1-on-1: Meet Vermont’s new secretary of education
Zoie Saunders sat down with NBC5 In Depth ahead of her starting as the leader of the Vermont Agency of Education.
Updated: 10:22 AM EDT Mar 24, 2024
APPOINTED A NEW LEADER FOR THE VERMONT EDUCATION AGENCY, CHOOSING FROM A LIST OF NAMES PROVIDED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. ZOEY SAUNDERS IS MOVING FROM FLORIDA. SHE HAS A SISTER AND AN AUNT IN VERMONT AND HAS BEEN VISITING FOR YEARS. SHE STARTS APRIL 15TH. SAUNDERS MOST RECENTLY WORKED IN INNOVATION FOR BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SERVING MORE THAN 200,000 STUDENTS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING IN THE AVIATION FIELD. SHE ALSO ADDRESSED COVID 19 LEARNING LOSS AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE. OUTCOMES FOR KIDS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. BEFORE THAT, SAUNDERS WAS A STRATEGIST FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS USA, ALSO BASED IN FLORIDA. WE STARTED OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE INCOMING EDUCATION SECRETARY BY ASKING WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION MEANS TO HER. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD IS ABLE TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. I REALLY BELIEVE STRONGLY IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO UPLIFT CHILDREN AND TO ALSO PROMOTE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. ARE YOU YOURSELF THE PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR GRADES, SCHOOL. MIDDLE SCHOOL? HIGH SCHOOL? I DID NOT ATTEND A PUBLIC SCHOOL. I ATTENDED PRIVATE SCHOOL AND HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND MY CHILDREN ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THEY’VE HAD A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE CAREER, HAS BEEN DEVOTED TO ADVANCING PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS. WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE WILL BE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES IN YOUR NEW POSITION? I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN. THE STATE OF VERMONT, AND IT’S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DISTRICTS AND STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING VERY SIMILAR CHALLENGES. IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, FACING DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND AGING FACILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS. YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS ARE REALLY ASKED TO DO A LOT, A LOT MORE THAN EDUCATING STUDENTS. IT’S REALLY PROVIDING THAT WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THOSE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND TO SUCCEED NOT ONLY IN SCHOOL, BUT BUT IN LIFE. AND SO I SEE THERE BEING A GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE STATE OF VERMONT WITH YOUR FOCUS ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT, TO BUILDING UPON THAT, TO STRENGTHEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, ONE ASPECT OF THAT CHALLENGING CLIMATE RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, EDUCATION SPENDING, IT’S REALLY UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. THE STATE OF VERMONT IS ONE OF THE TOP SPENDERS IN EDUCATION. AND I CERTAINLY VALUE THAT. THE STATE HAS A STRONG A REALLY STRONG TRADITION OF INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN. SO I THINK THAT’S A VERY GOOD PLACE TO START. UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION. AND I THINK WE ALSO, IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE FOCUSING ON THE OUTCOMES AS WELL AND ENSURING THAT THERE’S EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES TO PROMOTE EQUITABLE. STUDENT OUTCOMES ACROSS THE STATE. WHAT. DO YOU SEE THE ROLE BEING FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION. IN VERMONT? I BELIEVE IN EXPOSING CHILDREN TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN IN TERMS OF CAREERS AND STARTING THAT VERY EARLY, UH, SO THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY THINGS THAT ARE INTERESTING TO THEM AND CONTINUE TO NURTURE THEIR TALENTS SO THAT THEY CAN PURSUE THOSE CAREERS THAT ARE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND MEANINGFUL TO THEM. UM, I’VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE OFFER THOSE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS. UM, I HAVE EXPERIENCED, AS YOU MENTIONED, IN DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS IN AVIATION. