According to a report in the Santa Fe Reporter, Hanna Skandera has taken numerous trips to conferences and meetings, with travel expenses paid by organizations that do business with the state.
The story says, “… over the past two years, various PED [Public Education Department] contractors have paid for Skandera’s flights and hotel rooms. For instance, in 2011, PED paid the Minnesota-based Summit Education Associates, LLC, more than $96,000 for “professional services,” according to the state’s Sunshine Portal.
“The company lists as its manager FEE [Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Educational Excellence] Senior Policy Fellow Christy Hovanetz, who helped advise Skandera on legislation [news, Feb. 19: “Business School”]. Then, in June 2012, FEE paid nearly $3,000 to fly Skandera—who is a member of Chiefs for Change, a FEE-operated group of public officials who support the nonprofit’s reform agenda—to a Chiefs meeting in Washington, DC, followed by FEE’s “Festival of Education” in London.
Skandera also serves on the board of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a consortium of 22 states “working together to develop a common set of K-12 assessments in English and math”—online evaluations Skandera plans to implement in New Mexico in 2015. Travel vouchers show PARCC paid a total of more than $2,000 for Skandera to attend board meetings in Washington, DC, and Alexandria, Va.
PARCC, too, has ties to state money: It’s run by Washington, DC-based nonprofit Achieve, Inc., which last year landed a $39,660 contract with PED, according to the Sunshine Portal.”
A spokesman for the PEDRO said, “Over two days of the hearing, supporters for Secretary Skandera and reform for our students outnumbered those who stand for the status quo. As far as responding to the presentation, it is beyond disappointing that a political operative funded by special interests is given more time before this committee than the citizens of New Mexico who traveled hundreds of miles to testify.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
What’s the status quo? Honesty…
“Status quo” is nonexistent, by my account. It is supposedly the “mass” that wants to keep education “just the way it is.” I haven’t met a person yet who has advocated such a position.
This week in Louisiana, Jindal’s illegal Act 1 was struck down in the state court, and he accused the “status quo” of causing it to happen. Nwver mind his completely ignoring the Louisiana constitution in promoting such legislation in the first place. “Status quo” is to blame.
Now, New Mexico has Skanderra, who is taking money hand over fist and establishing numerous obvious situations of conflict of interest at best and illegal activity at worst. And what is her best defense from PEDRO? “It’s the status quo that is to blame” in the form of citizens blowing the whistle on her.
“Status Quo” is reformy language that each of them has drummed into them since it’s quite clear education reformers are as standardized as the tests they hawk and what they want children to become….
I think there is a script that they all work from, with phrases like “defender of the status quo” for anyone who dares to disagree with them.
This just in from the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Up-date:
Skandera hearings were a circus
She labeled the Senate Rules Committee Hearings on Department of Education Secretary-designate, Hanna Skandera, a “circus where unions and special interest groups attacked Skandera and her character.” She pointed out how a private investigator formerly employed by Governor Richardson was given 20 minutes to speak while others were given only 3 minutes. Moreover, Skandera was not given the opportunity to rebut personal attacks against her. She asked, “Why?” And, answered her own question, “Because Skandera has the courage to stand up for our children.” The Governor observed that with the poor standing of New Mexico’s education system, citizens should “put their foot down and say, ‘No More’.”
As an educator in New Mexico I know that Skandera has the courage to make a profit off of our children. She certainly does not stand up for them, that is what we eduators do.
The unions attacked her character? No, her character was simply exposed.
Well stated! Most Americans are fast asleep.
I was a young teen when Nixon’s plumbers were in the news – I remember watching black and white rat pack stuff in the 60’s … everyone smoking and drinking hard liquor…
Remember Wilbur Mills and Fanne Foxe ?? THAT is corruption I “understand” – the best exotic dancers, a free expensive car paid for by some relative’s brother in law who got a good contract, a case of single malt in the trunk, a paper bag with bundles of 20s and 50s … now these high flyers have to wash all their corruption in these fancy meetings in … LONDON !!
Why don’t they go to … Holyoke MA, and stay at the Motel 6, and donate the rest of the money to poor kids? Why don’t they just honestly steal the money?
What a racket and what a rat’s nest.
rmm.
For the powerful there is no law they just make it up as I have the #2 attorney in the LAUSD General Counsels Office saying on video. You buy and sell this country now like a 5th hand cheap suit when it was new. We must fight back against this assault on the general public before it is too late and this is not conspiracy theory stuff, this is real. And by the way conspiracies do exist or why would there be the organized crime laws, RICO.
This is infuriating. Hanna Skandera and Gov. Martinez have been completely dismissive of rational, reasonable discourse with teachers from Day One of Martinez’ term in office. Every. Single.Time. teachers have raised concerns about some of the “reforms” by-passing the democratic process to be rammed down the throats of New Mexican students and teachers, we’ve been accused of being too wrapped up in self-interest to do what’s best for kids. We’re trying to cover for ourselves! We’re unable to adapt to a new millenium!
I’ve worked for five years along side some of the most hard-working, enthusiastic, and adaptable teachers I’ve ever seen. Seeing these teachers work with less and less, under increasing restrictions, and an increasingly troubled and needful student population has been a remarkable experience. How dare they complain that Skandera wasn’t given a chance to refute the testimony?! Cry me a river! After continuously and methodically denying teacher voices for years? How dare they!
I’m so proud that New Mexican teachers are standing up to say “No More!” to Hanna Skandera. It takes a lot of guts to stand up to an administration that feels little compunction in sacking (I’m sorry….RIFing) those who disagree with their policies. Skandera/Martinez/FEE, etc, etc..’s policies are delinquently negligent toward the children of this state. I’m tired of hearing Skandera and Cronies cry about citizens becoming wise to that fact.
If you’re in the mood to read some eye-opeing emails:
http://www.inthepublicinterest.org/node/2747
Skandera supporters continue to attack the messenger because they cannot attack the facts. These same supporters, in effect, support her conduct which is incompetent and possibly illegal. Kudos to the “union funded political operative” who has the courage to maintain his stance against corruption in New Mexico government!