Zoie Saunders, Vermont Secretary of the Agency of Education
Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced his appointment of Zoie Saunders to serve as Vermont’s next education secretary.
Saunders is an accomplished education leader with broad strategic and operational experience driving school improvement, increasing student outcomes and enrollment, closing service gaps, and optimizing school support services.
Currently, Saunders works as the chief strategy and innovation officer for Broward County (Florida) Public Schools, the sixth largest school district in the country. In this role, to which she was appointed in December, she is responsible for aligning resources, maximizing facility usage, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing support services for 230 schools serving over 200,000 students.
Using a collaborative approach, Saunders has led discussions with community stakeholders to develop the goals and criteria for redefining the future of education in the county from an equity lens.
Saunders will assume the role effective April 15. Governor Scott expects the Senate confirmation process to begin at that time.
See press conference HERE.
Zoie Saunders takes questions during the governor's press conference Friday, March 22, 2024. She said she has a strong connection to Vermont with family members who live here. Screen capture image.
“I have always believed that, given our enormous investment and commitment, Vermont is capable of having the best education system in the country, serving students from cradle to career,” said Governor Scott. “Vermont’s education system is at a turning point, and it will take all of us – teachers, parents, administrators, school staff, community leaders, and more – to work together to ensure we reach our full potential. Zoie’s exemplary resume, fresh perspective and impactful experience as a public school leader will be invaluable as we move forward. She has demonstrated a deep commitment to the success of students and the communities that schools serve. She will be a huge asset as we move forward, and I look forward to working with her and welcoming her and her family to Vermont.”
“I have devoted my career to expanding educational opportunities for underserved communities and believe in the power of education to drive positive community change and economic prosperity,” said Saunders. “It is my honor to serve as the secretary of Education in a state with a strong tradition of prioritizing education and the needs of children. With leadership experience across multiple states and a background in community development, I understand that local context matters and commit to collaborating with Vermonters to advance the State’s education goals. On a personal level, I am a mom of two school-aged children and will work hard to advocate for policies that prepare students for success in school and life.”
For five years prior to her current role, Saunders served as the City of Fort Lauderdale’s first chief education officer. In this role, she designed and led a new division to enhance educational opportunities for 180,000 residents. She expanded workforce training programs by launching the Avionics Systems Technician Program, designing a public works training-to-employment pipeline, and increasing college accessibility for historically underserved communities.
To address learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Saunders extended afterschool and summer enrichment programs for 2,000 low-income children, resulting in improved literacy and skill development. Under her leadership, the city earned recognition for innovation in education and workforce development from Broward County Public Schools, the state of Florida, National League of Cities, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Previously, she was the vice president of strategy for Charter Schools USA. In this role, she oversaw enterprise-wide strategic planning, school improvement, accreditation, a $20 million grant portfolio, and operational improvements for 84 schools across seven states, serving 70,000 students.
Vermont does not have charter schools and concerns were immediately raised about her bringing that model to Vermont and whether it would siphon off funds from the public schools. She said she would be advocating for improvements within the traditional public school system. She noted her own two boys went to the local public school in Florida.
She said she would spend her first 90 days as secretary on a "listening and learning" tour across Vermont. Saunders said outcomes is the guiding "North star" of education. She echoed the governor's long-held goal of making public education a cradle-to-career pathway.
Saunders’ salary as Vermont’s education secretary will be about $168,000. Her annual salary for Broward schools was $180,000, according to the South Florida SunSentinel.
She successfully led cross-functional initiatives that resulted in 100% school grade improvement among target schools and a 475% increase in the proportion of schools meeting enrollment targets. To scale effective planning, she worked with principals and classroom teachers to develop a school improvement platform that enabled integrated goal setting, progress monitoring and predictive analytics.
As a research fellow at Vanderbilt University, Saunders consulted on Nashville Promise Neighborhood, an education reform initiative designed to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through a continuum of family-centered services. Early in her career, she held nonprofit leadership roles at HospiceCare of Southeast Florida and Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center where she expanded access to pediatric health care and wrap around services.
Saunders has conducted research on effective human service delivery, cross-sector collaboration, parent education programs, community change and social/emotional learning curriculum. She earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and Master of Education from Vanderbilt University.
