After a highly contentious Senate confirmation process, Betsy DeVos became the Secretary of Education last week. She immediately tried to start reaching out by touring a public school in the Washington DC area. Apparently, trying to do the job she was confirmed to do was a problem for protesters. Amazingly, two people you’d least expect came to defend Secretary DeVos.

The first was the man who had just held her job.

Agree or disagree w @BetsyDeVos on any issue, but let's all agree she really needs to be in public schools. Please let her in.

— Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) February 10, 2017

The second was someone who fought vigorously against her confirmation.

Just heard a protester blocked & almost knocked Secy @BetsyDeVos down at Jefferson.We don't condone such acts.We want her to go to pub schls

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) February 10, 2017

BTW, we were part of and fully supported the parent and community protest at Jefferson conveying our love of public schools- pic.twitter.com/GYtBbpJbne

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) February 10, 2017

Despite the giggles over “Typogate” over the weekend (and it’s highly unlikely that Secretary DeVos is taking a leaf out of President Trump’s book and tweeting from the Department of Education’s account herself), there is still a huge undercurrent of unease and concern over Betsy DeVos. And in the circles in which I live and run, it’s ratcheted up with even more concern. I have four children in public schools, three of them with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and in special education. I’ve had people ask for my opinion about the new Secretary of Education. With apologies to Douglas Adams, my short opinion is “DON’T PANIC.” My long opinion is below.