WEA President Mary Lindquist

The debate continues.

Teachers' union leader Mary Lindquist, President of the Washington Education Association (WEA), has responded to disaffected Democratic donor Nick Hanauer, who has gone public with his disappointment in the Democratic Party over education reform and with his belief that the teachers' union is pressuring the Democratic Party to water down reforms.

The debate started over a week ago when we obtained an email Hanauer sent to his fellow major donors complaining about the Democrats and informing his compatriots that he was thinking of supporting Republican state attorney general Rob McKenna for governor because of what he saw as McKenna's clearer commitment ed reform .

You can read Hanaeuer's original email and the hefty exchanges between Hanauer and  Lindquist (and a response from US Rep. Jay Inslee, McKenna's Democratic rival for governor) here . (As a member of Congress, Inslee's 10th top all-time donor is the WEA's parent organization, the National Education Association.)

Lindquist's latest letter challenges Hanauer's contention that Washington State's public education system is  "missing" a "commitment to innovation."

Lindquist says there are "innovative" schools in Washington State and cites examples such as the well-known Aviation High School in Highline, a science and math focused school with an emphasis on aerospace and aviation. She writes:

Here’s what I can state based upon what I see in our schools:

•The SPRINT program in Spokane, the Tri-Tech Skills Center in Spokane, Beacon Hill International School in Seattle, Aviation High School in Highline, and the School of Arts and Academics in Vancouver are all examples of innovative schools – and there are hundreds more across the state. Just last week the Seattle School board approved the Creative Approach Schools document to encourage innovation in Seattle – an agreement reached with the Seattle Education Association to promote “new different and creative approach that supports raising achievement and closing the achievement gap.” I’ve been in these schools. The teachers there are inspiring. I invite you to join me in visiting some of these innovative schools so you can see, firsthand, the commitment to academic excellence which our educators have and how our Association supports that work;

Read Lindquist's full letter here.

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