Joe Dorman Concerned About Possibility of Mary Fallin Appointing Janet Barresi as Education Secretary
Press Release
Rep. Joe Dorman, Democratic nominee for Governor, said the potential of Mary Fallin appointing Janet Barresi as Secretary of Education would be disastrous for Oklahoma's public education system.
"I've heard from multiple sources that Mary Fallin is considering the appointment of Janet Barresi as Secretary of Education," said Dorman. "This is an absolutely bone-chilling idea for Oklahoma's education system -- but, given how Fallin and Barresi share the same regressive education policies, what's most scary is how plausible it might be."
Dorman said Robert Sommers' announced resignation as Secretary of Education gives Fallin a chance to keep Barresi in a policy-making position.
"Sommers' retirement gives Fallin a prime opportunity to reverse the June primary results and to continue the "Fal-esi' plan," said Dorman. "This means more one size fits all high stakes tests, more flawed A-F grading for schools, and continued overall lack of respect for public education. The voters last month soundly repudiated this agenda, but I fear Fallin didn't get the message. "
Dorman said he would implement education policies that take into account the expertise of those in the classroom, and said the possibility of Fallin appointing Barresi was too great a risk for Oklahomans to take.
"Fallin may deny she would appoint Barresi, but over these last four years she has shown she cannot be trusted on education," said Dorman. "Even with her flip-flop on Common Core and many other issues, her hand-picked Board of Education continues to push "Fal-esi' policies. The Fallin Board of Education demonstrated this by suing to block HB 3399, the repeal of Common Core. We need a Governor who will implement sensible education reform and give the needed resources to our schools. I will implement rigorous and developmentally-appropriate Oklahoma-based standards that empower both teachers and students, eliminate harmful high stakes standardized tests, and dramatically increase education funding."
"We cannot continue Fallin and Barresi's destructive education policies," concluded Dorman. "Oklahoma's children and our future are too important. We can and we must do better."
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