TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was in the Capital City Wednesday to visit two schools, highlighting the work they've done to meet their students' educational needs, but it's where she chose to visit that's drawing local criticism.
It's largely because Betsy DeVos didn't visit a traditional public school. This morning, she was at a private, christian school and this afternoon, she went to a public charter school.
Locals we talked to said avoiding public education in Florida's Capital City was a mistake.
DeVos first went to Holy Comforter Episcopal School on Fleischmann Road. More than a dozen people were across the street, protesting her visit.
She later went to Florida State University Schools in Southwood.
WTXL talked to education advocates in Tallahassee who said DeVos missed a critical opportunity to reach out to thousands of students in public education.
"We need her to visit the inner city schools, the inner Southside to see our schools, because that's only going to help her understand what we need better," said Dianne Williams-Cox, a community activist. "So, I would expect better than that for our Secretary of Education, because she's Secretary of Education for all schools in the United States."
WTXL reached out to two charter schools in Tallahassee, but both declined a request for comment.
Secretary DeVos will stay in Tallahassee for another day, privately visiting the Bethel Family Life Center.
