Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Teacher of the Year Award recipients and students from Vermont public schools holding hand-made art work urged the Governor and Legislature to listen to students and teachers before pushing forward with plans to radically transform public education in Vermont. After sharing their concerns, students delivered “Lesson Plans for good Public Schools and Fair Taxes and a Say in Both,” signed by hundreds of Vermonters in every county in the state to the Governor and Legislative leadership.
2024 Vermont Teacher of the Year Aziza Malik’s 5th grade class held hand-written hearts emblazoned with things they love about their school.
“Today, we’re here to celebrate what we love about our schools—the things that make public education in Vermont so special,” said Champlain Elementary School 5th Grader, Kassim.
“In Vermont, we’ve made important investments in our public schools—investments in small class sizes, caring teachers, local decision-making, and learning that reflects our communities,” said Champlain Elementary School 5th Grader Emma B.
“Governor Phill Scott and Secretary Saunders’ education transformation plan hurts the very institution it claims to want to strengthen: public education. And the proposals in the Legislature, while not final, seem to incorporate many of the most concerning elements of the Governor’s plan,” said 2025 Vermont Teacher of Year, Caitlin Macleod-Bluver. “There is no doubt that we need to pay for public education differently to ensure that all Vermont kids have the resources they need to succeed no matter where they live now. But it is clear that the proposed education reform plans do not solve the problems with our funding system, they do not promise lower taxes, they do not address the rising cost of health care, and they will weaken our public school students, teachers, and classrooms,” she continued.
Macleod-Bluver’s students were concerned that the proposals threatened what they love about their school. “There are so many changes and I kept asking, who does this benefit?” said Winooski High School 9th grader Gabby. “It seems way worse for students, way worse for teachers, parents would not want this for kids, and the real thing is, it doesn’t even promise to save money. I love my school and I love my small classes so that my teachers can make sure I am learning something. This plan just does not make any sense to me.”
“We are not alone in these concerns,” said Kate McCann, 2017 Vermont Teacher of the Year. “In these boxes are hundreds and hundreds of ‘Lesson Plans’ signed by Vermonters across the state urging lawmakers here in Montpelier to protect what we love about public education in Vermont and finish the job of making our education funding system fair and simple.”
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