AFT President Randi Weingarten on Nomination of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education

WASHINGTON—In response to President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education, AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement:

“While the job of education secretary should not be a consolation prize, we are pleased that Linda McMahon wanted to teach in her early life and that her work on the Connecticut State Board of Education led to her interest in literacy and building career pathways.

“We will try to work with anyone who puts the aspirations of our students, families and communities first. That means strengthening public education, not undermining it. Voters made it clear that’s what they wanted in November’s down-ballot elections.

“We look forward to learning more about Linda McMahon, and if she is confirmed we will reach out to her as we did with Betsy DeVos at the beginning of her tenure. We hope Donald Trump means it when he says he wants a focus on project-based instruction, career and technical education and apprenticeships. This will improve education and job options, making schools more relevant and engaging for young people.

“But we question the future of these popular ideas and more if the Trump administration follows through with plans to close the Department of Education, leaving in doubt a federal-funding lifeline that disproportionately goes to children in need, children with disabilities and young adults who are the first in their families to go to college.

“And college has always been the engine to innovation and opportunity in America, to individual growth and improvement, as well as strengthening communities, which is why we fight so hard for young people to be able to attend without pauperizing student debt, and for educators to have the academic freedom and supports they need for our young people to soar.

"Families with wealth may be able to cover these college and university costs, but not the working-class and middle-class families that we serve every day and have the honor to represent. And speaking of my members, they have always wanted and understood the importance of local schools and local control, not state control. They want the latitude to teach, not test, to meet their students' needs.

"They are asking, 'Who's going to fund services for kids with special needs in Mississippi? What happens to poor kids in South Dakota, Montana and Alaska? How do we ensure there is funding to prepare students for career opportunities? For college?

“Will Linda McMahon support us as we teach students to read? Will she protect kids and families, so that everyone in a school feels welcome and can learn?’

“We don’t know the answers to these questions. And while we expect that we will disagree with Linda McMahon on many issues, our devotion to kids requires us to work together on policies that can improve the lives of students, their families, their educators and their communities.”