Lizzette Reynolds

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Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds is Statewide Policy and Programs Deputy Commissioner, Education Agency, State of Texas.^[1]. She came to public attention in November 2007 over the controversial firing of Christine Comer.

1 Career
2 Comer controversy
3 External link
4 References

[edit] Career

Lizzette Reynolds was educated at Southwestern University (1983-7)^[2] and holds a degree in political science. She worked for a state senator and as a lobbyist before serving as deputy legislative director during George W Bush’s 1994-2000 tenure as Governor of Texas.^[3] She worked out of Dallas until 2006 as the Secretary's Regional Representative, U.S. Department of Education, Region VI^[4]. While in this role she was invited to the Board of Visitors of Southwestern University,^[5] though she is not on that board now.^[6] She joined the Texas Education Agency (the state education agency) in January, 2007, as the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Statewide Policy and Programs^[7]. She was given management responsibility in September 2007 for the Curriculum Division.^[8] She has no teaching experience.^[3]

[edit] Comer controversy

See also: Christine Comer

In October 2007, Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education sent an email to a list of addressees including Mrs Comer. It announced a talk in Austin by one of the Center's directors, Barbara Forrest. Dr Forrest was a key expert witness for the plaintiffs in the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial, who argued successfully that the concept of Intelligent Design is not scientific, but is a trojan horse for religious teaching in public schools. Mrs Comer received the email on October 26, 2007, and forwarded it to some acquaintances, adding only the text "FYI".

Reynolds was out sick that day. She received a copy of the email and forwarded it to Comer's bosses less than two hours after Comer sent it. Reynolds cover text is quoted in part: "This is highly inappropriate. I believe this is an offense that calls for termination or, at the very least, reassignment of responsibilities. This is something that the State Board, the Governor's Office and members of the Legislature would be extremely upset to see because it assumes this is a subject that the agency supports."^[9]^[10]

Mrs Comer was subsequently asked to resign her employment.