I am a student at Western Washington University and a graduate from Interlake High School. I just wanted to express my thanks to the Bellevue School District for their dedication and their help throughout high school, and I would like to state my opinion regarding President Trump’s nomination of Betsy DeVos as the head of the Education Department.

As someone who has benefited from a fantastic school system, I do not believe that she has the best interests of the nation’s school systems in mind. In her recent questioning by Sen. Tim Kaine, she could not reply that she supported equal accountability among all school systems, and when asked, “Should all K-12 schools receiving federal funding be required to support the same information regarding instances of harassment, discipline or bullying?” She replied with, “Federal funding comes with strings attached.”

Bullying can eventually lead to suicide, and as someone who sat through an assembly for a fellow student who committed suicide, I would not wish that upon anyone. On behalf of students everywhere, please do not trust Betsy DeVos, if she cannot state that she will require equal accountability and protection for students.

Benjamin Richardson

Bellevue