Senate Education Committee Hears Reappointment of Sherilyn Barrett to Public Charter School Commission

Sherilyn Barrett, of Firth, Idaho, appeared before the Idaho Senate Education Committee for consideration of her gubernatorial reappointment to the Public Charter School Commission.

Barrett told the committee she was first appointed to the commission in February 2016 and described her work in public education, including her day job as a librarian with the Snake River School District and prior teaching at the Idaho Virtual Academy. "I work in the traditional system. So my day job is this librarian for the Snake River School District," Barrett said. She added that the high school library where she works also serves as a public library, allowing her to "share resources" and observe how a traditional district operates on a day-to-day basis.

Barrett said her experience in both traditional and charter settings shaped her view that the systems should not be adversarial. "We don't have to be adversarial, that we can all focus on what's doing best for kids," she said. She described several instructional models she has encountered in charter schools — Waldorf, expeditionary learning, International Baccalaureate and Montessori — as examples of how parents and communities pursue different models that may better fit some students.

When asked about challenges in her commission work, Barrett said the hardest decisions involve keeping the "focus on what's best for the student." She recalled one ethical situation in which following policy or procedure presented a tension with what she believed was best for students.

Committee members asked Barrett several questions about her background, including her work as a library consultant and earlier teaching in virtual education. After the exchange, the committee chair said the panel would likely vote on Barrett's nomination at a later meeting.

Barrett concluded by thanking the committee for the opportunity to serve. "It's an honor to be here and an honor to serve," she said.