Free Republic

The state secretary of education is an unusual Cabinet-level position that controls no department or agencies and has no real power beyond advising the governor and being a "bully pulpit." The office was originally secretary for child development and education and was created by Gov. Pete Wilson in December 1990, before he was sworn in. Wilson appointed a Democrat, Maureen DiMarco, to the position. Wilson was believed to want his own education official to counter then-Superintendent of Public Instruction Bill Honig, a Democrat who was allied with the teachers union. Gray Davis, a Democrat, was elected governor in 1998 and...

"He's the perfect choice at this critical time for education," Schwarzenegger said of Bersin, who served two years on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Bersin, 58, offered a glimpse of his hard-hitting approach at the news conference. Standing next to the governor and speaking in a relaxed but firm tone, Bersin did not shy away from taking on teachers unions. "It's very important that we find common ground for what our kids need, not what's good for the union," he said. "This has to be premised on what's good for children." Barbara Kerr, president of the California Teachers Assn.,...

Schools Superintendent Alan Bersin agreed to leave his San Diego position in June, but is moving to something bigger. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named Bersin as his State Secretary of Education Friday, 10News reported. "Alan is a reformer and the perfect choice for secretary for education at this critical time for education in our state. He is a great leader with the tremendous qualifications necessary to guide our efforts to make sure California's kids get a quality education," said Schwarzenegger. Bersin started the "Blue Print For Student Success" to improve literacy and math skills while cutting art and music programs. Test...