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Education Nominee an ‘Agent of Change,’ Governor Says

Aug. 17, 2007 — The nomination of Lynn Spampinato, tapped by Gov. John deJongh Jr. to head the Education Department, was forwarded to the Legislature on Friday for final approval.
During a recent press conference at Government House, deJongh described Spampinato as the right candidate for the position, one who can be the catalyst in solving some of Education's most critical problems.
Calling her an "agent of change," deJongh added that Spampinato, with her long and diverse career as a teacher and administrator at inner-city school districts on the mainland, would help achieve a much-needed turnaround in the V.I. public education system. Spampinato's experience, coupled with her passion for education, could "save our children from our own low expectations and mediocrity," he said.
The governor's sentiments are not shared by some members of the local community, who have recently flooded local radio stations with concerns about the fact that Spampinato does not hail from the territory.
Others have also discussed problems allegedly raised by some of Spampinato's previous employers. Spampinato addressed one of the situations during the recent press conference. In that particular case, she said, the local school board changed during her tenure, and the new board had different ideas from the one that hired her. Mainland media reports also said a confidentiality agreement entered into with at least one mainland school district prevented Spampinato from discussing how and why they parted ways.
Meanwhile, an anonymous campaign has taken place in the Legislature, with a flier from an unnamed source distributed to various senators. The flier includes a picture of Spampinato and urges residents to voice their opposition to the nomination.
While the rhetoric continues to circulate through the territory, the Source has also received emails from several community members and organizations, such as the V.I. Community Foundation, who have come out in support of the commissioner-nominee.
Former senatorial candidate Horace Brooks has also offered his support, saying that the community should not be "passing judgment" on Spampinato "based on hearsay."
Other residents have also voiced their approval over the radio, saying that Spampinato's nomination should not be dismissed simply because she has been brought in from the mainland to fill the position.
Spampinato's nomination will now have to work its way through the Senate's Rules and Judiciary Committee and the full Senate body before she can be confirmed.
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