Education is the foundation of our economy. Nothing is more important, and all our plans to create jobs and improve our communities are meaningless if our education system isn’t the best it can be.

Educators are the heart of Maine education. I propose to treat them the way we treat any honored profession – with respect, paying top dollar for excellence, and holding every professional to the highest standards of performance. I believe every other education reform pales in comparison.

I also propose to radically restructure how education is organized and delivered in Maine. Good work has been already done outlining how these reforms can be made. For example, take a look at the State Board of Education’s 2006 report entitled The Learning State - Maine Schooling for the 21st Century (link below). We’ve done the studying – it’s time to act on many of these recommendations. My administration will work to implement a genuine restructuring of Maine’s K-20 education system.

With school populations shrinking and our work force aging, we need new approaches in education that will improve outcomes, maximize the potential of all our citizens, and ensure that tomorrows’ jobs are filled with Maine learners. If we don’t, the rest of our work can’t succeed.