BURLINGAME – Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 340,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement today about the governor’s appointment of David Long as the state’s new secretary of education:
“David Long is an intelligent choice as California’s new secretary of education. His long education career includes 21 years of classroom teaching. So he brings real experience and perspective to this job.
“Teachers are hopeful about working with him on critical California issues, such as implementing the CTA-sponsored Quality Education Investment Act to help our schools of greatest need, and securing adequate funding for all public schools. While we continue to question why this purely advisory education position is needed when the state has an elected state superintendent of public instruction to oversee public schools, we are optimistic that David Long has shown he has the background and commitment to make a difference for our students, schools and teachers.”