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Senate Education Committee hears reappointment hearing for Sherilyn Barrett to Public Charter School Commission
Summary
Sherilyn Barrett, a librarian from Firth, described her experience on the Public Charter School Commission and in traditional public schools during a reappointment hearing before the Senate Education Committee. The committee deferred a vote to a future meeting.
Sherilyn Barrett appeared before the Idaho Senate Education Committee to introduce herself as a gubernatorial reappointment to the Public Charter School Commission. Barrett, of Firth, Idaho, told the committee she was first appointed to the commission in February 2016 and said she is “anxious to continue” serving.
Barrett described her day job as a librarian and curriculum coordinator for the Snake River School District and said she brings experience from both traditional public schools and charter settings. “My first teaching job was as a teacher for the Idaho Virtual Academy,” she said, adding that the role gave her firsthand experience with alternative learning models. Barrett told the committee she has worked to foster cooperation between charter and traditional schools rather than adversarial relationships.
The commission appointee told senators she aims to keep decisions focused on students. “Anytime I'm faced with a difficult decision, my guiding point is what is best for the student,” Barrett said, and acknowledged there was one ethical situation in which following policy conflicted with what she thought was best for students.
Committee members asked about Barrett’s professional background and what traditional schools could learn from charter models. Barrett cited specific approaches she has seen in charter settings — limited screen time in Waldorf-model classrooms, expeditionary learning’s field-based projects, and flexible seating such as exercise-ball desks — and said traditional schools sometimes adopt such innovations when they see results. She emphasized parental choice and that different models suit different students.
Chairman Senator Cook told Barrett the committee would likely vote on her nomination at the next meeting. No formal committee vote occurred during the hearing.
Barrett’s reappointment hearing took place during the committee’s business session; senators thanked her for appearing and said they would notify her of the next meeting when a vote would be scheduled.
