FL kindergarten teacher stands up to testing, FLDOE listens. No K-2 testing for now.

[kmlisle]

19. I agree but have found that the Florida Dept of Ed staff are really dedicated to education

I was on the writing committee for science standards back in 08 and worked with them for a year and they were very professional and supported the work of the committees extremely well.

The top position of commissioner can be politically influenced and has been, to the embarrassment of our wonderful legislators several times recently. But the staff that work for the political appointees are mostly people who have actually worked in public education. The present commissioner was a teacher and then administrator in the public school system not a political ringer brought in to push far right approaches to education as were the embarrassing two brief appointees before her.

Here is her bio:
Commissioner Stewart began teaching in Hillsborough County in 1975 before moving to Marion County where she spent 25 years in education. She rose from Ward-Highlands Elementary School teacher in 1981 to guidance counselor then district testing and research specialist, assistant principal, then principal, first at Reddick-Collier Elementary in 1996 and then at Vanguard High School in 2000.