Thursday, Governor Doug Ducey reversed a move made Wednesday by Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas. Douglas fired the executive director of the Arizona Board of Education, along with her deputy. But Ducey said as far as he’s concerned, they’re still on the job.
Douglas had run her campaign largely on an anti-Common Core platform. Jeremy Duda is the governor’s office reporter with the Arizona Capitol Times and has been covering this story. I asked him how much the firings were related to her platform.
Since we spoke to Duda, Diane Douglas has released a statement, which reads in part, “If the Governor thinks I have to justify hiring or firing at will employees who can be terminated without cause and without rights of appeal, then it brings into question the dozens of agency heads and gubernatorial employees who have been removed and replaced for clearly political reasons.” She also said she promised voters she’d replace Common Core and that she “will not falter in her best efforts to keep her promise.”
Douglas’ action caused a number of traditional education leaders to shake their heads.
Jaime Molera is both a former state superintendent of public instruction and a former president of the State Board of Education. He said Douglas’ attempt to fire the Board’s Executive Director may cement the negative perception many had of her during last Fall’s campaign.
