Elisabeth "Betsy" DeVos (born 8 January 1958) was the US Secretary of Education from 7 February 2017, succeeding John King Jr.. DeVos had previously served as Chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, succeeding Susy Avery and preceding Gerald Hills, and again from 2003 to 2005, succeeding Gerald Hills and preceding Saul Anuzis. DeVos was a controversial Secretary of Education, as she was known for her crusading against public schools and her promotion of charter schools, and because she had almost no experience with education.
Biography[]
Elisabeth Prince was born in Holland, Michigan, the daughter of industrialist Edgar D. Prince and the sister of Academi CEO Erik Prince. DeVos earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and political science from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, and she became involved with the US Republican Party in 1982 as a local precinct delegate.
Political career[]
DeVos in 2016
In 1996, DeVos became the Chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, serving until 2000; she served in this post again from 2003 to 2005; she resigned in 2000 due to the fragmentation of the party, only to return in 2003. In this post, she was a constant thorn in the side of Governor Jennifer Granholm, a US Democratic Party politician, from her appointment until Granholm left office in 2011. DeVos blamed the economic problems faced by Michiganders on high taxes and overpaid workers, although DeVos herself was a multi-millionaire alongside her wealthy husband Dick. On 23 November 2016, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos as the new Secretary of Education of the United States, having served as the head of the Alliance for School Choice, which allowed for parents to select school for their children. On 7 February 2017, DeVos was confirmed as the 11th US Secretary of Education after Vice President Mike Pence historically broke the tie in her confirmation by casting a vote in her favor.