Phyllis Lightner
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Phyllis Lightner
@granny15.bsky.social
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Christ follower, grandma to 15 perfect grandchildren, wife, mother, dog lover. Fighting for democracy.
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Reposted by Phyllis Lightner
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NEW—Dept of Ed staff received an email from Sec. McMahon tonight with the subject, “Our Department’s Final Mission.”

McMahon writes that plan is, “to send education back to the states.” Notably doesn’t mention executive order like earlier draft, but some think it’s still coming.

Full text:
From: Linda McMahon Subject: Our Department's Final Mission When I took the oath of office as Secretary of Education, I accepted responsibility for overseeing the U.S. Department of Education and those who work here. But more importantly, I took responsibility for supporting over 100 million American children and college students who are counting on their education to create opportunity and prepare them for a rewarding career. I want to do right by both. As you are all aware, President Trump nominated me to take the lead on one of his most momentous campaign promises to families. My vision is aligned with the President's: to send education back to the states and empower all parents to choose an excellent education for their children. As a mother and grandmother, I know there is nobody more qualified than a parent to make educational decisions for their children. I also started my career studying to be a teacher, and as a Connecticut Board of Education member and college trustee, I have long held that teaching is the most noble of professions. As a businesswoman, I know the power of education to prepare workers for fulfilling careers. American education can be the greatest in the world. It ought not to be corrupted by political ideologies, special interests, and unjust discrimination. Parents, teachers, and students alike deserve better. After President Trump's inauguration last month, he steadily signed a slate of executive orders to keep his promises: combatting critical race theory, DEl, gender ideology, discrimination in admissions, promoting school choice for every child, and restoring patriotic education and civics. He has also been focused on eliminating waste, red tape, and harmful programs in the federal government. The Department of Education's role in this new era of accountability is to restore the rightful role of state oversight in education and to end the overreach from Washington. This restoration will profoundly impact staff, budgets, and agency As l've learned many times throughout my career, disruption leads to innovation and gets results. We must start thinking about our final mission at the department as an overhaul-a last chance to restore the culture of liberty and excellence that made American education great. Changing the status quo can be daunting. But every staff member of this Department should be enthusiastic about any change that will benefit students. True change does not happen overnight—especially the historic overhaul of a federal agency. Over the coming months, as we work hard to carry out the President's directives, we will focus on a positive vision for what American education can be. These are our convictions: 1. Parents are the primary decision makers in their children's education. 2. Taxpayer-funded education should refocus on meaningful learning in math, reading, science, and history—not divisive DEl programs and gender ideology. 3. Postsecondary education should be a path to a well-paying career aligned with workforce needs. Removing red tape and bureaucratic barriers will empower parents to make the best educational choices for their children. An effective transfer of educational oversight to the states will mean more autonomy for local communities. Teachers, too, will benefit from less micromanagement in the classroom-enabling them to get back to basics. I hope each of you will embrace this vision going forward and use these convictions as a guide for conscientious and pragmatic action. The elimination of bureaucracy should free us, not limit us, in our pursuit of these goals. I want to invite all employees to join us in this historic final mission on behalf of all students, with the same dedication and excellence that you have brought to your careers as public servants. This is our opportunity to perform one final, unforgettable public service to future generations of students. I hope you will join me in ensuring that when our final mission is complete, we will all be able to say
March 4, 2025 at 4:35 AM