amicably, Saunders did face pointed questions, particularly from Sen. Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden Central, who said she’d received more than 300 messages from “concerned constituents” about Saunders.

Gulick interrogated the new secretary on her thoughts on private schools receiving public money , charter schools and education policies in Florida targeting LGBTQ students .

Saunders acknowledged that Florida had drawn headlines over the “culture wars.”

“I bring none of that,” she said.

Working in Fort Lauderdale, Saunders said she spent time thinking about the history of redlining and segregation in the city, ensuring that “our full history” wasn’t ignored.

Regarding Saunders’ previous experience, Gulick said her research indicated the new education secretary would be the only state public education leader nationwide who had worked for a for-profit charter school company.

“I’m going to respectfully push back on … your assumption that I don’t have public school experience,” Saunders said. “I have devoted my entire career to public education.”

As is customary, Saunders has already started work while the Senate considers her appointment.

Saunders’ resume has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and Progressives, particularly her years spent as an executive for Charter Schools USA, a for-profit corporation based in Florida, and what some have characterized as limited public school experience.

Scott announced Saunders as his pick last month, almost a year since the last permanent secretary, Dan French, stepped down.

Prior to coming to Vermont, Saunders spent three months as chief strategy and innovation officer for Broward County Public Schools, her only experience working directly for a public school district. In that role, she helped lead a campaign called “Redefining Our Schools,” which involved closing or repurposing schools due in part to a shrinking student body. She also took the position while interviewing for her role in Vermont.

Before working for Broward County schools, Saunders served for almost five years as chief education officer for the city of Ft. Lauderdale, a role that involved working with public and private schools.

Saunders has not worked as a teacher, principal or superintendent — a contrast to the state’s last education secretaries, French and Rebecca Holcombe, who now serves as a Democratic state representative from Norwich.

Vermont’s public education system is dealing with seismic problems. The state faces declining pre-K-12 enrollment, skyrocketing costs and a student mental health crisis , all factors contributing to a systemwide reckoning.

The Senate education committee is expected to vote on whether to recommend Saunders’ appointment later this week.

Saunders will then need the support of a majority of the full Senate. That vote is expected next week.

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