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING TRAINING PROGRAMS AROUND PUBLIC WORKS, UM, AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE WORKFORCE TO DEAL WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, UM, OF, YOU KNOW, OF OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, SO I THINK ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EDUCATION. UM, SOME STUDENTS WILL MATRICULATE INTO TO COLLEGE AND CERTAINLY SUPPORT THOSE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. BUT SOME STUDENTS MAY, AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, BE INTERESTED IN GOING STRAIGHT INTO A CAREER. AND WE WANT TO GIVE THOSE STUDENTS CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PATHWAYS AND GET THOSE EXPERIENCES WHILE THEY’RE IN SCHOOL. UM, THAT THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM AFTER GRADUATION AND BE SUCCESSFUL IN. THEIR CAREERS. WELL, ONE THING, GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS SPOKEN ABOUT QUITE FREQUENTLY IS THE ATTITUDE AROUND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. IT USED TO BE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT EVERYONE SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE. THAT WAS WHAT PEOPLE SEEMED TO THINK AND THAT TECHNICAL EDUCATION WAS SEEN AS PERHAPS. A LESSER OPTION. NOT SO NOW WE’RE WORKING ON CHANGING THAT CONVERSATION. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE’RE PREPARING KIDS FOR COLLEGE. AND CAREER. UM, I THINK OFTENTIMES THE FOCUS AND EMPHASIS HAS BEEN MORE EXCLUSIVELY ON COLLEGE, BUT THE CAREER. EXPLORATION IS IS AS IMPORTANT. AND THERE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT JOBS THAT STUDENTS CAN ENTER RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE GOOD PAYING JOBS. UM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE GIVING STUDENTS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE CAREERS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND CERTAINLY GIVE BACK TO OUR SOCIETY IN VERY BIG AND. BIG WAYS. YOU’RE COMING TO US FROM FLORIDA, A STATE THAT HAS MADE HEADLINES, OF COURSE, AROUND THE NATION FOR PUTTING CERTAIN LIMITS, PROHIBITIONS ON WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT AND DISCUSSED IN CLASSROOMS, INCLUDING TOPICS LIKE GENDER IDENTITY, HOMOSEXUALITY, PRONOUN USE AND I WONDER, EVEN THOUGH. THIS GOVERNOR AND THIS LEGISLATURE WILL LIKELY NEVER DO SUCH A THING HERE IN VERMONT, I WONDER WHAT THAT DID TO SHAPE YOUR VIEW OF OF PUBLIC POLICY AS IT RELATES TO EDUCATION. SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, MY FOCUS IS MAKING SURE THAT POLICIES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF OF ALL CHILDREN. UM, AND PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT. IDENTIFY WITHIN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY THAT THEY FEEL LOVED, VALUED AND SUPPORTED, I THINK THAT’S OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE. AND I’VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR TO SHARE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS TO ME. UM, PERSONALLY, UM, AS I MOVE FORWARD IN DOING THIS WORK IN, IN VERMONT, UM, I THINK THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS DO ALLOW US. TO REFLECT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING POLICY AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THE IMPACT THAT IT DOES HAVE ON SCHOOLS, ON TEACHERS, ON CLASSROOMS, ON INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS, AND ON FAMILIES. UM, AND SO THAT’S SOMETHING THAT THAT I TAKE TO HEART. UM, I AM ON A PERSONAL NOTE. I’M A MOM OF TWO SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. UM, AND SO I REALLY FEEL THAT WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE. SET EDUCATION POLICY, WE DO IT RIGHT, BECAUSE IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD, UM, AND THAT THEY FEEL FULLY SUPPORTED AND NURTURED AND CELEBRATE ED FOR THE TALENTS AND THE UNIQUENESS THAT THEY BRING. THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. SO WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? UH, WE REALLY DO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND HIKING AND SKIING. UM, I’M REALLY EXCITED FOR MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE SEASONS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. UM, AND THAT’S JUST GOING TO BRING A LOT OF JOY, UM, YOU KNOW, TO OUR FAMILY AND. HELP US TO BUILD NEW TRADITIONS. UM, HERE IN VERMONT. SO WE’RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND I WILL VERY MUCH WORK HARD FOR, FOR ALL VERMONTERS AND, AND I’M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TO SERVE DON TINNEY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE VERMONT NEA. THE LABOR UNION REPRESENTING EDUCATORS, SAID HE HOPES THE NEW SECRETARY IS AS COMMUNICATIVE AS HER PREDECESSORS, WRITING IN A STATEMENT WHILE HER YEARS WORKING ON BEHALF OF CHARTER SCHOOLS GIVES US PAUSE, I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH INCOMING SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ZOE SAUNDERS NEXT WEEK AND TO WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE,
1-on-1: Meet Vermont’s new secretary of education
Zoie Saunders sat down with NBC5 In Depth ahead of her starting as the leader of the Vermont Agency of Education.
