Senate confirms Zoe Saunders as Vermont education secretary after contentious debate

The Vermont Senate confirmed Zoe Saunders as secretary of the Agency of Education on Thursday, voting 22–8 to approve the appointment for the term including March 1, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2027.

The confirmation followed a report from the Senate Education Committee and extended debate on Saunders— record, qualifications and the governor—s broader education transformation proposal. Supporters cited Saunders— experience working on school improvement, data systems and statewide literacy initiatives; critics said she lacks sufficient public-school administrative experience and questioned the agency—s handling of special education and independent-school renewals.

Senators voting to confirm argued the state needed a confirmed leader at the Agency of Education to carry forward a multi-year transformation effort and stabilize the department. Opponents reiterated concerns raised during committee review, including a perceived imbalance between the agency—s attention to charter and private-school models versus traditional public districts, unresolved federal compliance issues for special education, and delays in reviewing independent-school renewals.

In committee testimony recounted on the floor, the Senate Education Committee reported it had met with Saunders for several hours and that she had worked on a statewide —listen and learn— process and reforms to the agency—s data and reporting functions. The committee noted Saunders had been recommended by the State Board of Education as one of three candidates for the governor—s consideration before her nomination.

Opponents on the floor pointed to specific problems they said remained at the agency. A senator speaking against confirmation told colleagues that the department remained out of compliance with federal special-education requirements and that independent-school renewal reviews were overdue; the senator said 59 schools were past their renewal date, including 18 therapeutic schools, and warned those schools serve —our most vulnerable kids.— Another senator said he had received written input from educators representing more than —520 years— of collective public-school experience at the time of the first nomination and that, in subsequent outreach, he had stopped counting at —a thousand years— opposing confirmation.

Other senators described Saunders— accomplishments: transforming the agency—s data analytics, launching a statewide literacy initiative, developing a career and technical education grant, expanding summer food benefits, and responding to districts at operational risk. A member of the Education Committee said the committee vote was 5–1 and asked for the body—s support.

The roll call on the floor produced 22 ayes and 8 nays. The clerk read the roll and the presiding officer declared the appointment confirmed.

The confirmation allows Saunders to continue leading the Agency of Education as the legislature and administration consider substantial statutory and budgetary changes proposed as part of the governor—s education plan.

No amendments to the appointment were offered on the floor. The Senate record shows the committee-level vote and the final floor roll call; the transcripts do not identify a formal mover or seconder for the confirmation motion.