(AP) — One of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s appointees to Louisiana’s top school board resigned unexpectedly Thursday, saying she opposes federal education policies that are being embraced by the state.In a letter to Jindal, Tammie McDaniel of Oak Ridge said she was stepping down from her position on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, effective immediately. Jindal announced a replacement a few hours later.McDaniel, a former principal and teacher, was one of Jindal’s three appointees to the 11-member board. She had become one of the most outspoken members of BESE, clashing with Louisiana Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, who is backed by Jindal.In her letter, obtained by The Associated Press, McDaniel said she opposes federal intervention into state school systems, and her position on BESE makes her “complicit in supporting federal policies that I genuinely oppose.””While I believe the federal government should lead an effort to ensure equal educational opportunities for America’s children, I do not believe that Louisiana schools should be controlled by mandates from Washington,” she wrote.BESE has supported participation in several federal education initiatives, and Pastorek is an adviser to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on a proposed overhaul of the federal No Child Left Behind education law.McDaniel said the revamp of No Child Left Behind would expand the federal government’s role in local school decisions, a move she doesn’t support. She said her opposition puts her at odds with Pastorek and therefore the Jindal administration.
“The governor’s office has made it clear that they stand by Paul Pastorek and expect their appointees to do likewise,” McDaniel said in an interview.
Instead of repeatedly voting against the governor who appointed her, McDaniel said she decided to resign. “I think the governor deserves to have an appointed board member who supports his positions,” she said.McDaniel’s sudden resignation was surprising, coming more than six months after she had refused a request to step down.
In July, McDaniel resisted calls by the Jindal administration to leave the post after disagreements with Pastorek on budget and management issues. The governor would not say why his top staffers asked McDaniel to leave the position but said then that he was “disappointed” McDaniel had refused to resign.McDaniel said she didn’t speak to Jindal or his staff Thursday about her resignation before sending the letter.
The governor’s office didn’t respond to questions about McDaniel’s resignation, but Jindal did choose her replacement: Connie Bradford of Ruston, principal of a private school with nearly 700 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.”She has extensive professional experience in the education community, and she supports the types of reforms we need to make in our education system so we can give our students the opportunity to pursue their dreams right here in Louisiana,” Jindal said in a statement. 
 
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