Devos' Predecessors:

Hufstedler -- No education degree, little or no classroom teaching experience, lawyer and jurist
Bell -- Education doctorate, 12+ years classroom teaching experience
Bennet -- No education degree, little or no classroom teaching experience, primarily a GOP operative
Cavazos -- No education degree, 3-4 years of classroom teaching experience (college/med school), physiologist
Alexander -- No education degree, little or no classroom teaching experience, lawyer and politician [parents were both educators in public schools]
Riley -- No education degree, little or no classroom teaching experience, lawyer and politician
Paige -- Doctorate in Physical Education, 7 years classroom teaching experience, football coach
Spelling -- No education degree, little or no classroom teaching experience, political operative and specialized in education reform
Duncan -- No education degree, limited classroom teaching experience, worked in education administration, mostly in underprivileged urban areas
King -- Doctorate in education, 3 years classroom teaching experience, worked in education administration

Devos -- No education degree, little or no classroom teaching experience, businesswoman and political operative

[Bolded names had "silver spoon" upbringings by USA standards]



All-in-all, her appointment is run of the mill. Truly skilled educators reaching the position are the exception. The post is typically a political sinecure.