Sherilyn Barrett appears before Senate Education Committee for gubernatorial reappointment to Public Charter School Commission

Sherilyn Barrett, a resident of Firth, Idaho and a current member of the Public Charter School Commission, appeared before the Idaho Senate Education Committee as part of her gubernatorial reappointment hearing.

Barrett told the committee she was first appointed to the commission in February 2016 and described her day job as a librarian and curriculum coordinator for the Snake River School District. "One of the things that I think is kind of unique that I bring to the Charter School Commission is that I work in the traditional system," Barrett said, adding that her district operates a public library housed inside a high school.

Barrett said she has worked in the charter sector early in her career, including teaching for Idaho Virtual Academy during the second year the charter school law was implemented. "I got to see the value of learning differently for students," she said. She told senators that her commission work focuses on keeping the student's interest foremost: "Anytime I'm faced with a difficult decision, my guiding point is what is best for the student." She also said commission work has required balancing policy and procedure with student-centered judgments.

Committee members asked Barrett what traditional public schools might learn from charter schools. Barrett listed models parents seek—Waldorf, expeditionary learning, International Baccalaureate and Montessori—and said charter schools sometimes introduce practices that traditional schools later adopt. She gave an example of a classroom that offered alternative seating ("bouncy balls") after a parent described how that helped a child focus. She also said charter schools have promoted moving students to instructional levels rather than strictly by age and grade.

Senator Ward Engelking and Senator Nichols asked Barrett about her background and the challenges she has faced on the commission. Barrett described one ethical dilemma where following policy and procedure conflicted with what she felt was best for students; she said she resolved such decisions by using student welfare as her guide.

The committee did not take a vote at the hearing. Barrett was told the committee would likely vote on her reappointment at a subsequent meeting.

Barrett’s remarks to the committee were introductory and focused on her experience bridging traditional and charter systems rather than on specific commission decisions or pending regulatory actions.