No Holds Barred: Linda McMahon's Reckless Match with America's Schools

Imagine appointing a Surgeon General who has never been a doctor or an Attorney General who has never practiced law. These scenarios are a nonstarter to most. Nevertheless, in education, the lived experience of teaching, leading schools, or understanding systemic inequities is too often dismissed as nonessential. Seven of the last 12 Secretaries of Education had no experience in the classroom. If Linda McMahon joins their ranks, this trend will perpetuate and further erode trust in the Department of Education's ability to serve students and teachers.

Education is at a crossroads in America. Students face equity gaps, chronic absenteeism, massive college debt, and low graduation rates. Moreover, schools at all levels are struggling with the evolving role of technology. Addressing all of these systemic issues requires bold, informed leadership. It is alarming to hear reports that McMahon, a business executive with a teaching certification and aspirations, is Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Education.??

To be clear, McMahon is a successful businesswoman. Her tenure as head of WWE and later as the head of the Small Business Administration shows she knows how to navigate corporate and government landscapes. However, managing education differs from running a business or marketing a wrestling franchise. Appointing someone without educational experience to this role underscores a more significant issue: Why do we continually treat education, one of our country's most complex and impactful systems, as requiring less expertise than other critical sectors???

Education Leadership Requires Lived Experience ?

The next Secretary of Education must deeply understand how policy decisions affect students, teachers, schools, and the future workforce. Someone who has never set foot in a classroom as an educator cannot fully conceptualize the cascading impact of their choices. While impressive, Linda McMahon's experience running the WWE and promoting small business growth is largely irrelevant to the intricate realities of public education.??

Take equitable funding formulas, for example. A Secretary with classroom and systems-level experience knows that funding disparities are not abstract. Funding formulas determine whether students have textbooks, functioning technology, or even enough teachers. Someone who does not understand those needs will likely make decisions that deepen inequities rather than address them.??

Education demands a leader with a systems-level vision who understands inequities, systemic barriers, and the nuances of K-12 and higher education. They need to know how to build power for marginalized communities, not simply operate within corporate or political hierarchies.

This Is Personal

The next Secretary of Education is not just a theoretical argument for me; it's personal. I have spent my career at the intersection of education, policy, and equity. As a former teacher, I saw firsthand how systemic inequities played out in my students' lives. I've seen children struggle because their schools lacked resources, and families fight for better opportunities in an often inequitable system. My leadership roles have further deepened my conviction that education policy must be informed by the lived experiences of those who teach, lead, and support students daily. Decisions made in Washington are not abstract. The impact is felt in classrooms, communities, and futures nationwide.?

The Wrong Kind of Leadership for Education??

McMahon's corporate background may give her a strong understanding of financial operations. Still, education is more than just budgets and numbers. It is about values, equity, opportunity, and the belief that every child deserves access to a high-quality education. Public education is not a marketplace, and students are not customers. They are future leaders, innovators, and citizens. A Secretary of Education must see them as such.

Moreover, McMahon's lack of experience in public office or any public-facing role raises questions about her ability to lead in a sector that demands coalition-building and collaboration but at the same time requires the ability to speak truth to power and to stand up to those who don't put the needs of students and families first. The ideal Secretary must navigate complex political waters, working across the aisle to secure bipartisan support for policies that address student needs. This type of leadership requires more than charisma. It requires substance, deep policy knowledge, and a proven ability to lead stakeholders at all system levels to see the change and improvement in education that people demand.

What the Next Secretary of Education Should Look Like??

The next Secretary of Education must combine lived experience as an educator with a systems-level understanding of education policy and reform. They should:??

• Have classroom, school, and district leadership experience to understand the realities of teaching and learning.??
• Possess political acumen and the ability to work across the aisle, with experience in public office, philanthropy, or organizing.??
• Bring a track record of measurable results, both quantitative and qualitative, in improving outcomes for students.??
• Understand national and global trends in education, including the growing importance of 21st-century skills and technology.??
• Advocate fiercely for teachers and students, equitable funding, and increased access to education for marginalized students.??

These qualifications are not optional. They are essential for leading one of the federal government's most critical departments.??

The Stakes Are Too High??

Education is not just another policy issue; it is the foundation of our democracy and the cornerstone of economic mobility. Appointing someone with no experience in the classroom and who has never led a school system to lead the Department of Education signals a disregard for its complexity and importance. At a time when students face unprecedented challenges, from learning gaps exacerbated by the pandemic to rising student debt, we cannot afford a leader who views education as just another portfolio in a corporate playbook.??

Linda McMahon may be a successful business executive, but she is not the leader our education system needs. The stakes are too high to settle for someone who lacks vision and experience rooted in a traditional education experience. The next Secretary of Education must embody the values of public education and bring the expertise to lead it forward. Anything less is a disservice to the millions of students, families, and educators who depend on this system to succeed.??