BURLINGAME – Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement today about the governor's decision to appoint San Diego Unified Superintendent Alan Bersin as the state's new Secretary of Education to replace Richard Riordan:
"It's disappointing that in these tight budget times, when the governor had an opportunity to focus resources where they are needed most – in our classrooms – he chose to continue spending money on the office of California education secretary. It is an unnecessary and redundant state education bureaucracy.
"CTA is also disappointed that the governor chose someone who has no track record of building consensus or working with parents and teachers to improve public schools. During his seven-year tenure in San Diego, Alan Bersin's top-down bureaucratic style divided the community, hurt teacher morale and failed to significantly improve student learning. We hope Mr. Bersin will take a new approach in his new job."