RadicallyTransformingLives

Sunday morning, May 18, 1980. Why was it snowing when I woke? As a 6 th grader I remember being confused and immediately scared as the ash fell in the grass surrounding my childhood home, covering it like a blanket of snow. My school year ended that day. Our class, week-long trip to Cispus didn’t happen, but I did begin to learn about how life events shape what we know, learn and remember. January 28, 1986 I arrived at school early. Jazz Ensemble started at 6:45am. I’m sure we had an amazing rehearsal. 11:39EDT (8:39am Chehalis, WA time) we gathered in the library at W.F. West High School to watch the space shuttle blast into space. I recall our teachers being excited because “one of them,” a teacher, Christa McAuliffe, was flying on this mission. We watched and cried together, when 73 seconds into flight, the Challenger exploded ending the lives of all seven astronauts on board and changing the trajectory of space travel and our instruction for the foreseeable future. I reme

Thank you for the invitation to share my thoughts with Senator Murray for Ms. DeVos. As a point of reference, this is my 26 th year as a public school administrator/teacher. I have served students in Washington, Oregon and Nevada. I have served as a music teacher, Middle School Assistant Principal, High School Assistant Principal, Director of Alternative School, High School Principal, Director of Educational Non-Profit, Assistant State Superintendent (supporting WA under-performing schools—285 schools holding 250,000 kids) and currently Superintendent in the Lyle School District. I have six children. 2 have graduated from public schools and 4 are still enrolled in WA public schools. I have served as a Union President for school administrators in Nevada and am currently the President Elect for the Washington Association of School Administrators for ESD 112. Thoughts on Ms. DeVos: There are a myriad of data points about her absolute lack of qualifications to serve as our nati