The Blind Leading ...
So, as it turns out, those who are making the key decisions for education in Arkansas, have not actually worked in education. Of course, very few voters seem to be aware of this fact. In election years, voters tend to vote for any candidate that promises to improve education, but those same voters fail to follow up on how that will be done. Few citizens can identify their legislators by name and even fewer can identify the members of the educational legislative committees. We need to change that.
The Arkansas State Senate Education Committee has eight members. Only one, Linda Chesterfield, has any experience in education. Chesterfield worked as a junior high school teacher for many years.
The Arkansas State House of Representatives Education Committee has twenty members. Only two members have a background in education. Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker worked as a high school teacher. Representative Steven Walker has a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership and worked as the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Arkansas River Educational Service Cooperative, but it is unclear as to whether he ever actually taught in a classroom.
The Arkansas State Board of Education consists of eight members. Only two of those eight members were teachers. Dr. Sara Moore, State Board chair, was an elementary teacher. Leigh S. Keener was a pre-K and elementary teacher.