TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Across the street from Holy Comforter Episcopal School stood a small but resilient group of residents with a clear message.
"We just wanted to let her know that, number one, she's not welcome in Tallahassee," said Susan McLeod, who was out Tuesday protesting DeVos' visit.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos spent Tuesday at this private, christian school in northeast Tallahassee and later at Florida State University School in Southwood.
The controversial cabinet pick by President Donald Trump didn't schedule a public school in her visit.
"It does concern me about what her particular agenda is," said Catherine Baer, a member of Common Ground, a bipartisan group of education advocacy leaders. "It seems like that she has been -- her entire career has been on the expansion of vouchers and the privatization of education."
Marie-Claire Leman, who's also a member of Common Ground said, "I would've thought that, as the head of the federal education department, she would've wanted to visit a Title I school, which is where the federal money is being used."
The apparent neglect of public schools caught the attention of Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna.
In a statement, he said in part, "Not visiting one of our outstanding campuses and continuing to demean the value of public schools is disrespectful towards those men and women who wake up every day committed to the success of our 34,000 students."
"It's a sign of the times," Leman asserted. "There's attack on public education from all sides."
But one organization welcomed her visit.
The Florida Charter School Alliance saying, "We hope her visit to Tallahassee gives her an opportunity to see firsthand the great things educators and school advocates are doing to help raise student achievement, close the achievement gap, support teachers and increase college readiness in Florida."
Wednesday morning, DeVos has a private meeting at Bethel Family Life Center, but will not visit or tour Bethel Christian Academy.
