Democrats for Education Reform is circulating a document with its wish list for the transition, including suggestions for key education jobs in the Obama Administration. I read this as a guide to the positions the folks listed below would like for themselves. (And, for the most part, education reformers should be thrilled to see them get their way.)
- White House Policy Czar: John Podesta
- Domestic Policy Director: Jon Schnur, James Kvaal, Roberto Rodriguez, or Michele Jolin
- OMB (position unnamed): Michael Dannenberg
- Secretary of Education: Arne Duncan (strong preference), Wendy Kopp, Jon Schnur, Hugh Price, Alan Bersin, Mike Easley, Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, Roy Barnes, or Bob Wise
- Deputy Secretary/ Under Secretary: Andrew Rotherham, Russlyn Ali, James Shelton, or Ted Mitchell
- Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education: Michael Bennet, Anthony Alvarado, Patricia Harvey, or Bart Peterson
- Title I Director*: Zollie Stephenson or Brad Jupp
- Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education: Kevin Carey, Barmak Nassirian, or Bob Shireman
- Assistant Secretary for Planning & Evaluation: Robert Gordon, Kevin Hall, Alice Johnson Cain, or Andrew Rotherham
- Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs: Roberto Rodriguez
- Assistant Secretary for English Language Acquisition: Peter Zamora
- Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement: Kim Smith, Kevin Chavous, Shirley Sagawa, or Michele Cahill
- Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights: Carmel Martin, Russlyn Ali, or Goodwin Liu
- Assistant Secretary for Special Education: Martha Thurlow
- Director, Institute of Education Sciences: Jane Hannaway or Catherine Freeman
- General Counsel: Dianne Piche, Kent Anker, Ross Wiener, or Robert Gordon
- Communications and Outreach: Rodney Ferguson or Julie Petersen
- Others: Steve Robinson, J.B. Buxton, Sara Mead, Peter Groff, Erin Dillon, Gina Burkhardt, Ethan Gray, Chris Cerf, Kristan Van Hook, and Patrick McGuinn
This list brings to mind three questions. First, what will happen to Democrats for Education Reform if all of these people join the Administration? There won't be any Democrats for education reform left outside of the government. Second, same question for Education Sector. Will it just close its doors? Third, does this mean that people such as Kati Haycock, Amy Wilkins, and Michael Cohen aren't interested in jobs in the government? Otherwise, why aren't they listed?
OK, let the gossiping begin.
* This is actually a career job so I'm not sure why it's on the list.
