January 3, 2009
Bennet Rhymes With Senate, Yo
As news outlets all over the planet have been reporting for the last 24 hours, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today officially appointed Denver Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Interior Secretary designee Ken Salazar. (Bennet is pictured here at the Ed Challenge for Change event that DFER co-sponsored at the Democratic National Convention in the Mile High City last summer.)
Denver Post story is here, Rocky Mountain News is here.
We like Bennet a lot. Our statement is after the jump.
For Immediate Release:
January 2, 2009
Statement on Reported Selection of Denver School Superintendent Michael Bennet For United States Senate
Democrats for Education Reform issued the following statement following news reports that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is prepared to tap Denver Superintendent Michael Bennet to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ken Salazar, who will become Interior Secretary:
"Michael Bennet is an excellent choice to represent the State of Colorado, but the real winners here are the school children nationwide whose futures require smart, pragmatic leaders who are willing to come together and focus on finding new ways to solve old problems," said DFER Executive Director Joe Williams.
"Bennet has been part of a growing movement around this country which understands that saving public education requires a major transformation in the way we think about schooling. That kind of fresh approach extends beyond education. The boldness he brought to the superintendent's office in Denver will make him an important player in a Washington which has been put on notice by American voters. It is hard to think of a more appropriate leader to question 'business as usual' than Michael Bennet."
About Democrats for Education Reform: DFER supports Democratic candidates committed to progressive ideas like greater accountability for schools; adjustments in teacher licensing requirements; changes to teacher compensation to reward our best educators; and a renewed focus on early childhood education (in particular, linking early childhood education with charter schools, which usually do not include Pre-K).