She grew up in Fort Lauderdale, but has two sisters and an aunt who live in Vermont.
Saunders replaces Interim Secretary Heather Bouchey, who will help with the leadership transition and serve as deputy secretary. Bouchey has led the agency for 11 months, since Secretary Dan French stepped down in April 2023.
“I want to thank Heather for her tremendous work leading the Agency, and for her commitment to our state, its students, educators and communities,” said Governor Scott. “Her energy and passion have made her a valuable member of my Cabinet and she has been a tremendous teammate and leader.”
Vitae
Experience
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Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
Broward County Public Schools Jan 2024 - Present · 3 mos Miami-Fort Lauderdale Area
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Chief Education Officer
City of Fort Lauderdale · Full-time Apr 2019 - Jan 2024 · 4 yrs 10 mos Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area
- Launched and led a new government office to expand learning opportunities for 180,000 residents. Recognized for innovation in education and workforce development by the U.S. Department of Labor, National League of Cities, Florida Department of Education, and Broward County Public Schools.
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Vice President of StrategyVice President of Strategy
Sep 2016 - Apr 2019 · 2 yrs 8 mos Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Led corporate strategy for Charter Schools USA, the largest and fastest growing education management company. Oversaw system-wide accreditation, performance analysis, school improvement, strategic resource allocation, $20 million grant portfolio, and quality assurance of operational standards.
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Sep 2015 - Sep 2016 · 1 yr 1 mo Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Led AdvancED system accreditation process for 80 schools across 7 states; Consulted on new school opening process during year of most rapid growth; Led revised board reporting process and creation of enhanced dashboards; Spearheaded cross-functional working group to improve inter-departmental coordination and school support.
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Oct 2012 - Sep 2015 · 3 yrs Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Designed and implemented budget priorities process to promote strategic resource alignment; Led academic intervention process for targeted schools; Developed strategic planning framework and performance management system.
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Research and Teaching Fellow
Vanderbilt University 2010 - Sep 2012 · 2 yrs 9 mos
- Consultant, Nashville Promise Neighborhood
-Consulted on research and grant development of place-based education reform initiative. Developed governance structure; Researched and implemented process improvement system to promote organizational learning; facilitated strategic planning sessions to develop the lead organization's theory of change; analyzed strategic, core and operational partnerships using bi-modal network analysis.
Lead Program Evaluator, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
-Investigated multi-level impact of Early Learning Center scholarship on family stability, socialization opportunities and life-long learning.
Teaching & Undergraduate Course Development
-Health Service Delivery to Diverse Populations: Contributed to curriculum development and student evaluation tools. Facilitated service learning projects.
-Introduction to Health Service Delivery: Developed pedagogical strategies to enhance learning of health systems and introduce students to research methodology.
- Consultant, Nashville Promise Neighborhood
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HospiceCare of Southeast Florida, Inc.
Director of Development
HospiceCare of Southeast Florida Mar 2007 - 2010 · 2 yrs 11 mos
- Launched new division of pediatric services to support comprehensive needs of over 250 families. Developed strategic partnerships with 3 children's hospitals, 2 research universities, and Children's Medical Services to implement national demonstration project to expand access to palliative care.
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Coordinator of Development
Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center Dec 2005 - Mar 2007 · 1 yr 4 mos
- Managed $700,000 annual fundraising campaign via special events, public and private grants, corporate philanthropy, annual giving and oversight of volunteer auxiliary.
Education
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Bachelor of Arts (BA), English Language and American Literature 2001 - 2005
- Activities and societies: Phillips Brooks House Association, Seneca, Inc. Activities and societies: Phillips Brooks House Association, Seneca, Inc.
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Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of Education
Master of Education (M.Ed.), Community Development and Action 2010 - 2012
- Activities and societies: Orrin Ingram Scholar, Research Fellow, Teaching Fellow,
Peabody Dean's Office of Professional & Graduate Education Fellow, Nashville Promise Neighborhood Research and Evaluation Committee
- Activities and societies: Orrin Ingram Scholar, Research Fellow, Teaching Fellow,
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Source: 3.22.2024. Governor | Montpelier | www.vermont.gov