Senate President Craig Blair says he wants to change the leader for the Education Committee for a greater focus on West Virginia’s public education system.
So this week, Blair named Senator Amy Nichole Grady, an elementary school teacher, as the chairwoman. Out in that role is Senator Patricia Rucker, who announced a bid this week to unseat Blair as Senate president.
Asked today for his reaction to Rucker’s challenge for the president’s gavel, Blair first chuckled and then described other priorities.
“I don’t care. We’re in the business of fixing the state of West Virginia and if she’s able to garner the votes and take me out, so be it,” he said.
What is @WVSenatePres thoughts on Patricia Rucker, WV State Senator (R-Jefferson), challenging him for the State Senate President position? Blair joins @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nEhk6 pic.twitter.com/GM2p2qkYVM
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) September 1, 2022
Blair, R-Berkeley, gave Rucker credit for leading the committee during an expansion of “school choice” initiatives like charter schools and the Hope Scholarship for students leaving the public education system.
But Blair now said he wants more focus on the public education system. Grady’s background is best suited for that focus, Blair stated in a news release about the switch.
“It’s now time to usher in a new era with a focus on supporting our state’s public schools and increasing student achievement. I believe there is nobody better to lead that focus than Senator Grady. We want our public school educators to know that we are committed to giving them the resources and tools they need to be the best in the world,” he said.
“I am confident with Senator Grady’s leadership, those lines of direct communication will open right up. Education is economic development, period. We have seen unprecedented success with our economic development efforts in the last few years, and it is time for us to bring that same level of success to our public schools.”
Blair made reference to an upcoming amendment on voters’ ballots to give the Legislature the power to approve, amend, or repeal rules put forward by the State Board of Education. And he cited significant recent turnover in key positions on the state school board and the state Department of Education.
Blair also made reference to West Virginia’s continued challenges with standardized test scores.
He said all of those show the need for a focus on public education.
“It’s an exciting time to do this, and public education comes to the forefront in West Virginia,” Blair said today on MetroNews’ “Talkline.”
Grady said she looks forward to those challenges.
“I came into this hoping I could use my knowledge from the classroom the best way possible. And I’m glad the Senate president has made this move to say we’re going to focus a lot on public education, and he felt I would be the best to lead that,” Grady, R-Mason, said in an interview with WMOV Radio.
Grady agreed that her classroom experiences will help as the Education Committee considers legislation about public education in West Virginia.
“I think it’s really important and it is invaluable because I have not just my experiences but I have people surrounding me in my colleagues that I can bounce ideas off of. The best thing to make change is to talk to the people who are entrenched in it,” she said.
“Everything should be student-focused and student-centered. I’m really excited about being able to do that and bring their ideas and my ideas together to help.”