Education Secretary Zoie Saunders with her family and Governor Scott on March 22, 2024. Courtesy photo.
Says first priorities are meeting with school leaders and getting to know Vermont communities
Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders started work today, leading Vermont’s Agency of Education and serving as the state’s chief school officer. She said her immediate focus will be getting to know Vermont’s schools, teachers and communities, while working collaboratively to strengthen the state’s public education system. Secretary Saunders steps into the critical role as the State works to address the needs of its students, while also navigating affordability challenges. Governor Phil Scott appointed her to the position on March 22. The state Senate is expected to take up her confirmation hearing next week.
“I look forward to getting to know Vermont’s education community” said Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders. I commit to listening and learning about the local education priorities, and will work hard to earn and keep the trust of Vermonters. While the Vermont education system faces challenges, some of them national and some of them unique to us, I am confident, by working together, we can turn challenges into opportunities and provide all Vermont students with pathways to a bright future.”
Secretary Saunders will travel around Vermont in the coming weeks. She will meet with school leaders and get to know Vermont's education community. She is also meeting with her staff at the Agency and other key partners in state government to identify strengths and areas for growth.
In the months ahead, Secretary Saunders will kick off a formal listen and learn tour, to meet with teachers, students, families, administrators, and the public in communities around Vermont. The goal is for the Secretary to gain a deeper understanding of Vermont school communities and allow the Agency to build on their existing knowledge of community needs. The tour will focus on key education partners, students and families, and broader Vermont communities, to build a shared vision for what a high quality, equitable Vermont education can be. More details about the tour will be released soon.
A Message from Incoming Education Secretary Zoie Saunders
April 15, 2024
Dear Vermont Educators, Students and Families:
I am delighted and honored to be joining this incredible community, and I’m eager to begin the work to build lasting relationships with our students, families, educators, and civic leaders. As I step into this role as the new Secretary of Education for Vermont, I’m confident that together we will build upon a strong foundation and lift Vermont’s public schools to new heights. On a deeply personal level, this new role provides me an opportunity to be near family and to lead a state education agency that my own kids will count on.
I have spent my entire career working to improve student outcomes, open pathways to post-secondary education and training for all students, and to make sure that every student has access to a great public school. I was raised with rural roots in a union family that valued collective action and community support. This upbringing helped shape my personal and professional outlook. From the start of my career, I have been unwavering in my commitment to foster and expand an environment where equity, access, and opportunity are at the forefront of our educational agenda.
I do not expect the work ahead of me to be easy: nothing worth doing is. Like many other states, Vermont faces challenges - some of which were exacerbated by the pandemic and others that are compounded by national and regional economic challenges. Working collaboratively, I’m confident that we can turn challenges into opportunities and provide every child in Vermont with pathways to a bright future, every educator with support and resources to grow in their profession, and every district leader with the empowerment and trust to lead.
I promise to be all in with you on this important work and to commit my professional time and energy on priorities that center around students.
- To our students, you are the reason we are here. You will be a central part of my focus and my most important advisors.
- To our educators and school staff, I cannot overstate how important you are to Vermont’s educational success and economic competitiveness. Your commitment to our students is a foundational investment that drives our state’s workforce creation, job growth, and every other measure of quality of life. I promise to support your work and to celebrate your success.
- To our school building and local district leaders, I promise to always be accessible and to be a trusted partner in your leadership. I firmly believe that Vermont cannot be successful unless every school and every district in our state is successful.
- To our parents, I pledge to bring my perspective as a Vermont public school parent into every meeting I attend and every policy we consider.
- And to our education partners, I commit to working with you to prepare our students for success throughout their educational journey, from early childhood to career.
I cannot wait to start working with you. I know that when we come together as a community, our students’ potential is limitless. I look forward to earning - and keeping - your trust.
Sincerely,
Zoie Saunders
Secretary of Education
Read Secretary Saunders’s bio on the AOE website
About the Vermont Agency of Education
The Agency of Education implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations to ensure all Vermont learners have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities. The Agency accomplishes this mission through the provision of its leadership, support, and oversight of Vermont’s public education system.
Source: 4.15.2024. Vermont Agency of Education education.vermont.gov.
