Yet Another Education Leader Endorses Rose
Vukmir Backs Fernandez for State Superintendent
Rose Fernandez, the parental advocate running for Superintendent of Public Instruction, has won the endorsement of yet another prominent education policy leader in Wisconsin. Today, State Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) announced she is supporting Rose in her race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“Rose is a proven leader with the right balance of passion, courage and judgment to bring about real education reform in Wisconsin, and she has already demonstrated her ability to take on the establishment and do what is right for our children,” said Vukmir. “Rose is a strong supporter of School Choice and she is not afraid to call for higher standards throughout our public schools and of course I admire and respect her desire to focus on improving Wisconsin schools without pushing for increased sales or property taxes.”
Prior to entering the legislature, Vukmir was an education reform advocate and president of Parents Raising Educational Standards in Schools (PRESS), a statewide organization committed to raising academic standards and increasing parental involvement in the school reform process.
“Representative Vukmir's backing adds to a growing network of support, and I am particularly honored to have her on the team,” said Fernandez. “As a nurse and education advocate before entering the Assembly, Representative Vukmir and I share a common history and a common passion for children.”
About Rose
Rose Fernandez is a former pediatric trauma nurse and former senior administrator at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, a world-renowned academic medical center. The former president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families, Fernandez helped lead a group of parents, teachers and administrators to ensure passage of a bipartisan compromise through a split legislature, which enabled online public charter schools to continue to operate in the state, thus rescuing dozens of schools for thousands of students. She is also a small business owner. She and her husband Javier, a Waukesha firefighter, raise their five children in Mukwonago.
Fernandez is the only candidate from outside the education bureaucracy establishment and is determined that this campaign focus on real issues. She’s holding a series of listening sessions across the state. She said she wants to hear from parents, teachers, administrators and students from across Wisconsin about what works, what doesn’t and how DPI can be
a partner in their pursuit of educational excellence. For more information go to www.ChangeDPI.com.