Updated: 10:22 AM EDT Mar 24, 2024
Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, has announced the next leader for the Vermont Agency of Education. Zoie Saunders will start serving as the agency secretary on April 15.”I am energized and motivated by the governor’s bold vision to make the state of Vermont a national model, producing the best educational outcomes In the United States from cradle to career,” Saunders said during a March 22 press conference when her appointment was announced.Gov. Scott chose Saunders from a list of names provided to him by the Vermont State Board of Education, a spokesperson for the governor said. Saunders must be confirmed by the Vermont Senate, but may start working ahead of that confirmation vote, the spokesperson explained.Saunders, her husband, and two children will move to Vermont from Florida, but told NBC5 News she has been visiting the Green Mountain State for years. She has an aunt and sister in Vermont, she said. The incoming education secretary most recently worked for Broward County Public Schools in Florida, serving more than 200,000 students. Her areas of focus included developing workforce training programs, addressing COVID-19 learning loss, and efforts to improve outcomes for kids from historically underserved communities, Saunders said in a one-on-one interview with NBC5 In Depth.When asked by NBC5 News in the one-on-one interview, Saunders revealed she attended private schools growing up, but that her children are having a very positive experience in public schools. She also discussed her views on technical education and on Florida’s past controversial measures to try to limit classroom discussion of issues such as gender identity and homosexuality.Watch the video above for the full interview that aired Sunday on NBC5 In Depth.Before her job with Broward County, Saunders was a strategist for the Florida-based Charter Schools USA, which raised eyebrows for the Vermont NEA. “While her years working on behalf of charter schools gives us pause, I look forward to meeting with incoming Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders next week and to working together to promote, protect and strengthen public education in Vermont,” said Don Tinney, the president of the union representing Vermont educators. “Vermont public school students and educators need a strong advocate at the Agency of Education to ensure that programs, services, and resources remain in place to meet the needs of our children and youth. Personally, I appreciated the working relationship we had with Secretary French and Secretary Bouchey and hope that the new Secretary of Education will maintain that open line of communication.”Saunders replaces Dan French as secretary of the Vermont Agency of Education. French stepped down from the position in 2023 for a role with the Council of Chief State School Officers.During the search for a permanent leader for the Vermont Agency of Education, Heather Bouchey served as interim secretary. She will help with the leadership transition and serve as deputy secretary moving forward, according to the office of Gov. Scott.”I want to thank Heather for her tremendous work leading the agency, and for her commitment to our state, its students, educators and communities,” Scott said in a written statement. “Her energy and passion have made her a valuable member of my cabinet and she has been a tremendous teammate and leader.”
Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, has announced the next leader for the Vermont Agency of Education. Zoie Saunders will start serving as the agency secretary on April 15.
“I am energized and motivated by the governor’s bold vision to make the state of Vermont a national model, producing the best educational outcomes In the United States from cradle to career,” Saunders said during a March 22 press conference when her appointment was announced.
Gov. Scott chose Saunders from a list of names provided to him by the Vermont State Board of Education, a spokesperson for the governor said. Saunders must be confirmed by the Vermont Senate, but may start working ahead of that confirmation vote, the spokesperson explained.
Saunders, her husband, and two children will move to Vermont from Florida, but told NBC5 News she has been visiting the Green Mountain State for years. She has an aunt and sister in Vermont, she said.
The incoming education secretary most recently worked for Broward County Public Schools in Florida, serving more than 200,000 students. Her areas of focus included developing workforce training programs, addressing COVID-19 learning loss, and efforts to improve outcomes for kids from historically underserved communities, Saunders said in a one-on-one interview with NBC5 In Depth.
When asked by NBC5 News in the one-on-one interview, Saunders revealed she attended private schools growing up, but that her children are having a very positive experience in public schools. She also discussed her views on technical education and on Florida’s past controversial measures to try to limit classroom discussion of issues such as gender identity and homosexuality.
Watch the video above for the full interview that aired Sunday on NBC5 In Depth.
Before her job with Broward County, Saunders was a strategist for the Florida-based Charter Schools USA, which raised eyebrows for the Vermont NEA.
“While her years working on behalf of charter schools gives us pause, I look forward to meeting with incoming Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders next week and to working together to promote, protect and strengthen public education in Vermont,” said Don Tinney, the president of the union representing Vermont educators. “Vermont public school students and educators need a strong advocate at the Agency of Education to ensure that programs, services, and resources remain in place to meet the needs of our children and youth. Personally, I appreciated the working relationship we had with Secretary French and Secretary Bouchey and hope that the new Secretary of Education will maintain that open line of communication.”
Saunders replaces Dan French as secretary of the Vermont Agency of Education. French stepped down from the position in 2023 for a role with the Council of Chief State School Officers.
During the search for a permanent leader for the Vermont Agency of Education, Heather Bouchey served as interim secretary. She will help with the leadership transition and serve as deputy secretary moving forward, according to the office of Gov. Scott.
“I want to thank Heather for her tremendous work leading the agency, and for her commitment to our state, its students, educators and communities,” Scott said in a written statement. “Her energy and passion have made her a valuable member of my cabinet and she has been a tremendous teammate and leader.”
