Douglas Moves Quickly After ADE Staff Calls Her Wonder Woman Of Education

Superintendent of Public of Instruction Diane Douglas has been adamant about not politicizing education, so when an employee sent out a newsletter with what appeared to be a political message, Douglas moved swiftly to have the material removed.

The Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) Apple newsletter was sent out at approximately 4:50 p.m. and the offending portion was removed by about 5:30 p.m.

That portion included a photo of the Superintendent at the ADE’s Halloween luncheon standing alongside a Dan Godzich, the ADE’s Associate Director of Communications, in a superhero costume with a large red cape. Douglas donned a small red cape in the photo. The above the photo, the ADE employee wrote: “Also remember our own Superintendent Diane Douglas is up for re-election.” The photo’s caption read: “VOTE DIANE DOUGLAS THE WONDER WOMAN OF EDUCATION.”
According to ADE sources, the incident is under investigation and disciplinary action is expected.

In an email to ADE staff, Douglas wrote:

The ADE Apple newsletter that was distributed earlier this afternoon included a message and a link to a story regarding the upcoming primary election. Neither I nor any of my leadership team directed staff to work on this article or its content, nor was it approved before it was sent. Please know that I take election laws very seriously and view this as completely unacceptable and wholly inappropriate. The article has since been taken down and I will be immediately reviewing our agency-wide policies related to the use of government resources to ensure that something like this never happens again.

Douglas is referring to A.R.S. 16-192, which prohibits using state resources to influence election.

Douglas has been proactive is challenging schools from using public resources for electioneering on all level. That is why the lapse in judgment by the staff person is “so heartbreaking,” according to Douglas.

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It has been Douglas’ position that the ADE must set an example for the schools. She says the error made by an obviously loyal employee is exactly the sort of exuberant but illegal activity schools need to avoid.

“I hope this experience serves as an example to all of our educators that despite the best intentions, mistakes can be made. The important thing is that we move quickly to ensure that we are in compliance with not just the letter of the law, but its intent as well.”

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